Wie lange müssen Sie in der Ukraine leben, um die Staatsbürgerschaft zu erhalten?

Der Erwerb der ukrainischen Staatsbürgerschaft ist ein mehrstufiger Prozess, der die Einhaltung bestimmter Anforderungen erfordert. Es gibt allgemeine Regeln für die meisten Ausländer und staatenlosen Personen, aber es gibt vereinfachte Bedingungen für bestimmte Kategorien. Erfahren Sie mehr darüber, wie lange Sie in der Ukraine leben müssen, um die Staatsbürgerschaft zu erhalten

Rechtliche Unterstützung bei Einreise, Aufenthalt und Legalisierung von Ausländern in der Ukraine

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Ukrainian citizenship gives you access to all rights in the country: public hospitals, official employment, social services, participation in elections, etc. Have you been living in Ukraine for 5 years without interruption? Perhaps you have been granted refugee status in Ukraine for more than 3 years or have been married to a Ukrainian citizen for more than 2 years? Then you have all the legal grounds to obtain a Ukrainian passport.

In this article, we will consider the duration of obtaining Ukrainian citizenship, as well as all available simplified procedures.

You can learn more about the details of the introduction of multiple citizenship in Ukraine in this article.

The procedure for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship

Ukrainian citizenship is obtained solely at the initiative of the applicant. Foreigners may apply for citizenship provided that they undertake to terminate their previous citizenship within 2 years after registration.

For this period, they are issued a temporary certificate of Ukrainian citizenship. The documents and application must be submitted in person to the territorial unit of the State Migration Service.

In general, to obtain citizenship, a foreigner must reside in Ukraine legally for 5 years without interruption. At the same time, this period is reduced for certain categories of persons, which allows for a faster procedure.

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What categories of persons can obtain Ukrainian citizenship in a shorter time?

Ukrainian legislation provides for the possibility of obtaining citizenship under a simplified procedure for the following persons:

- Persons who have been married to a Ukrainian citizen for at least 2 years (also applies to persons who have been married to a Ukrainian citizen for more than 2 years, which was terminated due to his/her death);

- Persons who have been granted refugee status or complementary protection for at least 3 years;

- Persons who have outstanding services to Ukraine: scientists, cultural figures, sportsmen, etc. For them, the duration requirement may be reduced or eliminated;

- Persons whose admission to citizenship is of national interest to Ukraine;

- Persons with a temporary residence permit;

- A person who was born in Ukraine or one of his/her parents was a citizen of Ukraine at the time of birth;

- A person who has made significant investments in the Ukrainian economy.

In our previous materials, we described the details of the procedure for renouncing Ukrainian citizenship, as well as the legal grounds for deprivation of citizenship.

What tests are required to obtain Ukrainian citizenship?

Starting in June 2024, mandatory exams on the fundamentals of the Constitution and history of Ukraine were introduced for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship. The relevant government decree has already entered into force. To participate in the process, you need to create an electronic account and submit an application in electronic form.

The exams include:

- 20 questions on the Constitution of Ukraine;

- 25 questions on the history of Ukraine.

Upon successful completion, the relevant certificates are issued.

For persons whose citizenship is of state interest, the exams are postponed for 2 years from the date of obtaining citizenship. However, during this period, they must confirm their knowledge. It is also mandatory to pass an exam on knowledge of the state language.

It is worth remembering that attempts at fraud or falsification during the procedure may be grounds for deprivation of citizenship. The government strictly controls compliance with the rules, ensuring transparency of the process.

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Acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by foreigners serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

On November 24, 2024, the Law “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons Participating in the Protection of the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine” came into force. This document is aimed at providing legal support to foreigners defending Ukraine.

The law allows such persons to continue staying in the country even after their passports expire. It also creates opportunities for completing the process of acquiring Ukrainian citizenship in cases where formalities cannot be completed due to the lack of diplomatic relations with their country.

A contract concluded with the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a legal basis for a foreigner's stay in Ukraine. No additional documents or residence permits are required for the period of service. The duration of the stay is determined by the terms stipulated in the contract.

Foreigners who have concluded a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine may obtain citizenship without complying with the five-year residence requirement. In the case of a state award, citizenship is granted under a simplified procedure.

If a serviceman has been awarded a state decoration or continues to serve after the end of his contract, he will have the opportunity to obtain citizenship under a simplified procedure. This applies to cases where the relevant application comes from the Ministry of Defense.

Foreign volunteers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine must provide the following documents to obtain citizenship:

- A contract certifying the fact of military service;

- Certificate issued at the place of service;

- Military ID card;

- Foreign passport.

If a soldier is a stateless person, he or she must provide an appropriate travel document instead of a passport.

You can learn more about the procedure for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship by foreigners serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine here.

Application processing time

The total period for processing an application cannot exceed 1 year from the date of its receipt.

In general, obtaining Ukrainian citizenship is a complex and lengthy process. If you have any questions or difficulties with obtaining Ukrainian citizenship, our migration lawyers are always happy to help you solve such problems. Visit Ukraine's lawyers are ready to provide professional assistance at all stages: preparation of documents, obtaining residence permits, and advice on legislation. Contact us for a consultation and we will help you go through this process quickly and without unnecessary stress.

We remind you! The procedure for confirming a child's citizenship in Ukraine is mandatory for obtaining a Ukrainian passport and other important documents. Read more about the required documents, deadlines, and peculiarities of the procedure for different categories of applicants.

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