Legalization of multiple citizenship: what the new law will change for Ukrainians

One of the most important legal reforms of recent years is coming to an end in Ukraine. After decades of legal uncertainty, controversy and exceptions, the state for the first time openly recognized the possibility of multiple citizenship. Draft Law No. 11469, finally approved by the Verkhovna Rada on June 18, 2025 and signed by President Zelenskyi on July 15, introduces a new legal model under which Ukrainians can have a second passport, and foreigners can keep their citizenship upon acquiring a Ukrainian one.

However, the permissibility is not unconditional. The law defines a clear framework: multiple citizenship will not become a universal right available to everyone, but will be a regulated exception — a limited list of states, procedural criteria, as well as a number of reasons for which a person can lose a Ukrainian passport.

A new model of citizenship: from prohibition to conditional permission

The Constitution of Ukraine interprets citizenship as exclusive — the legislation did not recognize the possibility of having passports of two countries at the same time. Although in practice many Ukrainians possessed dual citizenship, especially those who lived abroad, this was never fixed as a norm. Now, for the first time, the state establishes the conditions under which such a right is considered legitimate.

The law stipulates that Ukrainians can acquire foreign citizenship or keep the existing one – if it was issued by a state included in the special list of the Cabinet of Ministers. This list is determined by the government and may change, depending on the foreign policy situation, relations with countries, their position on the war in Ukraine and support for sanctions against Russia.

Thus, multiple citizenship is not a universal right, but an exception allowed within a clearly defined perimeter of international relations. Its presence is no longer automatically regarded as a reason for the loss of a Ukrainian passport, if it is the citizenship of a friendly country.

What does this mean for the citizens of Ukraine

The new law opens up an opportunity for millions of Ukrainians who went abroad after the start of the war to legalize their new status. Those who received a second passport can now not be afraid of sanctions or legal conflicts from the Ukrainian authorities – provided that this country is included in the list of the Cabinet of Ministers. Those who are still planning to obtain foreign citizenship may not lose Ukrainian citizenship.

However, there is a limitation: if a person acquires the citizenship of a state that is not included in the list of the Cabinet of Ministers, this is recognized as a reason to lose the Ukrainian passport. The law interprets such actions as voluntary renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship, even if the person did not submit a formal application for withdrawal.

The government reserves the right to control which nationalities are considered “friendly” and permitted. This means that even the legal acquisition of a foreign passport does not guarantee security – it is important to which country it belongs to.

Until now, every Ukrainian who wanted to obtain the citizenship of another state ran the risk of automatically violating Ukrainian legislation. Formally, Ukraine did not recognize the existence of a second passport, even if a person did not renounce the Ukrainian one. This created an ambiguous situation in which the state “did not notice” dual citizenship, but at the same time retained the right to punish it – especially in the case of civil service, military registration or registration of property rights in Ukraine.

Now the situation is changing. The law enables Ukrainians living abroad to legally obtain a second citizenship, provided that it is a state from the list approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. This means that Ukrainians who, for example, obtain the citizenship of Germany, Canada or Poland (provided that these countries are included in the list), will be able to keep their Ukrainian passport and not break the law.

It is also important that obtaining the citizenship of a friendly country no longer entails the automatic loss of Ukrainian citizenship. Now such a step is recognized as legal and does not involve any sanctions – neither from the state nor from an administrative point of view. This is especially true for refugees who have had to apply for a new citizenship in order to access work, education or social protection in the host country.

In addition, the law allows those Ukrainians who have already obtained foreign citizenship to legalize it on the territory of Ukraine — that is, to declare it openly and not face fines or loss of rights. If a person plans to return to Ukraine, run a business, arrange an inheritance or participate in elections, such legalization is essential.

There is also one more detail: a Ukrainian with a second passport will be able to leave the citizenship of Ukraine at his own will, without the need to return to the country. That is, the law recognizes a situation in which a person is no longer connected to Ukraine — and simplifies exit from citizenship for those who wish to do so.

However, not all options are equal. If a person receives the citizenship of a country that is not included in the list of the Cabinet of Ministers, this will be grounds for losing Ukrainian citizenship. For example, if a Ukrainian acquires the citizenship of Turkey, Israel, or another state not included in the list, and this is considered a voluntary renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship, the Ukrainian passport will be canceled by presidential decree.

What changes for foreigners

For foreigners, the law opens several channels for legalization in Ukraine. From now on, it is not necessary to renounce the citizenship of one’s country, if it is included in the list of countries of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Among the reasons for acquiring citizenship under the simplified procedure:

• ethnic origin;
• military service in Ukraine;
• political persecution in the country of origin;
• citizenship of a country friendly to Ukraine (as determined by the government).

Foreigners can submit a declaration of recognition as a citizen of Ukraine without terminating their first citizenship, if it meets the specified conditions.

Thus, for the first time, Ukraine introduces a model of integration of foreigners through citizenship without the need for unilateral loyalty. But this does not apply to persons from countries that are not included in the “friendly” list: such persons have to choose between citizenships or do not have the right to Ukrainian citizenship at all.

Who risks losing Ukrainian citizenship

In addition to the possibility of legalization, the law introduces new, clearly formulated grounds for the loss of Ukrainian citizenship:

• voluntary acquisition of citizenship of a state not included in the list of the Cabinet of Ministers;
• submission of false data or false documents during the acquisition of citizenship;
• service in the army of the Russian Federation;
• participation in armed aggression against Ukraine;
• conviction for crimes against national security;
• involvement in organized criminal groups or the spread of criminal influence.

Exceptions are provided separately: if Russian citizenship was obtained forcibly – for example, during deportation or in the occupied territories – it is not considered voluntary and, accordingly, is not a reason to lose a Ukrainian passport.

The law enters into force six months after its promulgation. During this period, the Cabinet of Ministers must publish a list of countries whose citizens will be able to have multiple citizenship with Ukraine, as well as develop mechanisms of restrictions for persons with dual citizenship who hold public positions (especially if we are talking about citizenship of the Russian Federation).