On January 16, 2026, Law No. 4502-IX came into force in Ukraine, updating the rules for acquiring, retaining, and losing citizenship. The document defines for the first time the cases in which multiple citizenship is recognized and provides for simplified procedures for certain categories of foreigners.
This was reported by the State Migration Service of Ukraine.
The Law of Ukraine “On Citizenship of Ukraine” was supplemented with a new Article 5-1, which defines the cases in which Ukraine recognizes multiple citizenship. Thus, for the first time, the state has regulated the issue of dual and multiple citizenship at the legislative level.
What else does Law No. 4502-IX provide for?
- Certain simplifications are provided for foreign military personnel and their family members. They may submit a declaration of renunciation of foreign citizenship and recognition of themselves as citizens of Ukraine only, instead of being required to terminate their foreign citizenship. The same opportunity is provided to the families of military personnel who died while on duty. A transition period until July 16, 2026, has been established for foreign military personnel and their family members who acquired Ukrainian citizenship on or after January 1, 2018, but are unable to fulfill the obligation to renounce their foreign citizenship.
- A simplified procedure for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship has been introduced for citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Canada, and the United States—by submitting a declaration of recognition of themselves as citizens of Ukraine.
- For persons who acquire citizenship by territorial origin, there is an obligation to pass exams on knowledge of the Constitution of Ukraine, the history of Ukraine, and proficiency in the state language.
- The list of grounds for loss of Ukrainian citizenship has been expanded. In particular, citizenship may be terminated in cases that pose a threat to national security or are related to participation in armed aggression against Ukraine.