The PMZ stamp authorizes a Ukrainian citizen to leave the country and live permanently in another country. Loosely translated, PMZ stands for "Permanent Place of Living". It can also be referred to as a PMZh stamp by the country you are immigrating to. Without the stamp, a former Ukrainian citizen will run into issues, even if a resident status in another country has already been obtained. Also, most countries will not allow you to apply for citizenship without the proper exit stamp on your passport.
The PMZ stamp must be on the International Passport, as opposed to the internal Ukrainian passport. Issued as a second passport, the international passport allows Ukrainian citizens to travel abroad. Obtaining an International Passport depends on the number of "blanks" your town holds. Blanks are essentially the number of passports a town can issue. Travel agents can assist you in obtaining a passport, but they cannot expedite or assist with a PMZ stamp.
After an interview with an embassy official and a pile of paperwork, an applicant for a PMZ must provide proof that he owes no taxes to the Ukraine, holds no real estate and makes no claims against the Ukraine government. A series of fees must also be paid. The amount of the fees depends on where you live and whether you applied for the PMZ before or after leaving the country.
Propiska requires that all Ukraine residents register their home address. The registration is confirmed through a stamp on the internal passport. While deemed unconstitutional in 2001, the system has not changed. While sometimes called an Informational Registration as opposed to Propiska, it is still required. Obtaining a PMZ stamp revokes the Propiska stamp. For many, this is seen as a revocation of Ukrainian Citizenship, as the Ukraine does not allow dual citizenship.
