How to get a free voucher for a child in 2026: who is eligible

According to the Cabinet of Ministers' resolution of February 25, 2026, children of privileged categories of citizens in Ukraine can go to health and recreation facilities free of charge. However, in practice, not everyone manages to get a voucher. The main question is how to do it correctly. Let's figure out who can qualify for a free vacation and how to arrange it.

Who is eligible for a free vacation?

Children aged 7-18 from privileged categories are eligible for a voucher. These include:

1. Children of servicemen of the Armed Forcesof Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service, the National Guard, rescuers of the State Emergency Service, and police officers.
2. Children of internally displaced persons.
3. Children of war veterans who have been awarded state honors (state awards, the title of Hero of Ukraine, special services to the state).
4. Children of fallen (deceased) Defenders of Ukraine (persons who were directly involved in the defense of the state).
5. Orphans and children deprived of parental care.
6. Children living in settlements on the contact line.
7. Children with disabilities.
8. Children from large families.
9. Children from low-income families.

Does everyone get vouchers?

Even if a child belongs to one of the above categories, this does not guarantee an instant voucher. The problem is that the number of places and state funding are limited. Therefore, even if a child is eligible for a voucher, he or she may be put on a waiting list or offered a trip later.

How to get a vacation certificate

1. One of the parents (or a person in loco parentis) must contact the structural unit responsible for organizing the rehabilitation and recreation of children and submit an application. Such a unit may be a social protection department or an ASC.

2. The following documents must be provided:

• passport of one of the parents;
• a document confirming the appointment of a person as the child's legal representative (if the documents are submitted by a person replacing the parents)
• the child's birth certificate;
• a document confirming the preferential category of the parent or child.

3. The structural unit must review the documents and respond within three business days. If the documents meet the requirements, the structural unit issues a certificate confirming the child's eligibility for health and recreation services. If there are any deficiencies in the documents, they must be corrected within three business days. The certificate is valid for three months from the date of its issuance.

Details of communication with the recreation center

Children can have a rest in children's camps, sanatoriums and specialized recreational facilities in Volyn, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Rivne, Ternopil, Khmelnytsky and Chernivtsi regions. With a certificate from the structural unit, parents can choose a recreation facility among those with which the Social Protection Fund for Persons with Disabilities has an agreement.

After choosing a recreation center, you must send copies of the following documents to its e-mail address:

• apassport
• a child's identity document;
• a certificate issued by the structural unit.

If the documents are submitted correctly, the facility confirms the possibility of providing services by means of electronic communications, indicating the date of their provision. If an error is found when submitting documents, it must be corrected within three business days. If the error is not corrected in time or if errors are found again, the institution refuses to provide services. However, parents have the right to re-submit the documents.

Upon arrival at the recreation center, one of the parents enters into an agreement with the institution, provides the original documents and a medical certificate for the child in the form No. 079/о.

You can get a voucher for health improvement and recreation only once a year. Please note that the application procedure has certain difficulties and provides for a fairly short timeframe for eliminating deficiencies in the documentation. Parents involved in the application process should keep the matter under control at all times.

Олег Пархітько