Acquisition of Ukrainian Citizenship
Ukraine recognises and guarantees human rights and freedoms, protects them outside the state. In turn, the citizen must comply with the laws and regulations of the state, and fulfil the established duties.
The legislation of Ukraine on citizenship is based on the following principles:
– Single Citizenship, which excludes the possibility of the existence of citizenship of other states;
– Prevention of cases of statelessness;
– The impossibility of depriving a citizen of Ukraine of Ukrainian citizenship;
– Recognition of the right of a citizen of Ukraine to change citizenship;
– Impossibility of automatic acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by a foreigner or stateless person as a result of marriage with a citizen of Ukraine or acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by his/her spouse and automatic termination of Ukrainian citizenship by one of the spouses due to termination of marriage or termination of Ukrainian citizenship by the other spouse;
– Equality before the law of citizens of Ukraine regardless of the grounds, procedure and moment of their acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship;
– Preservation of Ukrainian citizenship regardless of the place of residence of the citizen of Ukraine.
Ukraine citizenship benefits
As of 19 July 2022 Ukrainian citizens could travel to 144 countries and territories without a visa or with a visa on arrival, ranking the Ukrainian passport 35th in terms of travel freedom, according to the Henley Passport Index 2022.
E.g. Ukrainian passports benefit its holders to enjoy visa-free entry to the European Union.
Is it easy to get Ukrainian citizenship?
Every case is individual and the procedure is quite long and bureaucratic.
The key legal instruments that regulate Ukrainian citizenship are the Law of Ukraine on the Ukrainian Citizenship and the Presidential Decree of 27 March 2001 No. 215 .
Registration of the acquisition of citizenship of Ukraine is carried out solely on the initiative of the candidate.
A petition for the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship may be filed not only by a stateless person, but also by a foreigner who undertakes to terminate foreign citizenship within 2 years from the moment of his registration as a citizen of Ukraine.
For complex migration issues, it’s advisable to seek assistance from a specialised lawyer for proper understanding of legal nuances. Consider scheduling a consultation.
Without a Lawyer– Complexity, bureaucracy, and intricacies. – Long queues and extended or missed deadlines. – High risks of errors and rejections. – Unnecessary waste of time and finances. |
With a Lawyer– Clearness and dependability. – Swiftness and punctual adherence to deadlines. – Compliance and guaranteed results. – Time and cost savings. |
Ukraine dual citizenship
Basically Ukraine does not accept dual citizenship. If a citizen of Ukraine acquired the citizenship of another state or states, then in legal relations with Ukraine he is recognized only as a citizen of Ukraine. If a foreigner has acquired the citizenship of Ukraine, then in legal relations with Ukraine he is recognized only as a citizen of Ukraine.
Persons who have acquired the citizenship of Ukraine and have undertaken to terminate foreign citizenship are documented by temporary certificates of a citizen of Ukraine for a term up to 2 years. Passports of a citizen of Ukraine to such persons are issued only after termination of their foreign citizenship or in case of submission of declarations of refusal of foreign citizenship.
Acquiring Ukrainian citizenship by children between the ages of 14 and 18 can take place only with their consent.
Requirements for Citizenship of Ukraine
Citizenship of Ukraine is acquired:
1) by birth;
2) by territorial origin;
3) as a result of admission to citizenship;
4) as a result of renewal of citizenship;
5) as a result of adoption;
6) as a result of the establishment of guardianship over the child;
7) as a result of the establishment of guardianship over a person recognized by the court as incapable;
8) in connection with the stay in Ukrainian citizenship of one or both parents of the child;
9) as a result of establishing paternity;
10) on other grounds stipulated by international treaties of Ukraine.
Acquiring citizenship of Ukraine by birth
Legal grounds:
– parents or one of the parents at the time of her birth were citizens of Ukraine;
– was born on the territory of Ukraine from stateless persons who legally reside in Ukraine;
– was born outside of Ukraine from stateless persons who permanently live legally on the territory of Ukraine and did not acquire the citizenship of another state at birth;
– was born on the territory of Ukraine from foreigners who legally reside in Ukraine and did not acquire any parent at the birth of a citizen;
– was born on the territory of Ukraine, one of whose parents was granted refugee status in Ukraine or asylum in Ukraine, and did not acquire any parent under the birth of a parent or acquired the citizenship of the parent who was granted refugee status in Ukraine or asylum in Ukraine;
– born on the territory of Ukraine from a foreigner and stateless persons who legally reside in the territory of Ukraine, and did not acquire, at the birth of the citizenship, of a parent who is a foreigner;
– is a newborn child found on the territory of Ukraine, both of whose parents are unknown (found);
A person who has the right to acquire Ukrainian citizenship by birth is a citizen of Ukraine from the moment of his birth.
Acquisition of citizenship of Ukraine by territorial origin
A stateless person or a foreigner who has submitted an obligation to terminate foreign citizenship and has filed an application for the acquisition of citizenship of Ukraine, as well as his minor children, are registered by citizens of Ukraine, if such person (one from options):
– he/she or at least one of his/her parents, grandfather or grandmother, relatives (full and inequal) brother or sister, son or daughter, grandchild or grandson were born or permanently resided until August 24, 1991 in the territory that became the territory of Ukraine in accordance with the Law of Ukraine The Law of Ukraine “On the Succession of Ukraine”;
– he/she or at least one of his/her parents, grandparents or grandparents, relatives (full and inhomogeneous) brothers or sisters were born or permanently resided in other territories that were at the time of their birth or during their permanent residence in the Ukrainian People’s Republic, the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic of Ukraine, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic, Transcarpathian Ukraine, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR).
Acquisition of citizenship of Ukraine by admission
Legal grounds:
a foreigner or a stateless person may be, upon their petitions, taken to the citizenship of Ukraine. The conditions for admittance to the citizenship of Ukraine are (simultaneous execution) *:
– recognition and observance of the Constitution of Ukraine and the laws of Ukraine;
– submission of a declaration on the absence of foreign citizenship (for stateless persons) or an obligation to terminate foreign citizenship (for foreigners);
– permanent residence on legal grounds on the territory of Ukraine during the last five years;
– obtaining the permit for immigration;
– possession or understanding of the state language to the extent sufficient for communication;
– availability of legal sources of existence.
Act promptly and reach out to an attorney for enhanced assistance and services. Schedule a consultation without delay.
How to get Ukrainian citizenship by marriage
Foreign citizens and stateless persons can apply for admission to Ukrainian citizenship in case they are married with Ukrainian citizens. In that case the person has first to obtain an immigration permit to Ukraine after being in a marriage for 2 years.
In such a case the rule of continuous residence on legal grounds in the territory of Ukraine during the last five years is not applied to applicants of the mentioned category.
See about the immigration to Ukraine on the following link.
How to get Ukrainian citizenship by investment or can I buy Ukraine citizenship?
To “buy Ukrainian passport” is possible in case of making a significant investment in Ukraine’s economy, amounting not less than 100,000.00 USD.
The scheme works as the following. A foreigner registers a company in Ukraine, makes his/her sole investment in the assets of the company. It can be either money in a bank account or property (any kind which can be legally identified).
Apart from the company registration formalities the procedure requires obtaining an investor visa (optional), a temporary residence permit on that basis (optional), obtaining an immigration permit (mandatory) which takes up to 12 months.
After obtaining an immigration permit to Ukraine the investor will be able to apply for a permanent residence permit.
The difficulty of the mentioned scheme is that the investor has to be in Ukraine for not less than 183 days during each of 5 next years, which means a continuous residence on legal grounds in the territory of Ukraine.
Ukrainian citizenship test
Apart from the legal formalities the successful candidate has to pass an exam of knowledge of Ukrainian language. The exam is supervised by the National Commission on State Language Standards.
Exams to determine the level of proficiency in the state language are held at the exam sites of authorized institutions (organizations) that conduct exams for the level of proficiency in the state language. You can register and take the exam at any authorized institution, regardless of your place of residence.
To pass the exam and receive a certificate of proficiency in the state language, the applicant must:
– register online in the exam system to determine the level of proficiency in the state language;
– attend the exam at the registered time to the selected location with a document identifying the person and the electronic digital signature device;
– pass a computer exam.
The results of the exam are established no later than 15 calendar days after the date of the exam.
The level of proficiency in the state language is confirmed by a state certificate.
The state certificate is stored in the Register of State Certificates.
For foreigners who intend to acquire Ukrainian citizenship, the amount of payment for taking the exam is 492 hryvnias.
How long does it take to get a Ukrainian passport
Depending on which scheme is considered it can take from one to five and more years to get the citizenship of Ukraine. After all, the citizenship of Ukraine is granted by the President of Ukraine, except the cases when the applicant aquasizes the citizenship by birth.
The consideration might take about 1 year after passing all the formalities.
How to renounce Ukrainian citizenship
A citizen of Ukraine who, according to the current legislation of Ukraine, is a person who permanently lives abroad, may renounce the citizenship of Ukraine at his/her request.
If the child left together with the parents for permanent residence abroad and the parents leave the Ukrainian citizenship, at the request of one of the parents, the child can leave the Ukrainian citizenship together with the parents.
If one of the parents left with the child for permanent residence abroad and renounces the citizenship of Ukraine, and the other remains a citizen of Ukraine, the child can renounce the citizenship of Ukraine together with the parent who renounces the citizenship of Ukraine, at his/her request.
If one of the parents left with the child for permanent residence abroad and is relinquishing Ukrainian citizenship, and the other is a foreigner or a stateless person, the child may relinquish Ukrainian citizenship together with the parent who relinquishes Ukrainian citizenship, at his/her request.
If the child left for permanent residence abroad and his/her parents left Ukrainian citizenship, the child can leave Ukraine at the request of one of the parents.
If the child left for permanent residence abroad with one of the parents and he/she left the citizenship of Ukraine, and the other is a citizen of Ukraine, the child can leave the citizenship of Ukraine at the request of the parent who left the citizenship of Ukraine.
If the child left for permanent residence abroad with one of the parents and he/she left the citizenship of Ukraine, and the other is a foreigner or a stateless person, the child can leave the citizenship of Ukraine at the request of the parent who left the citizenship of Ukraine.
A child who, in accordance with the current legislation of Ukraine, is considered to be permanently living abroad can renounce Ukrainian citizenship at the request of one of the parents.
A child who acquired the citizenship of Ukraine by birth, if at the time of his birth the parents or at least one of them were foreigners or stateless persons, may renounce the citizenship of Ukraine at the request of one of the parents, regardless of the child’s place of residence.
A child adopted by a spouse, one of whom is a citizen of Ukraine and the other a foreigner, may renounce Ukrainian citizenship at the request of the adopter who is a foreigner.
A child adopted by foreigners or stateless persons may renounce Ukrainian citizenship at the request of one of the adopters.
Renunciation of the citizenship of Ukraine is allowed if a person has acquired the citizenship of another state or received a document issued by the authorized bodies of another state stating that the citizen of Ukraine will acquire its citizenship if he renounces the citizenship of Ukraine.
Children aged 14 to 18 can leave Ukrainian citizenship only with their consent.
Renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship is not allowed if the person seeking renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship has been notified in Ukraine of suspicion of committing a criminal offense or in respect of which there is a conviction of a court in Ukraine that has entered into legal force and is subject to execution.
The date of termination of Ukrainian citizenship in the cases provided for in this article is the date of issuance of the relevant Decree of the President of Ukraine.
A citizen of Ukraine who has submitted an application for renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship or in respect of whom the loss of citizenship is being processed, until the issuance of the decree of the President of Ukraine on the termination of Ukrainian citizenship, enjoys all the rights and bears all the duties of a citizen of Ukraine.
Why need an immigration lawyer for Ukrainian citizenship
Our immigration lawyer Ivan Goncharov is an experienced practitioner of Ukrainian and international law, from a very beginning till the final result he can assist you to pursue your best interests, counsel you on every legal detail, assist in collecting appropriate documents, submit them to relevant authorities, follow the consideration of the case and defend your interests in case of any problem.
Take immediate action and contact an attorney to access exceptional assistance and services. Schedule a consultation right away.
Ivan Goncharov
Immigration Lawyer
Bringing forth more than 10 years of hands-on expertise, I specialize in matters encompassing visas, border crossings, residence permits, immigration, citizenship, international protection, and statelessness. My legal services are tailored to ensure seamless migration experiences, with a particular focus on adept representation in migration disputes, the appeals process, and advocating against governmental inaction. My background and valuable experience spans across the private sector and international non-governmental organizations.
Attention
Devoting meticulous attention to every case, crafting tailored solutions that meet your unique needs.
Guarantee
Provision of legal services under the contract, flexible options for different budgets with staged payment.
Refund
Court success may result in the defendant paying the lawyer’s fees, damages, and compensation.
See what our Clients say about us and our exceptional service
Подав дозвіл на імміграцію в 2021 році, до останього часу не надавали рішення, 15.03.2023 я звернувся до Івана Гончарова, щоб вирішити мою справу. Завдяки Івану Гончарову 21.03.2023 я отримав дозвіл на імміграцію. Справжній професіонал з великою літерою!
Була проблема із забороною в'їзду для громадянина Еквадору, всі питання вирішили за 2 тижні, з мінімальними витратами
Thank you so so much.
Yet the embassy says we did not prove the purpose of stay in Ukraine ( as per the refusal letter)
I felt unfairly treated and decided to make an appeal. Having no idea as to how to write the... appeal letter, I went to the internet and googled " Immigration lawyers in Ukraine" I found Armax group and met them on WhatsApp.
Immediately they swung into action, in a space of one month the passport with the visa securely sticked in it was in my mail box !!!
Armax group are pragmatic and results oriented immigration agency. I recommend them to all who need their services.
Ekow Brakwah ( Guinea Bissau)read more
We are extremely grateful to u for your work. You are a true professional in your business. You are like St. Nicholas, who gives happiness. We will definitely recommend u to anyone who needs quality legal assistance. Thank you.
Thanks .read more
They provide me a valuable service with good responses and done my work within given time.when you want any kind of legal information you can try to contact with him.I hope you will be satisfied with his work.Again thank you so much AR MAX GROUP.
Great job!!! Keep it up.
They respond promptly and the lawyer is a very competent lawyer.
Thanks a lot Ar max group