Dual Citizenship in Ukraine From January 16, 2026: What Changes for Foreigners (Law 4502-IX)

Does Ukraine allow dual citizenship? From 2026 — yes, but only under a controlled and limited framework. For the first time, the law gives a clear answer to the long-debated question. Starting January 16, 2026, Ukraine will officially introduce a new legal model of dual citizenship in Ukraine. Law 4502-IX “On Multiple Citizenship in Ukraine” radically changes the rules that have existed for decades. For the first time, the law gives a clear answer to the long-debated question.

While a significant part of the reform was motivated by the large number of Ukrainians who relocated abroad during the war and began acquiring new citizenships, this article focuses on foreigners—those who want to obtain Ukrainian citizenship without renouncing their original nationality.

Dual Citizenship in Ukraine: How the New Law Changes Everything

From January 16, 2026, certain categories of foreigners will be able to hold dual citizenship in Ukraine legally, without being required to renounce their existing nationality.

This is not full liberalization, but a controlled model of Ukraine dual nationality, currently limited to citizens of five “permitted” countries: the USA, Canada, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

For these applicants, Ukraine dual citizenship becomes a real legal option for the first time. However, foreigners with multiple passports — especially if one of them is from a non-permitted country — may still face the obligation to renounce one of their nationalities to comply with the new system.

Understanding how dual citizenship in Ukraine operates in practice will be essential for those planning to apply for Ukrainian citizenship in 2026.

How the New Law Affects Foreign Applicants

Before the reform, a foreigner applying for Ukrainian citizenship through naturalization had to renounce their existing citizenship(s) within two years, provide official proof to the Migration Service, and only then receive a Ukrainian passport.

This requirement made Ukrainian naturalization unpopular among foreigners.

But now, under the updated framework of Ukraine dual citizenship, certain categories of foreigners will be allowed to:

• keep their current nationality;
• obtain Ukrainian citizenship;
• and legally hold Ukraine dual nationality.

Which Foreigners Can Hold Dual Citizenship in Ukraine?

As of November 2025, the “permitted country list” includes:

• United States
• Canada
• Germany
• Poland
• Czech Republic

Citizens of these countries will be able to obtain Ukrainian citizenship without renouncing their own. Instead of renunciation, they will submit a Declaration of Recognition of Themselves as a Citizen of Ukraine.

As the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said, dual (multiple) citizenship of Ukraine will be available to citizens of those countries that help Ukraine with both humanitarian and military assistance, so from this we can conclude that it is worth expecting that countries such as Australia, Spain, France, New Zealand, Japan, Great Britain, Estonia, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Sweden and many other countries will be added to the list of countries allowed for dual citizenship of Ukraine.

This is the first time Ukraine dual citizenship becomes legally possible for these nationalities.

However, the law also specifies that while in Ukraine, such a person will be recognized exclusively as a Ukrainian citizen — meaning they cannot use diplomatic protection or foreigner privileges on Ukrainian territory.

How Does Ukraine Dual Citizenship Work for Applicants with Multiple Nationalities?

This is where complications arise.

Imagine a foreigner with USA, Czech, and Spanish citizenships.

USA → permitted Czech → permitted Spain → not permitted

Under the new model of dual citizenship in Ukraine, this person must renounce the non-permitted citizenship (Spain) if they wish to naturalize in Ukraine.

Otherwise, they cannot receive Ukrainian citizenship with multiple passports.

Because of this, the new system will inevitably lead to:

• legal disputes,
• attempts to hide extra citizenships,
• boundary cases where Ukrainian authorities lack access to foreign records,
• complex interpretations of Ukraine dual nationality rules.

We expect courts to play a major role in clarifying these issues.

How Foreigners Will Apply for Ukrainian Citizenship Under the New System

Under Law 4502-IX, the naturalization process remains structurally similar, but the legal consequences now depend on whether the applicant’s nationality is on the permitted list for dual citizenship in Ukraine.

Key stages:

• Submitting the naturalization application under a standard legal ground.
• Verification of all nationalities held by the applicant to determine eligibility for Ukraine dual citizenship.
• Declaration instead of renunciation for citizens of the USA, Canada, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
• Renunciation requirement for applicants from non-permitted countries.
• Security and legal checks by the State Migration Service and SBU.
• Presidential decree confirming citizenship and subsequent passport issuance.

The core difference is that applicants from permitted countries may keep their nationality, while others must comply with renunciation requirements.

Practical Consequences for Foreign Applicants

The new legislation introduces several practical implications:

• Two procedural models now exist: permitted-country nationals may access Ukraine dual nationality, while others must still renounce their citizenship.
• Regardless of how many passports a person holds, inside Ukraine they are treated exclusively as Ukrainian citizens once naturalized.
• Multi-citizenship applicants may need to renounce any nationality not included on the permitted list.
• Cases involving undisclosed passports may lead to administrative complexity or legal disputes.
• More applications will require individual legal assessment, especially where multiple nationalities are involved.

Professional Support Under the New Dual Citizenship Law

Given the introduction of controlled dual citizenship in Ukraine, legal accuracy becomes essential.

Our firm assists with:

• confirming eligibility for Ukraine dual citizenship;
• designing a strategy for applicants with two or more nationalities;
• preparing all documents and declarations required by Law 4502-IX;
• managing communication with the State Migration Service;
• addressing risks related to non-permitted or undisclosed citizenships.

The updated legal framework creates new opportunities, but also new compliance requirements, making professional guidance important for a predictable and successful outcome.