Every Ukrainian citizen aged 14[5] or above that permanently resides in Ukraine must possess an identity card issued by the State Migration Service.

A number of personalised security elements are also used, such as a hologram on the card's reverse which alternately displays an image of the holder and their date of birth.

Other personalised security elements include a metallic tape running along the reverse of the card into which the holder's name is laser engraved, and a machine readable zone.

Later in 2005, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine initiated a programme to introduce plastic ID cards which would have held tax and pension data on an integrated electronic chip.

This plan was later dropped after being criticised by ordinary citizens and the Ukrainian Helsinki Group for having a lax approach to the security of personal data.

However, the bill was vetoed by Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych on grounds of supposed failings in providing adequate personal data safeguards.

[12] On 10 July 2015, the Ukrainian government announced that internal passports would be abolished and replaced with ID cards, starting from 1 January 2016.

It is also expected that any changes in marital status, eligibility for military service, and registered place of residence are subsequently recorded in the passport.