Posted by Chinenye on Wed 11th Nov, 2026 - tori.ng
Ukraine has introduced new rules for foreigners who want to become citizens.
(Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo Credit: The Economist)
Ukraine has published age based rules for foreigners and stateless people applying for citizenship.
The guidelines come from the State Migration Service, under the Law on Ukrainian Citizenship and a 2001 presidential decree.
Anyone aged 18 or over must submit their own application.
Children under 14 must have their application filed by a parent or legal representative.
Teenagers aged 14 to 17 can have an adult file for them, but they must personally agree to the citizenship.
Parents cannot secure citizenship for a 14 to 17 years old without that teenager's consent.
Foreign nationals who already hold another citizenship must promise to give it up within two years of being registered as Ukrainian citizens.
Until then, they receive temporary Ukrainian ID cards valid for two years rather than full passports.
A full passport is issued only after the old citizenship is formally ended or renounced in writing.
Stateless people do not have to make that pledge and are not subject to the two-year arrangement.