How to prove Ukrainian origin and obtain Ukrainian citizenship?

Obtaining Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin allows people with Ukrainian roots to reconnect with their historical homeland. This process is based on family ties with Ukrainian territories. Find out what documents are required to prove Ukrainian descent and what the citizenship procedure looks like in general

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The procedure of acquiring Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin provides foreigners and stateless persons with the opportunity to acquire Ukrainian citizenship on the basis of their historical and family ties with the territory of Ukraine. This simplified procedure does not require a presidential decree and usually takes about 3 months.

Main criteria for obtaining citizenship by territorial origin

According to Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On Citizenship of Ukraine’, the following persons have the right to acquire citizenship by territorial origin.

Foreigners or stateless persons, if they or at least one of their immediate relatives (parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren) were born or permanently resided before 16 July 1990 in the territory that became part of Ukraine after the collapse of the USSR.

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Documents required to prove Ukrainian descent

▪️ Birth certificate of a relative confirming his/her birth on the territory of Ukraine.

▪️ Parental marriage certificates or other documents confirming kinship.

▪️ Archival certificates or court decisions confirming the fact of permanent residence of a relative on the territory of Ukraine before 16 July 1990, if the birth certificate is not sufficient.

To find out how long you need to live in Ukraine to obtain citizenship, follow the link.

What documents are required to obtain citizenship?

1. an application in the prescribed form;

2. a 3.5 x 4.5 cm photo (on matte paper);

3. a document confirming the fact of birth or permanent residence on the territory of Ukraine (for example, a birth certificate, a copy of the employment record book, a court decision);

4. an application for change of foreign citizenship if there is an international agreement between Ukraine and a foreign state on automatic termination of citizenship of that state with the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship).

The list may be supplemented by other documents. For example, if the basis for acquiring citizenship is the birth of the applicant's grandmother in Ukraine, then documents confirming the relationship between the applicant and his/her grandmother must also be submitted

🔻 birth certificate of the grandmother in the territory of Ukraine;

🔻 marriage certificate (if the grandmother's surname has changed);

🔻 birth certificate of one of the applicant's parents;

🔻 marriage certificate of the applicant's parents (if necessary - for example, if the applicant's mother's surname changed after the marriage);

🔻 birth certificate of the applicant.

If citizenship is requested for a child, the application is submitted by one of the child's parents. If the child is 14 years old at the time of submitting the documents, the child's consent to obtain Ukrainian citizenship must also be submitted.

What should I do if I do not have the required documents?

In the absence of the necessary documents confirming the fact of birth or residence in Ukraine, it is recommended to contact archival institutions or registry offices to restore them.

If applying to these authorities does not help to establish the fact of birth or permanent residence in Ukraine or the existence of relevant family ties for citizenship, a relevant court decision should be submitted.

The procedure for submitting documents

There are two ways to apply for citizenship:

In person in Ukraine: Documents are submitted to the territorial unit of the State Migration Service of Ukraine at the place of registration or actual residence.

Abroad: For citizens residing abroad, documents are submitted to a diplomatic mission or consular post of Ukraine in the country of residence.

Consideration of an application for citizenship by territorial origin usually takes about 3 months.

Important! After obtaining Ukrainian citizenship, it is necessary to renounce the previous citizenship, if it is provided for by the legislation of the country of origin. Within 2 years from the date of registration as a citizen of Ukraine, a foreigner must provide the Migration Service with a document issued by an authorised body of the relevant state on the termination of foreign citizenship.

Visit Ukraine lawyers provide professional support in the process of obtaining citizenship. They help to prepare documents, check compliance with legal requirements and accompany clients at all stages of the process.

In order to avoid delays and mistakes in the process of acquiring citizenship, we advise you to contact the migration lawyers of Visit Ukraine.

Book a consultation now and get expert support!

We remind you! Obtaining Ukrainian citizenship by foreigners is a complex process that depends on many factors. We told you on what grounds foreigners most often obtained Ukrainian citizenship in 2024 and how the trends have changed.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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