The introduction of multiple citizenship in Ukraine opens up new opportunities for Ukrainians and foreigners, but at the same time, the changes also carry a number of risks. Learn more about the advantages, disadvantages and legal changes in Ukraine related to multiple citizenship

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Multiple citizenship is a status in which a person is simultaneously a citizen of two or more countries. This phenomenon is a subject of much debate in the legal field and has its pros and cons. Recent proposals for changes to Ukrainian legislation open up new opportunities for Ukrainians and foreigners with ties to Ukraine. In this article, we will look at what multiple citizenship is, what are its benefits and risks, and how it will affect the lives of citizens.

What is multiple citizenship?

Multiple citizenship, also known as multipatriotism, means that a person is recognized as a citizen of several countries at the same time. As a rule, states conclude bilateral agreements with each other in which they mutually recognize the status of a person with two passports, his or her rights and obligations.

There are several articles in the Constitution of Ukraine that regulate the issue of citizenship. In particular, Article 4 states that there is a single citizenship in Ukraine, and Article 25 states that a citizen of Ukraine cannot be deprived of citizenship and the right to change citizenship. These two norms contradict each other, because despite the fact that the law provides for deprivation of citizenship if a person has received a passport of another state, the Constitution explicitly prohibits this. Therefore, there is a certain legal conflict in Ukraine, which is why experts often note that de facto dual citizenship exists in the country, but is legally prohibited.

The law also contains a list of grounds for acquiring citizenship, the main ones being birth (if the child was born in Ukraine or at least one of the parents is a citizen of Ukraine) and territorial origin, i.e. if a person or his or her close relatives lived in Ukraine before July 16, 1990.

The law also establishes the grounds for renunciation of citizenship, loss of citizenship or its official termination. For example, Ukrainian citizenship can be lost if you voluntarily acquire another citizenship, join the military service of another country, or obtain Ukrainian citizenship on the basis of false information.

According to the new draft law, the reasons for deprivation of Ukrainian citizenship will be described here.

What does the government propose to change?

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has submitted a draft law on multiple citizenship to the parliament. This is evidenced by the card of the draft law No. 11469.

As stated in the explanatory note of the document, the adoption of this law will help ensure the conditions for the return of citizens who were forced to leave Ukraine because of the war, as well as their retention of Ukrainian citizenship. In addition, it will expand opportunities for certain categories of foreigners and stateless persons to acquire Ukrainian citizenship.

The President also noted that all ethnic Ukrainians who were forced to leave the country during various waves of emigration and ended up in Europe, the United States, Canada, Asia, and Latin America will be able to obtain Ukrainian citizenship. But the simplifications will not apply to russian citizens.

We have described in detail who can obtain multiple citizenship and on what grounds here.

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What are the benefits of multiple citizenship?

The introduction of multiple citizenship opens up a number of advantages for Ukrainian citizens and foreigners wishing to acquire Ukrainian citizenship:

1. Preservation of the Ukrainian diaspora: this is especially important for the Ukrainian diaspora that was forced to leave the country because of the war.

2. Additional opportunities for investment: citizens with multiple passports can conduct international business, choose a country to pay taxes and perform military service.

3. Simplified movement: people with multiple citizenships can freely cross borders, use healthcare and education services in different countries.

In addition, multiple citizenship is an effective tool in the fight against the massive departure of Ukrainians abroad because of the war, because the main thing is that they will not be completely lost.

What are the risks of multiple citizenship for Ukraine?

Despite the significant advantages, there are certain risks associated with multiple citizenship:

1. Additional obligations: citizens may be required to fulfill obligations to several states, such as military service or tax payments.

2. Restrictions on public office: in some countries, persons with multiple citizenship may not be eligible to hold public office.

You can get advice on any migration issues on the Visit Ukraine portal. Our lawyers will provide answers to your questions and clarifications on certain legislative nuances. In addition, you can get full legal support on our portal. We will help you prepare all the documents you need, taking into account the current legal requirements in your country of residence. We will also provide professional protection of your rights and interests in case of legal conflicts or disputes. To order a consultation or legal support, please follow this link.

We remind you! Considering the changes in Europe regarding dual citizenship, Ukraine may also become the subject of discussion regarding its own policy in this matter. Read more about whether the changes in the EU may encourage Ukraine to reconsider the changes to the procedure for obtaining multiple passports by citizens in our previous article.

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