Law on multiple citizenship to come into force on January 16, 2026

The law on multiple citizenship, initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on June 18, comes into force six months from the date of its publication in the official parliamentary publication Holos Ukrainy (Voice of Ukraine) on July 16, - January 16, 2026.

It was announced on the Rada's website, the Ukrainian News agency reports.

According to the law, 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 to 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 the 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 whose citizens (nationals) acquire citizenship of Ukraine in a simplified manner;

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

The law instructs the Cabinet of Ministers, within six months from the date of publication of the law, to adopt regulatory legal acts necessary for its implementation, as well as to prepare and submit for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on regulating issues related to the peculiarities of occupying certain positions in state authorities and local self-government bodies by citizens of Ukraine who also have citizenship of a foreign state, in particular an aggressor state or an occupying state, taking into account threats to the national security of Ukraine.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, in August 2024, Zelenskyy again submitted a draft law 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 Ukrainian citizenship are determined by law.

Amendments to the Constitution during martial law are impossible.

The Ministry of National Unity reported that the law on multiple citizenship gives Ukrainians the right to officially obtain the citizenship of another country without renouncing Ukrainian.