Rada adopts law on multiple citizenship

The Verkhovna Rada adopted a law on the introduction of the institution of multiple citizenship (No. 11469), initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This was reported by Iryna Herashchenko, co-chair of the European Solidarity faction in the Verkhovna Rada, on the Telegram channel, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"243 MPs in total supported the bill authored by Zelenskyy on ensuring the implementation of the right to acquire and retain citizenship of Ukraine No. 11469. This was the 4th version of Zelenskyy's bill on multiple citizenship," she said.

Multiple citizenship (nationality) is allowed in the following cases:

1) simultaneous acquisition by a child of Ukrainian citizenship and citizenship (nationality) of another state or states by birth;

2) acquisition by a child who is a citizen of Ukraine of the citizenship (nationality) of his adoptive parents as a result of his adoption by foreigners;

3) automatic acquisition by a citizen of Ukraine of another citizenship (nationality) as a result of marriage with a foreigner;

4) automatic acquisition by a citizen of Ukraine who has reached the age of majority of another citizenship (nationality) as a result of application of the legislation on citizenship of a foreign state, if such a citizen of Ukraine has not received a document confirming the existence of citizenship (nationality) of another state;

5) acquisition of citizenship of Ukraine in a simplified manner by foreigners who are citizens (nationals) of states included in the list of states whose citizens (nationals) acquire citizenship of Ukraine in a simplified manner;

6) acquisition by a citizen of Ukraine of citizenship (nationality) of states included in the list of states whose citizens (nationals) acquire citizenship of Ukraine in a simplified manner.

At the same time, the bill provides for an instruction to the Cabinet of Ministers to develop a bill on the list of states whose citizens acquire citizenship of Ukraine in a simplified manner.

Herashchenko noted that by the second reading, the working group had significantly improved Zelenskyy's initiative, including in the bill items on a mandatory exam for knowledge of the Constitution of Ukraine, history, and the Ukrainian language. At the same time, the draft law does not contain a direct provision prohibiting simplified acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship for citizens of the russian federation; the criteria for countries whose citizens have the right to acquire Ukrainian citizenship will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers.

In particular, the bill promises to provide conditions for the return of citizens of Ukraine who were forced to leave the country due to the armed aggression of the russian federation, to preserve Ukrainian citizenship for such persons, and to expand the opportunity for certain categories of foreigners and stateless persons who are serving under a contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and other military structures to acquire Ukrainian citizenship.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, in August 2024, Zelenskyy again submitted a bill on multiple citizenship to the Verkhovna Rada.

According to Article 4 of the Constitution of Ukraine, there is a single citizenship in Ukraine, the grounds for acquiring and terminating citizenship of Ukraine are determined by law. Amendments to the Constitution are impossible during martial law.