Ukraine Allows Multiple Citizenship: What Does This Mean for Emigrants in Other Countries
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted a law allowing multiple citizenship. Once the law comes into force, Ukrainians will be able to hold passports of two or more countries at the same time under certain conditions. Previously, this was prohibited and considered a violation of the law, explains Air force.
Photo: Liudmyla Ivashchenko | Dreamstime.com
The bill was developed last year in the Office of the President, and was introduced to parliament directly by Volodymyr Zelensky.
From the very beginning of his presidency, he was a supporter of multiple citizenship and introduced relevant bills to parliament for five years.
The current citizenship regulations in Ukraine have been called imperfect by both government officials and the opposition.
Because of their contradictory nature, Ukrainians have been secretly obtaining passports of other countries for many years. Quite often, this was done by politicians, businessmen and representatives of national minorities. The presidential faction stated that we could be talking about millions of Ukrainians with passports of other countries, although there is no official data on this.
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In addition, despite the war in the country, foreigners continue to receive Ukrainian passports. But even here, everything is not simple. The current legislation allows one to receive a Ukrainian passport only in the event of an obligation to renounce foreign citizenship. But it is unknown how many people have fulfilled this obligation.
Legalized multiple citizenship is intended to solve this problem.
Who will have the right to multiple citizenship?
Most of the articles of the presidential bill concern the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship. Now it can be granted automatically or in a simplified manner to a large category of citizens who already have foreign citizenship.
The document provides that multiple citizenships (nationalities) are permitted in clearly defined cases.
- For example, if a Ukrainian child simultaneously acquires it by birthright or receives it as a result of adoption by foreigners.
- There is also talk about the automatic acquisition of another citizenship by a Ukrainian citizen as a result of marriage to a foreigner.
- Multiple citizenship is permitted if a Ukrainian who has reached the age of majority has automatically received citizenship of another country or has received it in a simplified manner.
- In addition, Ukrainians who have received passports of states included in a special list have the right to multiple citizenship. Citizens of these states, in turn, will be able to obtain Ukrainian citizenship in a simplified manner.
But citizens holding a passport of Russia, the aggressor state, are deprived of this right. Citizens of states that do not recognize the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine will also not receive it. We are talking about countries that voted against the UN General Assembly Resolution "On the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine" of March 27, 2014, No. 68/262.
Then 11 countries voted against: Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, DPRK, Nicaragua, Sudan, Syria, Zimbabwe, Venezuela.
In the next two months, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine must compile a list of countries whose citizens have the right to simplified registration of a Ukrainian passport. (In turn, citizens of Ukraine who become citizens of these countries will also receive the right to multiple citizenship.)
Obtaining citizenship will occur by submitting a special declaration in which the foreigner recognizes himself as a citizen of Ukraine and has the right to retain his first citizenship.
Unofficially, behind the scenes in parliament, they say that the discussion will concern representatives of 30-40 countries. First of all, these are citizens of the EU member states, Japan, Great Britain, Israel, as well as countries with a large Ukrainian diaspora: the USA, Canada, Australia.
Foreigners who were born in Ukraine or have Ukrainian ancestors, as well as those who serve in the Defense Forces, will also have the right to a simplified procedure.
Since 2021, Ukraine has had a simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship for foreigners participating in the defense of the country from aggression, but it required the renunciation of the first citizenship.
Why is it important
Deputy Chairman of the presidential faction "Servant of the People" Yevgeniya Kravchuk calls the adoption of the law a historic decision that is important to millions.
In her opinion, this reform will allow many Ukrainians who have left the country to retain their citizenship.
“That is, to summarize, we are getting changes that allow one to have not only Ukrainian citizenship, but also citizenship of other countries, and at the same time there is a ‘list of others’ and clear conditions for obtaining it,” she said.
Irina Gerashchenko, a representative of the European Solidarity faction, draws attention to the amendment that has been introduced into the text of the bill. It provides for a mandatory exam on knowledge of the Constitution, history, and the state language for those wishing to obtain Ukrainian citizenship.
“At the same time, the bill does not contain a direct provision prohibiting simplified acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship for Russian citizens,” she noted.
In her opinion, the issue of multiple citizenship required a more comprehensive and in-depth discussion.
Only the Batkivshchyna party faction publicly spoke out against the project. Its leader Yulia Tymoshenko stated that the document allows people who have no connection to Ukraine to obtain citizenship.
"To obtain Ukrainian citizenship, it is enough to simply submit an online declaration. Even without crossing our border, they will receive citizenship along with the right to vote, the ability to buy land, and access to social benefits," she wrote on Facebook, calling such potential new citizens "online people."
What about those who received Russian passports?
The adopted law provides for the loss of Ukrainian citizenship for those who “voluntarily acquired” citizenship of the aggressor country, that is, Russia.
This rule may apply to those who received Russian passports in Crimea or other occupied territories of Ukraine.
“Voluntary acquisition” will be considered a case when a Ukrainian has submitted an application or petition for such acquisition to the authorities of the occupying country.
But there are contradictions here – actually, because of the very concept of “voluntariness” of obtaining a Russian passport.
The Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (KHRU) has already drawn attention to the risks. They recall the forced "passportization" of residents of the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine and a certain number of displaced persons.
Among them, the KHRU notes, are those who were forced to accept Russian citizenship, in particular due to problems with property. Formally, these people fall under the norm of "voluntariness" and may lose their Ukrainian citizenship.
About 1,7 million people — almost the entire adult population of Crimea — received Russian passports in the first years after the annexation of the peninsula. How many of them did so out of necessity, and how many precisely because of their allegiance to Russia is unknown.
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Meanwhile, the Ukrainian World Congress warmly approved the new law.
“For many years, the Ukrainian World Congress has advocated for the adoption of such legislation, recognizing its potential to strengthen Ukraine’s global presence and protect the rights of Ukrainians living abroad,” it said. congress page on Facebook— We are grateful to the Ukrainian parliamentarians for their thoughtful and responsible approach to developing the law on multiple citizenship and for their unity in this decision. Bill No. 11469 was supported by representatives of almost the entire political spectrum. After being signed by President Zelensky, the law on multiple citizenship will enter into force and provide the following opportunities: preserving the Ukrainian passport for millions of internally displaced persons; attracting the diaspora to live and work in Ukraine and for the benefit of Ukraine; restrictions for citizens of unfriendly countries and thorough verification of new citizens; preserving identity through exams in knowledge of the Ukrainian language, history of Ukraine and the foundations of the Constitution for new citizens; guaranteed citizenship for the descendants of Ukrainian citizens."
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