On 15 July 2025, the president of Ukraine signed the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine to Ensure the Exercise of the Right to Acquire and Retain Ukrainian Citizenship” No. 4502-IX, dated 18 June 2025 (“Law”). The Law allows individuals to hold another citizenship alongside Ukrainian citizenship.
Key changes
- The concept of multiple citizenship is being introduced, allowing individuals to have citizenship of two or more states concurrently.
- A simplified procedure has been introduced for acquiring or restoring Ukrainian citizenship for certain categories of foreigners. Upon acquiring Ukrainian citizenship, these individuals need to submit a declaration that, in legal relations with the Ukrainian state, the person recognizes themselves solely as a citizen of Ukraine.
- Among other things, the Law recognizes the following instances of multiple citizenship:
- Simultaneous acquisition of Ukrainian and foreign citizenship by birth
- Acquisition of foreign citizenship by a Ukrainian citizen by virtue of marriage
- Acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by a foreigner through a simplified procedure.
- The states whose citizens can acquire Ukrainian citizenship through a simplified procedure are to be determined based on a procedure to be approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. In making this determination, the following factors are to be considered: (i) the state’s membership of the European Union and (ii) the restrictive measures (sanctions) applied by the state in response to armed aggression against Ukraine.
- A citizen of an aggressor state, an occupying state or a state whose citizens are not eligible for a simplified acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship must submit a commitment to renounce their citizenship of this state and a declaration acknowledging themselves as a citizen of Ukraine, along with their application to acquire, be accepted for or restore Ukrainian citizenship.
- Foreigners who have committed to renounce their foreign citizenship(s) must provide a document confirming the termination of their foreign citizenship(s) issued by the competent authority of the respective state within two years from the date of acquiring Ukrainian citizenship.
- Foreigners and stateless persons may become eligible for Ukrainian citizenship after completing one year of military service under a contract with the army during martial law.
- Grounds for losing Ukrainian citizenship have been added. They now include the following:
- Voluntary acquisition by a Ukrainian citizen of citizenship of an aggressor or occupying state
- Service under contract in the army of an aggressor or occupying state
- Participation in armed aggression against Ukraine on the side of an aggressor or occupying state, or a state engaged in armed conflict with Ukraine, or supporting (or having supported) this aggression; or participation in the occupation administration in the territory of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation.
Recommendations
The Law will only enter into force on 16 January 2026. However, we recommend taking note of the key changes set out above and seeking advice on any uncertainties you may have.
