The procedure for confirming a child's citizenship in Ukraine is mandatory for obtaining a Ukrainian passport and other important documents. Find out about the required documents, deadlines, and peculiarities of the procedure for different categories of applicants

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The child's citizenship in Ukraine requires separate confirmation, as the birth certificate itself only records the fact of birth and family affiliation. At the same time, a significant number of Ukrainian women with children left Ukraine with only their children's birth certificates. And some of the children were born abroad. And since it is impossible to issue a national and foreign passport for a child without proof of citizenship, Visit Ukraine lawyers often receive requests for this document.

The procedure for obtaining proof of citizenship, the necessary documents and the specifics of the process for different categories of applicants are described below.

Why is there a need for proof of citizenship?

Since 2001, Ukraine has had a special procedure for confirming the citizenship of children. Although a birth certificate certifies the fact of birth and kinship, it is not a document confirming citizenship. This function is performed by a special certificate issued by the State Migration Service at the place of registration of one of the parents.

Specifics of the procedure for different categories of citizens

The process of confirming citizenship differs depending on the situation:

● For children born in Ukraine to Ukrainian citizens, the procedure is simplified. In such cases, as a rule, there is no need to confirm Ukrainian citizenship additionally, as children born in Ukraine to Ukrainian citizens automatically acquire Ukrainian citizenship. However, proof of citizenship may still be required to obtain a foreign passport or other documents.

● If one of the parents is a foreigner or the child was born abroad, the process requires an application to the SMS of Ukraine and additional documents.

When is proof of citizenship required?

A certificate of citizenship is required in the following cases:

● One of the parents is a foreigner or a stateless person (the child was born in Ukraine)

● Both parents are foreigners or stateless persons, but the child was born in Ukraine

● The child was born outside Ukraine, but at least one of the parents is a citizen of Ukraine

● The child was born abroad to a Ukrainian family

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Procedure for obtaining a certificate of citizenship

To obtain a certificate of citizenship, you must:

1. Apply to the local office of the SMS

2. Submit a full package of documents

3. Wait for the documents to be checked

4. Receive a decision on issuance of a certificate or refusal

Required documents

To obtain a certificate, you must provide:

● Application form of the established form

● A certified copy of the birth certificate

● 2 photos 3.5×4.5 (for children over 5 years old)

● A copy of the passport of the parent - a citizen of Ukraine

● Copies of documents of foreign parents (if any)

● Parents' marriage certificate

Important: for children over 14 years of age, a notarized consent to obtain citizenship is required.

Peculiarities of registering a child born abroad as a citizen of Ukraine

To register a foreign-born child as a citizen of Ukraine, you need to apply to a consulate and provide

● a legally certified document from a medical institution on the child's birth

● an application for registration of the child as a citizen of Ukraine

● the passport of the applicant (mother or father) who is a citizen of Ukraine.

Please note! The application must be submitted immediately after the birth, but no later than one month from the date of birth, and in case of a stillborn child - no later than three days.

If you have any questions about obtaining a child's citizenship certificate, please contact Visit Ukraine's professional migration lawyers. They will provide expert advice and help you prepare all the necessary documents correctly.

We remind you! Confirmation of citizenship may be required not only for children but also for other categories of persons. For more information on the procedure for obtaining a certificate of registration as a citizen of Ukraine for adults, please follow the link.

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