Multiple citizenship in Ukraine: who will be able to obtain a second passport and when will the law come into effect?

Ukraine has officially allowed multiple citizenship with five countries: Canada, the United States, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The new law simplifies the procedure for obtaining a Ukrainian passport for citizens of partner countries and allows Ukrainians abroad to retain their passport when obtaining a second citizenship. Find out who will be able to take advantage of the new rules and when the law will come into force

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The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved a list of countries whose citizens will be able to obtain Ukrainian citizenship through a simplified procedure without having to renounce their current passport. The government adopted the corresponding resolution No. 1412 in accordance with the law on multiple citizenship, which was supported by the Verkhovna Rada on June 18, 2025.

Ukraine officially allows multiple citizenship: details

The list includes five countries that are strategic partners of Ukraine:

Canada,

Germany,

Poland,

the United States of America,

and the Czech Republic.

These countries are the first whose citizens can obtain a Ukrainian passport under a simplified procedure. In turn, Ukrainians living in these countries will have the right to obtain a second passport without losing their Ukrainian one.

The resolution will come into force on January 16, 2026, simultaneously with the entry into force of the law “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Implementation of the Right to Acquire and Retain Ukrainian Citizenship” (No. 11469).

Read also: Advantages, risks, and legal nuances of multiple citizenship.

What does the law on multiple citizenship provide for?

Simplified procedure for acquiring citizenship

The new rules allow foreigners from certain countries not to submit a written commitment to renounce their citizenship. Instead, they sign a declaration of recognition of themselves as citizens of Ukraine, which can even be submitted online.

Other requirements remain unchanged:

- residence in Ukraine for at least 5 years;

- passing exams in the Ukrainian language, history, and the Constitution.

For certain categories of foreigners — military personnel, persons with outstanding merits to Ukraine, refugees, or spouses of Ukrainian citizens — preferential conditions apply: a reduced period of residence or a deferral of exams.

Why were these countries chosen?

Diaspora and strategic partnership

President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that only those countries that “traditionally support Ukraine and are warm towards Ukrainians” were included in the list.

The main target audience for the innovations is the Ukrainian diaspora, which numbers more than three million ethnic Ukrainians in these five countries alone.

According to data from the government and the World Congress of Ukrainians:

1.3 million Ukrainians live in Canada,

about 1 million in the US,

over 1 million in Germany,

about 900,000 in Poland,

and over 500,000 in the Czech Republic.

"Ukrainians are now a global community... We must maintain the connection of all our people with Ukraine,“ said President Zelensky when the list of countries was still being discussed.

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What are the advantages of multiple citizenship?

Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga emphasized that ”the key target audience for these innovations is our communities around the world."

The government expects that the possibility of obtaining a Ukrainian passport without losing the current one will help:

- strengthen the diaspora's ties with their homeland,

- attract Ukrainians from abroad to rebuild the country after the war,

- increase the population of Ukraine by those willing to restore the citizenship of their ancestors.

The World Congress of Ukrainians supported the initiative, emphasizing that it will “strengthen the ties between Ukraine and Ukrainians around the world and encourage the diaspora to participate in rebuilding the country.”

Will the list of countries expand?

Initially, more than 30 countries were discussed, including members of the EU, NATO, and the G7.

However, the government decided to start with the five most friendly countries “as a trial run,” sources in the Cabinet explained.

The Foreign Ministry assures that the list will gradually expand as Ukraine gains positive experience in implementing the reform and analyzes proposals from partners.

“They are consistent partners of Ukraine, leaders in military, macro-financial, and humanitarian support for our state,” the Foreign Ministry emphasized.

If you have any questions and would like clarification regarding citizenship of Ukraine or other countries, please contact the immigration lawyers at Visit Ukraine. Our specialists provide consultations and professional legal support for Ukrainians abroad, as well as for foreigners who want to obtain or retain Ukrainian citizenship.

Leave a request for a consultation on the website, and our specialists will answer all your questions and help you navigate the complex legal aspects of citizenship refusal and acquisition.

We remind you! Obtaining Ukrainian citizenship for foreigners is a complex process that depends on many factors. Read more about the grounds on which foreigners most often obtained Ukrainian citizenship in 2024 and how trends have changed compared to previous years in our previous article.

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