Dual and Multiple Citizenship in Ukraine: What You Need to Know and How to Act Legally

Today, many Ukrainians find themselves in situations where they obtain citizenship of an EU country or the Americas through ancestry, marriage, or business, or they live between countries and want greater mobility for travel or work. In the modern world, having more than one passport is both convenient and practical, as it provides mobility and access to new opportunities.

However, things are more complicated in Ukraine. Dual citizenship is not officially recognized, and multiple citizenship, although adopted in legislation, is not yet in force. Even once it is implemented, it will apply only to a limited group of people. This creates many practical questions. What should you do if you need a Ukrainian passport but cannot afford to lose another one? What if you already have a second passport? How do you act without violating the law?

In this article, we will examine in detail the advantages of dual citizenship, what Ukrainian law says about dual and multiple citizenship, the real-world risks involved, and the legal ways to resolve your situation.

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What Are the Advantages of Dual Citizenship

A second, or even multiple, passports can be a powerful tool for life, work, and business. They provide access to opportunities that may be limited or unavailable with a single Ukrainian passport.

In short, the main advantages of dual citizenship include:

1. Mobility and security.
   
   Visa-free travel, unrestricted entry to many countries, and the ability to react quickly to global changes, whether business-related or crisis-driven. In unpredictable situations, an additional citizenship provides an alternative and a safeguard: a place where you or your family can relocate or obtain residence without extra bureaucracy.
   
   
2. Access to the labor market.
   
   With a passport of another country, a person can legally work or run a business there without the need for additional permits.
   
   
3. Education and healthcare.
   
    A second citizenship often grants access to public universities, scholarship programs, and the healthcare system of another country.
   
   
4. Financial security (tax residency).
   
   The ability to open bank accounts, purchase real estate, invest, or store assets in more stable jurisdictions. Citizenship in a country with a more favorable tax system can significantly reduce the overall tax burden and provide access to various tax benefits.

These advantages are substantial, but their legal applicability for a Ukrainian citizen depends entirely on the person’s specific status and the rules established by the state.

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Two or More Citizenships for Ukrainian Nationals: What the Law Says

Ukraine adheres to the principle of single citizenship. This principle is established in Article 4 of the Constitution of Ukraine: the state recognizes a person only as a citizen of Ukraine, even if they also hold passports of other countries.

However, there is an important nuance:

• A Ukrainian citizen does not automatically lose Ukrainian citizenship after obtaining another one.

Loss or renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship requires a formal procedure that involves several checks and administrative steps;

• A Ukrainian citizen cannot officially use a foreign passport within Ukraine.

This means that a person who is considered a Ukrainian citizen under Ukrainian citizenship law, even if they have never obtained a Ukrainian internal or international passport, cannot exercise the rights of a foreign national in Ukraine. For example, they cannot apply for a permanent or temporary residence permit as a foreigner. Therefore, to reside legally in Ukraine, such a person must be documented with a Ukrainian passport, not with a foreign one.

In other words, the state essentially “turns a blind eye” to the presence of another citizenship as long as the person does not officially declare it or it is not formally identified by state authorities. This is why speaking about “dual citizenship” in Ukraine is legally incorrect. It is not a legal status but rather a factual situation that carries several risks, including:

• issues when obtaining documents from state authorities, including documents for family members such as children (marriage certificates, birth certificates, residence permits, passports, and similar documents);
• complications when entering or leaving Ukraine;
• obligations related to military service;
• determination of tax residency, for example when opening bank accounts, registering a business, or dealing with taxation matters.

Will Multiple Citizenship Solve the Problem?

The new Law No. 4502-IX of 8 June 2025, “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Implementation of the Right to Acquire and Retain Ukrainian Citizenship,” which takes effect on 16 January 2026, formally introduces the concept of multiple citizenship. At the same time, it deepens several legal conflicts with the current legislation.

Multiple citizenship, that is, a person’s belonging to the citizenship of two or more states, is formally recognized by the new law. However, within Ukraine, such a person is still regarded exclusively as a citizen of Ukraine.

Even this “privilege” does not apply to everyone, because the law contains a number of restrictions. Ukrainian citizens may be recognized as having another citizenship only in the following situations:

• a child acquires Ukrainian citizenship and foreign citizenship at birth;
• a child with Ukrainian citizenship acquires the foreign citizenship of adoptive parents who are foreign nationals;
• a Ukrainian citizen automatically acquires foreign citizenship because of marriage;
• a Ukrainian citizen acquires foreign citizenship at adulthood under the laws of another state, provided that they did not receive a document confirming this citizenship;
• foreign nationals who acquire Ukrainian citizenship through a simplified procedure, which allows multiple citizenship; the list of eligible states is approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, taking into account EU membership and the application of sanctions by the state in response to armed aggression against Ukraine;
• a Ukrainian citizen acquires foreign citizenship of a state included in the list approved for simplified acquisition of citizenship.

All other grounds must be established through international treaties between Ukraine and foreign states.

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What to Do and How to Resolve Your Situation Legally

The migration lawyers at our firm have extensive experience handling complex cases, including those involving dual and multiple citizenship. The best legal solution always depends on your specific goal.

Do you need to live in Ukraine, obtain residency, and access certain benefits such as inheritance or real estate transactions, while keeping your foreign citizenship?

In this situation, obtaining a permanent residence permit is the safest option. It is fully legal and does not put your other citizenship at risk. In many cases, choosing immigration and permanent residency is more effective than applying for Ukrainian citizenship, especially because it also resolves tax residency issues.

Do you plan to stay in Ukraine for a short period, such as one or two years, to work or run a business?

A temporary residence permit is the appropriate solution. It can be issued on the basis of employment, study, volunteering, or other legal grounds.

Do you already have several passports, including a Ukrainian one, and want to regularize your stay in Ukraine?

You will need an individual strategy. This may involve changing the basis of your legal stay or updating your documents to ensure full compliance with Ukrainian law.

Dual Citizenship in Ukraine: Legal Consultation and Full Support

Our lawyers often work with clients who divide their lives between several countries. Some hold an EU passport and want to run a business in Ukraine. Others are Ukrainian citizens who have obtained a second passport but do not want to lose their connection to Ukraine. In every case, we:

• analyze the situation with full consideration of all risks;
• help choose a lawful form of legalization, whether a temporary residence permit, permanent residence, or citizenship;
• provide full support from initial consultation to obtaining the required documents.

We do not work with informal or questionable solutions. We create legal strategies that allow you to live, work, and develop in Ukraine safely and without risk.

If you are uncertain which status is right for you, request a consultation. We will help you find a legal path that works for your specific situation.