Conscripts with residence permits in other countries and dual citizenship banned from leaving Ukraine
Ukrainians with residence permits in other countries were banned from traveling abroad. About this reported spokesman of the State Border Service Andriy Demchenko.
“Previously, we actually released from the territory of Ukraine persons who had GNP outside of Ukraine. Currently, we do not allow this category of citizens“, Demchenko said.
In addition, US Embassy in Ukraine announced the cancellation of the exception regarding “residence abroad”, which previously allowed certain categories of Ukrainian men aged 18-60 to leave the country, as of June 1.
“After this change, American-Ukrainian persons with dual citizenship, including those who live in the USA, will no longer be able to leave the country. Ukrainian legislation does not recognize dual citizenship. Therefore, American-Ukrainian persons with dual citizenship, while in Ukraine, are considered exclusively as citizens of Ukraine, and the rights and obligations of citizens of Ukraine apply to them“, the message of the embassy says.
The embassy reminded that under the conditions of martial law in Ukraine, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the country. Previously, persons with dual American-Ukrainian citizenship from this group could enter Ukraine and then leave it if they deregistered their place of residence in Ukraine and registered their place of residence in the United States.
Explanation of the State Border Service
Vocabulary State Border Service Andriy Demchenko commented on the statement of the US Embassy, noting that Ukrainians with dual citizenship have always been considered as citizens of Ukraine with corresponding rights and obligations.
“The wording that is spreading on various resources that Ukrainians with dual citizenship will now not be released from the country is, to put it mildly, incorrect. I can note once again that dual citizenship is prohibited in Ukraine“, – he said.
Demchenko emphasized that these norms were in force before, and Ukrainians who tried to pass themselves off as foreigners were repeatedly found at the border.
Exception for persons with permanent residence abroad
The spokesperson of the DPSU noted that the restrictions do not apply to citizens of Ukraine who permanently reside outside of Ukraine and have appropriate notes about this in their documents.
“At the same time, it should not be confused with citizens of Ukraine who permanently live outside of Ukraine and who had in their documents the relevant marks on registration of departure abroad to a permanent place of residence and marks (stamps) on acceptance into permanent consular registration at a foreign diplomatic institution of Ukraine“, Demchenko emphasized.
However, even for this category, the possibility of departure was limited with the change in legislation.
Thus, from June 1, 2024, conscripted men aged 18 to 60 who have a residence permit in other countries or dual citizenship no longer have the right to leave Ukraine, with the exception of those who permanently live abroad and has appropriate markings in the documents.
