The Law on Citizenship of Ukraine defines the legal essence of the Ukrainian citizenship, the grounds and the procedure of its acquisition and termination, powers of public authorities involved in issues of Ukrainian citizenship, the procedure to appeal against decisions on citizenship, acts or omissions of public bodies, their officials and officers.

According to the Law of Ukraine on Citizenship Ukrainian citizens are:

1. All citizens of the former USSR, who resided in the territory of Ukraine at the moment Ukrainian independence was declared (August 24 of 1991).
2. Individuals regardless of race, color, political or religious beliefs, sex, ethnic or social origin, wealth, residence, language, who resided in Ukraine without being citizens of other states at the moment the Law on Ukrainian citizenship (November 13 of 1991), came into force.
3. Persons, who came to Ukraine for permanent residence after November 13 of 1991 and who had the “citizen of Ukraine” mark made in their 1974-type USSR passports by internal affairs authorities of Ukraine, as well as children of such persons who arrived in Ukraine along with their parents, provided that they had submitted applications for citizenship of Ukraine.
4. Individuals, who have acquired Ukrainian citizenship under laws and international treaties of Ukraine.

Persons referred to in the paragraph 1 of this Article are citizens of Ukraine since August 24 of 1991; those referred to in the paragraph 2 are citizens of Ukraine since November 13 of 1991; those referred to in the paragraph 3 are citizens of Ukraine since the mark about their citizenship of Ukraine was made.

Along with that citizenship of Ukraine can be acquired:

1. By birth
2. By territorial origin.
3. By nationalizing.
4. By resuming citizenship.
5. By adopting.
6. By introducing legal guardianship or trusteeship, admitting to a health-care or child-care institution, a family-type orphanage, an adopted or a foster family.
7. By introducing legal guardianship over a person recognized incapable in court.
8. Due to one or both parents having Ukrainian citizenship.
9. By recognizing paternity or maternity or establishing a fact of paternity or maternity.
10. For other reasons envisaged by international treaties of Ukraine.

Ukrainian citizenship can only be granted by:

• Accepting and abiding by the Ukrainian laws and the Constitution of Ukraine.
• Submitting declaration of not being a foreign national (for stateless individuals) or a document confirming obligation to renounce foreign citizenship (for foreigners).
• Continuously staying in the territory of Ukraine for five years on the legal grounds, with the given condition excluding foreigners or stateless individuals married to Ukrainian citizens for more than two years, and foreigners or stateless individuals married to Ukrainian citizens who died after two years of marriage.
• Getting an immigration permit.
• Acquiring state language proficiency or understanding it to the degree enabling to communicate, with the given condition excluding persons with certain disabilities (blindness, deafness, muteness).
• Having legal income available, with the given condition excluding persons who have been granted a refugee status or asylum in Ukraine.

Getting an immigration permit, permanent or temporary residence permits or citizenship is a rather time and labor consuming process, especially if undertaken on one's own. Our firm will help you get through the procedure within the shortest period possible.