Multiple citizenship in Ukraine: what the new law changes

As of 16 January 2026, Law No. 4502-IX on multiple citizenship has entered into force in Ukraine, allowing Ukrainian passports to be combined with passports of certain foreign states while tightening loyalty and security requirements. For businesses, civil servants, military personnel and millions of Ukrainians abroad, this means new opportunities to legalise their de facto status, but also new restrictions and legal risks.

Why the law was adopted now.  For many years, the issue of multiple citizenship remained in a “grey zone”: the Constitution enshrines the principle of single citizenship, yet in practice the state did not automatically revoke the Ukrainian passport of those who obtained a foreign one. The war, mass migration to EU and North American countries and the active role of the diaspora in supporting Ukraine have made it impossible to ignore the situation in which millions of people in fact have, or seek to have, several citizenships.

Draft Law No. 11469, initiated by the President, was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on 18 June 2025, signed in July and entered into force on 16 January 2026. Thus, the state has moved from de facto tolerance of multiple citizenship to a clearly regulated model with formalised conditions, exceptions and control mechanisms.

What multiple citizenship means under the new law.  Multiple citizenship under the new law is the simultaneous belonging of a person to the citizenship of two or more states. For the first time, it is expressly recognised that a Ukrainian may hold foreign passports without automatically losing Ukrainian citizenship, provided that the statutory requirements are met.

The admissibility of multiple citizenship is tied to a special list of states drawn up by the Cabinet of Ministers, taking into account membership of the EU, NATO, the G7 and their position on sanctions against the aggressor state. In practice, this is a controlled regime: the state selects “acceptable” jurisdictions for political and security reasons, rather than allowing any foreign passports.

Who benefits from multiple citizenship.  The main beneficiaries of the new law are millions of Ukrainians abroad who already have or plan to obtain citizenship of EU, North American or other partner states, as they can regularise their situation without losing Ukrainian citizenship if the conditions are met. The law also expands opportunities for foreigners who have linked their lives with Ukraine (for example, by serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine) to obtain Ukrainian citizenship without renouncing their original one, again subject to the statutory requirements.​

Key conditions and filters.  Ukrainian citizenship as a second or one of several citizenships can only be obtained after passing standard exams on the Constitution, the history of Ukraine and the Ukrainian language, with no exceptions or deferrals. The state effectively links multiple citizenship to proven integration into Ukraine’s legal and cultural space.​

For Ukrainians who already have or plan to obtain foreign citizenship, it is crucial whether the respective state is included in the list approved by the government. If a country is not on the list, retaining Ukrainian citizenship may be at risk, as the law focuses on partner and safe states rather than jurisdictions with hostile or suspiciously neutral policies.

Red line: citizenship of the aggressor state.  The law introduces the strictest regime for citizenship of the aggressor state, primarily the Russian Federation: voluntary acquisition of Russian citizenship is an explicit ground for losing Ukrainian citizenship. At the same time, compulsory or automatic issuance of Russian passports in the occupied territories is not regarded as a voluntary choice, which allows authorities to distinguish loyalty from forced stay under occupation from both humanitarian and international-law perspectives.​

Restrictions for civil servants and sensitive positions
Despite legalising multiple citizenship for a wide range of persons, the law does not soften the requirements for public service: officials involved in national security, state secrecy and strategic governance may hold only Ukrainian citizenship. A more detailed list of “sensitive” positions (heads of anti-corruption bodies, members of the Central Election Commission, senior posts in the security and defence sector) will require holders of multiple passports to align their career plans with these restrictions.​

Practical implications for Ukrainians in Ukraine and abroad.  For Ukrainians temporarily living abroad, the law allows them to combine local citizenship with full preservation of the rights and obligations of a Ukrainian citizen, but on the territory of Ukraine they are always treated as Ukrainian citizens with the full scope of constitutional obligations, including military duty and, where criteria are met, tax residence.​

Foreigners seeking Ukrainian citizenship must pass standardised exams, prove lawful income and the absence of security risks, so multiple citizenship is not a “quick bonus” for them but a result of fulfilling strict integration and loyalty requirements.​

Legal risks and uncertainties.  Although the law systematises approaches to multiple citizenship, it leaves a significant part of the regulation to subordinate acts of the government, particularly the list of “acceptable” states, changes to which may create legal uncertainty for those who have already obtained foreign citizenship. Additional risks relate to procedures for loss of Ukrainian citizenship due to voluntary acquisition of “undesirable” citizenship, notably that of the aggressor state, where the issues of proving voluntariness, ensuring due process and the possibility of reinstatement in citizenship are particularly sensitive.​

What should be done now.  Persons planning to obtain citizenship of their country of residence should monitor whether that state is included in the list approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and whether the rules are changing, and should also check in advance for possible conflicts between Ukrainian law and the legislation of that state concerning military duty, taxation, permanent residence and access to public service. It is important to document all key actions related to acquiring foreign citizenship, and for the diaspora, foreign military personnel, candidates for public office and business owners, individual legal advice on planning migration and citizenship status is particularly valuable.​

Author – Svitlana Krutorohova, attorney at the law firm “Winner”.
If you have any questions or issues related to multiple citizenship, acquiring or losing Ukrainian citizenship, obtaining a foreign passport, or the legal implications of such status for work, business, mobilisation and taxation, please contact our team for professional support.