The government has approved a list of criteria, developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for countries with which multiple citizenship will be allowed.
On Wednesday, October 8, the Government of Ukraine adopted a resolution prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which establishes the criteria for selecting foreign states with which a simplified procedure for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship will be introduced.
The introduction of multiple citizenship will primarily allow ethnic Ukrainians who are citizens of foreign countries to acquire Ukrainian citizenship while retaining their foreign citizenship.
“Potentially, this means an increase in the number of Ukrainian citizens — as hundreds of thousands of ethnic Ukrainians and their descendants will be able to restore their legal connection to their Homeland,” said Andrii Sybiga.
The government has determined the criteria for countries eligible for simplified acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship and the introduction of multiple citizenship. Priority will be given to countries considered the closest and most reliable allies.
The criteria to be considered include:
- Membership in the Group of Seven (G7);
- Membership in the European Union;
- Implementation of sanctions against Russia for its aggression against Ukraine;
- Support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity;
- Positions in international organization votes;
- Existence of strategic or other types of partnership relations;
- Level and prospects for bilateral relations;
- Financial support for Ukraine;
- Other criteria that may significantly impact the protection of Ukraine’s national interests in foreign and domestic policy.
The specific list of foreign countries will be determined separately.
The resolution defines the procedure for forming and approving these foreign countries by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
“The main thing today is that we have clearly regulated a unified approach and a single list of criteria. This is a state-centered approach that properly combines preserving the unity of the global Ukrainian community with strategic national security priorities,” emphasized the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The law creating the possibility of multiple citizenship was adopted in June and signed in July by President Volodymyr Zelensky. It will take effect on January 16, 2026
