The Cabinet of Ministers has defined criteria for countries with which multiple citizenship will be available
9 October 08:10
The government has approved a decree that defines the criteria for foreign countries with which a simplified procedure for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship can be introduced. This was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
It is noted that priority will be given to those countries that are among Ukraine’s allies. The following criteria will be taken into account:
- membership in the Group of Seven
- membership in the EU;
- imposition of sanctions against Russia for its aggression against Ukraine;
- support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity;
- position during voting in international organizations;
- existence of strategic or other types of partnership;
- level and prospects of bilateral relations;
- financial support of Ukraine;
- other criteria that may have a significant impact on ensuring Ukraine’s national interests in the field of foreign and domestic policy.
The MFA notes that the list of specific foreign countries will be determined separately, while the resolution only defines the procedure for its formation and approval by the Cabinet of Ministers.
“Potentially, we are talking about an increase in the number of Ukrainian citizens, as hundreds of thousands of ethnic Ukrainians and their descendants will be able to restore legal ties with their homeland,” commented Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga.
The Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the introduction of multiple citizenship will primarily allow those ethnic Ukrainians who are citizens of foreign countries to acquire Ukrainian citizenship while retaining their foreign citizenship.
Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic would be the first countries to apply the rules on multiple citizenship. Canada and the United States will follow.
What does the law on multiple citizenship provide for?
On July 15, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law that allows Ukrainians to hold citizenship of two or more states.
According to the law, multiple citizenship is allowed in the following cases
- a child acquiring Ukrainian citizenship and citizenship of another state at birth;
- acquisition by a child who is a citizen of Ukraine of the citizenship of his or her foreign adoptive parents;
- automatic acquisition of another citizenship by a citizen of Ukraine as a result of marriage to a foreigner;
- automatic acquisition by a citizen of Ukraine who has reached the age of majority of another citizenship 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 citizenship of another state;
- acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship under a simplified procedure for foreigners who are citizens of states included in the list of those who can obtain citizenship under a simplified procedure;
- acquisition of citizenship by a citizen of Ukraine of states from the list of states whose citizens acquire Ukrainian citizenship under the simplified procedure.
