The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, signed a law on July 15 that establishes new rules regarding multiple citizenship for Ukrainians and foreigners. The document introduces significant changes to the process of acquiring and retaining Ukrainian citizenship, as well as expanding opportunities for citizens to hold multiple passports from different countries.
This is reported by Kyiv24
What the Law on Multiple Citizenship Changes
After signing the law, the head of state emphasized that these changes would contribute to the unification of Ukrainians living in various countries around the world and support those who have linked their lives to Ukraine, regardless of their origin.
“Thanks to multiple citizenship, we will be able to create more real legal foundations for the unity of our great nation – millions of Ukrainians on all continents, as well as those representatives of other nations who have tied their fate to Ukraine,” Zelensky stressed.
The document specifies the cases in which Ukrainian citizens may hold more than one citizenship. In particular, this applies to:
- children who simultaneously acquire Ukrainian citizenship and that of another state by birth;
- children who are Ukrainian citizens and acquire the citizenship or nationality of their foreign adoptive parents;
- Ukrainian citizens who automatically obtain another citizenship as a result of marriage to a foreigner;
- adult Ukrainian citizens who automatically acquire another citizenship under the laws of a foreign state if they have not received an official document regarding that citizenship;
- foreigners who obtain Ukrainian citizenship through a simplified procedure provided by law;
- Ukrainian citizens who acquire citizenship of a country from a list of states whose citizens can obtain Ukrainian citizenship through a simplified procedure.
Restrictions on Multiple Citizenship
The law prohibits multiple citizenship for individuals who hold citizenship of states designated by the Verkhovna Rada as aggressor or occupying countries, or those that do not recognize the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
Additionally, the law allows Ukrainian citizens to officially hold passports from other countries without losing their Ukrainian citizenship. Foreigners will also be able to obtain a Ukrainian passport if they meet the conditions set by legislation.
It is worth noting that the Verkhovna Rada adopted this bill in its first reading at the end of last year. President Zelensky submitted it for parliamentary consideration back in August 2024. Bill No. 11469 has become an important step in reforming Ukraine’s citizenship system and adapting it to modern global trends.