Ukrainian Citizenship by Territorial Origin
Naturalisation in Ukraine by descent — simplified procedure
Я дуже задоволений допомогою команди! Лучко Оксана і Денисюк Тетяна допомогли вирішити мою проблему, яку я ніяк не міг вирішити. Дуже Вам дякую і обов'язково звернуся ще.
Хочу сказать огромное спасибо Лучко Оксане и Пелюха Тарасу! Настоящие профессионалы своего дела, которые за очень короткий срок нашли выход из сложной и запутанной ситуации с гражданством. Спасибо за замечательную консультацию, очень рекомендую!...
Наталья Венкова превосходный работник. В считанные минуты даёт ответ на поставленный вопрос. Я очень рад связью с ней. Надеюсь буду в трудных ситуациях обращаться только к ней. Спасибо огромное.
Обращалась в Юстикон по вопросам получения украинского гражданства. Очень довольна нашим сотрудничеством с Юстиконом и конкретно Натальей Венковой, которая максимально помогла и облегчила всю эту длительную процедуру. Если бы не Наталья, то пришлось бы по несколько раз "доносить" недостающие бумаги в различные органы, т.к. нигде не указана акт...
If you need an attorney in Kyiv, these guys are absolute angels. I was stuck in Poland with a visa problem and no idea what to do. A friend recommended Justicon. Natalia and her team stepped in and fixed everything quickly and efficiently. Wonderful people!
Recommendations from corporate clients
Obtaining Ukrainian Citizenship: Overview
1) Foreigners and stateless persons have the right to obtain Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin (simplified procedure) if they or at least their:
-
mother or father;
-
grandfather or grandmother;
-
great-grandfather or great-grandmother;
-
biological brother or sister;
-
son or daughter;
-
grandson or granddaughter —
were born or permanently resided until August 24, 1991, on the territory that became the territory of Ukraine.
Also eligible are persons who were born in Ukraine after August 24, 1991, to foreigners who lived in Ukraine with a permanent residence permit at the time of their birth.
2) Before obtaining citizenship, it is necessary to pass three exams: fundamentals of the Constitution of Ukraine, history of Ukraine, and the state language. If documents are submitted before January 16, 2026 — exams are not required.
3) Renunciation of all existing current citizenships within 2 years —is a mandatory condition for obtaining a passport of a citizen of Ukraine.
An exception is made for citizens of Canada, Germany, Poland, the USA, and the Czech Republic — they have the right to retain their current citizenship alongside Ukrainian citizenship.
Also, military personnel, persons who have suffered political persecution, and their family members are not required to obtain an official renunciation of citizenship — for these categories, it is sufficient to surrender their current passport (subject to certain requirements).
Cost of Obtaining Ukrainian Citizenship
- Legal analysis
- Document preparation
- Support for submission to the Migration Service
- Process control
- Receiving the certificate of registration as a citizen and/or temporary certificate
- 38900 UAH
- Payment of state duty
- 300 UAH
- Notarized translation of documents into Ukrainian
- from 600 UAH — depends on volume and language
- Obtaining an archival certificate/excerpt from the civil status register
- from 4000 UAH
- Notarized power of attorney for the company's lawyers
- 1200 UAH
- Search for an address for citizenship registration in Kyiv
- price calculated individually after consultation
Details on citizenship by descent
What documents confirm that I am entitled to apply for Ukrainian citizenship?
To confirm the right to apply for citizenship by territorial origin, it is necessary to collect all documents showing your kinship with a relative who was born or permanently resided in the territory of Ukraine until August 24, 1991. These should be certificates of birth, marriage, name change, etc.
If you personally were born in the territory of Ukraine, it is necessary to provide a birth certificate indicating the place of birth.
Regarding the acquisition of citizenship by the fact of permanent residence in the territory of Ukraine until August 24, 1991, in this case, it is necessary to collect supporting documents and apply to the court to establish the fact of permanent residence. Only after the court decision enters into legal force will you be able to submit documents for citizenship.
Is it necessary to take exams?
From January 16, 2026, persons acquiring Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin are required to pass three exams:
- Fundamentals of the Constitution of Ukraine — testing basic knowledge of the constitutional order, rights, and freedoms of citizens;
- History of Ukraine — knowledge of key events and figures of national history;
- State Language — according to the level determined by the National Commission on State Language Standards.
The following are exempt from exams:
- persons whose documents were submitted to the Migration Service before January 16, 2026 — their cases are considered according to the previously current procedure;
- persons with certain mental disorders in accordance with the list approved by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
Where should I apply for Ukrainian citizenship?
Documents for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship are submitted to the Migration Service at the place of registration or residence. If you reside abroad permanently, documents can also be submitted to the Embassy/Consulate of Ukraine in the country of residence.
How long does the review of documents take?
The consideration of an application for citizenship by territorial origin by the Migration Service usually takes about 90 calendar days.
After the Migration Service has made a positive decision on the case, an additional application for the issuance of a certificate of registration as a citizen of Ukraine must be submitted. Such a certificate is issued within a period of up to 10 days.
When is it necessary to renounce current citizenship?
The procedure for renouncing foreign citizenship should be started only when the Migration Service of Ukraine has made a decision to grant citizenship, issued the relevant certificate, and a temporary certificate of a citizen of Ukraine.
There are 2 years to renounce foreign citizenship from the day the decision to grant Ukrainian citizenship was made. In the event that documents confirming the renunciation are not provided to the Migration Service within these two years, Ukrainian citizenship will be annulled. In such a case, it is impossible to re-apply for Ukrainian citizenship.
Important: if you are a citizen of Canada, Germany, Poland, the USA, or the Czech Republic, you do not need to renounce your foreign citizenship. You can hold both passports simultaneously. However, Ukraine will recognize you exclusively as a citizen of Ukraine.
UPD: On 12 May 2026, the Government expanded the list of countries whose citizens may obtain Ukrainian citizenship under the simplified procedure. The following countries have now been added to the list:
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; the United Kingdom; Greece; Denmark; Estonia; Ireland; Iceland; Spain; Italy; Cyprus; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; the Netherlands; Norway; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Hungary; Finland; France; Croatia; Switzerland; Sweden.
For citizens of countries with which Ukraine has concluded relevant agreements, a passport exchange of the foreign state for Ukrainian documents is provided.
There are also circumstances under which it is possible to simply surrender the passport of the country of previous citizenship to its Embassy/Consulate (military service and political persecution for supporting Ukraine). In these cases, there is no need to go through the procedure of complete renunciation of foreign citizenship.
When will I receive a passport of a citizen of Ukraine?
A passport of a citizen of Ukraine can be obtained only after the Migration Service has issued you a certificate stating: the certificate was issued for obtaining a passport of a citizen of Ukraine. When you receive such a certificate will depend on which of the procedures described above applies in your case.
Are there special features for foreign AFU (Armed Forces of Ukraine) servicemen and their family members?
Yes. Foreigners who are serving or have served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, or the National Guard of Ukraine under contract, as well as their spouses, children, and parents of spouses, have the right to a simplified procedure.
- Exams — are not taken immediately. An obligation is submitted to pass exams on the fundamentals of the Constitution, history of Ukraine, and the state language within two years after obtaining citizenship.
- Renunciation of citizenship — instead of a complete renunciation of citizenship, a declaration of renunciation of foreign citizenship is submitted. To receive a Ukrainian passport, it will be necessary to surrender the foreign passport.
- Certificate of no criminal record from the country of citizenship — is not required.
- An expired passport of a foreign state — is not an obstacle to submitting documents if an appeal to the authorities of the aggressor state is impossible or dangerous.
To confirm the right to the simplified procedure, a military ID or a certificate of service is provided.
Family members — spouses, children (including children of one of the spouses), and parents of spouses — additionally provide documents confirming kinship.
Procedure for obtaining citizenship by territorial origin
- Preparation of documents from 1 w.d.
- consultations
- preparation of necessary statements, translations of documents into Ukrainian, their notarization
- formation of a package of documents
- Submission and review of documents at the Migration Service from 2 months
- approval of the package of documents by the Migration Service
- a foreigner personally accompanied by a lawyer submits documents to the Migration Service
- monitoring of the citizenship issuance process
- receiving a decision of the Migration Service on citizenship
- Issuance of a certificate of registration as a citizen of Ukraine and a temporary certificate of a citizen of Ukraine to 10 c.d.
- a foreigner personally accompanied by a lawyer submits an application and receives documents from the Migration Service
List of documents required for the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin
1. 2 photos
Size 35 X 45 mm on matte paper
2. Applicant's passport
- It is necessary to certify a translation into Ukrainian and a notarized copy with all pages of the passport
3. Certificate of no criminal record from the country of citizenship
- Apostilled or legalized for use in Ukraine, unless otherwise specified and translated into Ukrainian.
- Valid for 3 months from the date of issue.
- Not required from:
-
AFU servicemen, their spouses, and parents of spouses;
-
persons persecuted for political motives and their spouses;
-
refugees and persons with asylum;
-
holders of residence permits under part 20/24, their spouses, and parents of spouses.
4. Documents confirming origin from Ukraine
- Apostilled or legalized for use in Ukraine, unless otherwise specified and translated into Ukrainian
5. Document on passing exams in the fundamentals of the Constitution, history of Ukraine, and the state language
- Obligation to pass exams within two years — for AFU servicemen and holders of residence permits under part 20/24.
- Court decision on incapacity or medical report — for those exempt from exams for health reasons.
1. A temporary or permanent residence permit in Ukraine with a certificate/excerpt from the registration of the place of residence
- Provided that the person has a temporary residence permit
2. Application-consent of the owner/s for residence
- If there is no temporary or permanent residence permit
What you get
FAQ
How to get Ukrainian citizenship in a simplified procedure?
The "simplified procedure" for obtaining citizenship is the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin (Article 8 of the Law of Ukraine "On Citizenship of Ukraine"). Unlike standard naturalization, which requires 5 years of continuous residence in Ukraine, an immigration permit, and other conditions — by territorial origin, it is sufficient to confirm that you or your relatives (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, brothers/sisters, children, grandchildren) were born or permanently resided in the territory of Ukraine until August 24, 1991. From January 16, 2026, to obtain citizenship on this basis, it is also necessary to pass exams on the fundamentals of the Constitution of Ukraine, the history of Ukraine, and the state language. You can find the full procedure, list of documents, and nuances on our website.
I have Ukrainian roots, can I repatriate to Ukraine?
According to its definition, repatriation is the return to the Motherland of persons who during the war found themselves outside the borders of their country and stayed outside it for a long time. Currently, there is no such or similar procedure in Ukraine, including for the descendants of Ukrainians who went abroad.
However, if your relatives are no further than great-grandmother or great-grandfather in terms of the degree of kinship, were born or permanently lived in the territory that became the territory of Ukraine, you have the right to acquire citizenship by territorial origin.
Before making a decision to apply for citizenship, keep in mind that in order to obtain a Ukrainian passport, you will definitely have to give up all your existing citizenships. If you do not want to give up your foreign citizenship, we recommend that you pay attention to the immigration procedure and issue a permanent residence permit.
Is it possible to get citizenship based on a birth certificate in the USSR?
If you were born during the times of the USSR in the territory that became the territory of Ukraine, you have the right to submit documents for registration of citizenship.
Before submitting the documents, we recommend obtaining an extract from the register of birth certificates (we can do this for you) to check whether all the information in the register is correct.
You can also get a duplicate birth certificate. In this way, you will update the information in the register, your documents will be issued by a Ukrainian state body and written in Ukrainian, which will significantly speed up the process of their consideration. In the future, if necessary, it will be possible to put an apostille on such a certificate.
How to get Ukrainian citizenship if mom or dad were born in Ukraine?
If your mother or father was born on the territory of Ukraine, you have the right to acquire Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin.
In order to submit documents for registration of citizenship, we recommend first checking whether there is a record of the birth of the mother and father in the archives or civil status registration body. We can do it for you. If the record of birth has been preserved and there are no remarks on it, then you can submit documents.
How to get Ukrainian citizenship by descent grandparents?
Citizenship of Ukraine by descent grandparent is citizenship by territorial origin.
The first step is to collect all the documents that will confirm your family connection with your grandmother or grandfather. These can be certificates of birth, name change, marriage, etc.
It is also important to have a document confirming the birth of a grandparent on the territory that became the territory of Ukraine.
If this document is of an old model or is missing at all, we recommend that you make a request to the archive or сivil status registration body (depending on how many years have passed since the birth) to check whether the birth record has been preserved. We can do it for you.
If the record of birth has been preserved and there are no remarks on it, then you can submit documents for obtaining citizenship. If not, you will need to go to court.
Does obtaining Ukrainian citizenship mean the loss of other citizenship?
Obtaining Ukrainian citizenship does not mean automatic termination of the citizenship of another state. However, after receiving a Ukrainian passport, you are obliged to officially renounce your previous citizenship — 2 years are allocated for this. If this is not done, Ukrainian citizenship will be annulled.
Exception: citizens of Canada, Germany, Poland, the USA, and the Czech Republic can officially retain both citizenships simultaneously — renunciation is not required.
Is it necessary to give up my citizenship in order to obtain Ukrainian passports?
From January 16, 2026, the institution of multiple citizenship was introduced in Ukraine. Citizens of states from the list approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine do not need to renounce foreign citizenship. Citizens of countries not included in the specified list are obliged to renounce their previous citizenship to obtain a Ukrainian passport. Multiple citizenship is categorically prohibited with aggressor states. Voluntary acquisition of the citizenship of an aggressor state is a ground for the loss of Ukrainian citizenship. Exceptions are also cases where there is an international treaty between Ukraine and the state of the citizen, which provides for a change of citizenship simultaneously with the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship (for example, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan). In these cases, the Migration Service notifies the diplomatic mission of the country of previous citizenship about the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship and sends the passports independently. Citizens of countries in which there is no procedure for renouncing citizenship can simply surrender their passports.
Questions and comments