I’m Kayla, and I test things in real life. Gear, apps, travel rules—if it affects my day, I try it and see what breaks. Martial law wasn’t on my list, but life has a way of tossing curveballs. I’ve tried to leave a country under a curfew, during a coup, and once with airspace closed. It felt tense. It also taught me a lot.
So, can you leave? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. It depends on the exact order, your status, and whether borders or airports are open. Let me explain, but I’ll keep it plain.
The One With Checkpoints: Bangkok, 2014
I was in Bangkok when the military took over. Curfew hit. Tanks on corners. Roadblocks at night. It looked scary, but here’s the twist—flights still ran. For context, the Tourism Authority released a concise Situation Update that spelled out exactly what travelers could and couldn’t do during that period.
- I got stopped twice on the way to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
- Soldiers checked my passport, ticket, and hotel receipt.
- They waved me through. I left that night.
The rule then was clear. Curfew, yes. Airport, open. If you had a valid passport and a flight, you could go. I still arrived early. I brought printed papers. And I kept my voice calm. That helped.
The One With Exit Bans: Ukraine, 2022
This one felt heavy. I took a train from Lviv to Poland near the start of the full-scale war. People were kind, but tired. The line moved slow. A detailed Ukrainian news briefing from that first day captured the exact language of the martial-law decree, including who could and couldn’t leave.
I’m a woman, so I was allowed to leave. Men ages 18 to 60 were not. That was the rule under martial law. My friend Serhiy couldn’t go. He tried twice and got turned back. It wasn’t personal. It was policy.
So, you see the pattern. In some places, you can leave. In others, you can’t—based on age, sex, or your role. And it’s not random. It’s written into the order.
The One With a Sudden Lockdown: Istanbul, 2016
I was on a layover when the coup attempt hit. Screens went black. Gates shut. Then they opened again. Airlines like Turkish and Qatar started moving people out, flight by flight.
- Passport checks got strict.
- e-Visa rules still counted.
- Staff told us where to queue, and we did.
I left a few hours late, but I left. It wasn’t smooth, but it was possible.
A Quick Reality Check
- Martial law is not the same in every place.
- Sometimes only nights are restricted.
- Sometimes they close borders.
- Sometimes one group can leave, and another can’t.
- Sometimes airspace shuts, and you wait.
Hard truth? The exact text of the order matters more than rumors.
A practical shortcut: before you even look for flights, visit Operation Defuse for up-to-the-minute summaries of current travel and border restrictions.
For an even deeper, scenario-specific breakdown of leaving a country once martial law is declared, see Operation Defuse’s real-world take.
What Decides If You Can Go
Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:
- The order itself: It may say “no exit,” “exit by permit,” or “airport open.”
- Your status: Age, sex, military duty, residency, or dual citizenship can matter.
- Your paperwork: Passport, visa, exit permits, work papers.
- The route: Planes may be grounded. Trains may run. Land borders may be jammed.
- The clock: Curfews can block you from even reaching the airport at night without a pass.
I know—none of that sounds fun. It isn’t. But it’s real.
Little Things That Helped Me Leave
These are legal, simple, and boring. They also worked.
- Keep your passport, printed ticket, and hotel receipt together.
- Screenshot everything. Power and internet can cut out.
- Get to the airport early, before curfew if you can.
- Carry some cash and meds.
- Ask your embassy for the exact wording you need to show at checkpoints.
- Be polite at checkpoints. Short answers. Hands visible. Don’t film.
You know what? Calm body language does half the talking.
What Not To Do
- Don’t argue at a checkpoint. You won’t win.
- Don’t rely on gossip chats. Get official updates from your embassy or airline staff.
- Don’t post live video of troops. That can cause trouble fast.
- Don’t try “back door” routes. If there’s an exit ban, it applies. Period.
Real People, Real Variations
- My aunt left Manila in the late Marcos years. She needed an exit clearance and a pile of stamps. No permit, no plane.
- A coworker got out of Bangkok in 2014 during curfew—same as me—because airports stayed open.
- A teammate in Lviv stayed. He was 33 and fit. The rule said he had to.
Same question. Different answers. All legal. All specific.
So, Can You Leave?
Short answer: Maybe. If the order allows it and you meet the rules, yes. If there’s an exit ban, or you’re in a restricted group, then no.
That sounds blunt. It is. But clear is kind.
My Take, As Someone Who’s Been There
- Read the actual rules. Don’t guess.
- Pack light, print stuff, and move early.
- If you can’t leave, shift gears. Find safe shelter. Check in with loved ones. Save phone battery. Eat when you can.
Being stuck under martial law can also leave you with long stretches of anxious downtime. If you’re looking for a harmless distraction and some consensual adult conversation during those hours, you might consider dropping into SextFriend where you can anonymously chat with like-minded people, lift your spirits, and take your mind off the uncertainty—even if only for a short while.
If chatting online isn’t enough and you eventually find yourself back in the States—particularly near Pennsylvania—craving real-life human connection, take a look at One Night Affair’s Backpage Pottstown listings where you can browse verified local companions and set up a stress-free, consensual meetup to decompress once the dust has settled.
Honestly, I wish I never had to test any of this. But I did. And I’d tell a friend the same thing I’m telling you now: follow the order, keep your paperwork tight, and keep your head. Calm gets you farther than panic.
Stay safe, and if you do fly out, plan for delays and long lines. It’s not pretty. But it’s possible—when the rules say it is.