Ukrainian citizenship

Coat of arms of Ukraine

Citizenship of Ukraine is governed by the Law on Citizenship of Ukraine and by the Ukrainian Constitution.^[1][2]

Definition of Ukrainian citizenship

Citizens of Ukraine are defined as:

• citizens of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, present and permanently living on the territory of the former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic at the moment of the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine on August 24, 1991;
• stateless persons, residing on the territory of Ukraine on November 13, 1991;
• Persons who came to Ukraine for permanent residence since 13 November 1991 and who had "the citizen of Ukraine" inscription inserted into their 1974-type passport of the USSR by the domestic affairs authorities of Ukraine, as well as the children of such persons who arrived to Ukraine together with their parents, provided that they had not attained their majority before the entry to Ukraine;
• Persons who have acquired the citizenship of Ukraine in accordance with the laws of Ukraine and the international treaties of Ukraine.

Acquisition of the citizenship

International travel passport details page

The citizenship of Ukraine may be acquired in one of the following ways:^[3]

• by descent:
  • Child born within the territory of Ukraine with at least one parent a citizen of Ukraine.
  • Child born abroad, having permanent residence in Ukraine, with at least one parent a citizen of Ukraine.
• by registration: Citizenship may be granted by registration for the following persons:
  • Children adopted by citizens of Ukraine.
  • Persons who have no other citizenship and at least one parent or grandparent Ukrainian by birth.
  • Foreign persons and persons without citizenship, under certain conditions listed in the Statute on Citizenship.
• by naturalization: Ukrainian citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person does not possess any foreign citizenship, has resided in Ukraine for at least five years, is able to function in the Ukrainian language, and is knowledgeable of the Ukrainian Constitution.

Birth within the territory of Ukraine does not automatically confer citizenship.

Loss of citizenship

The citizenship may be lost in the following cases.^[3]

• Voluntary: Voluntary renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship is permitted by law.
• Involuntary: The following are grounds for involuntary loss of Ukrainian citizenship:
  • Person voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship.
  • Person enrolls for military service, security service, law enforcement activities, judicial bodies, or other bodies of state power of a foreign state

The decision on involuntary termination of Ukrainian citizenship can only be adopted by the President.^[4]

Dual citizenship

Ukrainian Law currently does not recognise dual citizenship.^[5] However there are citizens of Ukraine who hold dual citizenship.^[6][7] Various estimates put the number of Ukrainians with more than one passport from 300,000 to a few million.^[8] Within Ukrainian boundaries Ukrainian citizens who also hold multiple citizenships are considered to be solely Ukrainian citizens.^[9]

“	If a citizen of Ukraine acquires citizenship (nationality) of another state or states, then in legal relations with Ukraine he/she is recognized as the citizen of Ukraine only. If a foreigner acquires the citizenship of Ukraine, then in legal relations with Ukraine he/she is recognized as the citizen of Ukraine only...	”
—Article 2. The law of Ukraine on citizenship of Ukraine.

References

1. ^ "Citizenship" (in English). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. http://www.mfa.gov.ua/mfa/en/273.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
2. ^ "Law on Citizenship of Ukraine" (in English). Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. http://www.mfa.gov.ua/mfa/en/publication/content/719.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Citizenship Laws of the World, United States Office of Personnel Management Investigations Service
4. ^ Law on Citizenship. Article 22.
5. ^ Constitution of Ukraine: Article 4
6. ^ (Ukrainian) З життя українських олігархів – вілла Коломойського на Женевському озері, Ukrayinska Pravda (March 10, 2009)
7. ^ (Russian) "Посольство Украины подтвердило гибель трех украинцев в крушении Як-42". Moscow: RIA Novosti. 7 September 2011. http://ria.ru/incidents/20110907/431989797.html. 
8. ^ Dual Identities, Kyiv Post (July 9, 2009)
9. ^ The Law of Ukraine On Citizenship of Ukraine: Article 2