Countries whose citizens can obtain a Ukrainian passport have been named.
This is stated in Government Resolution No. 1412 dated November 5.
The Ukrainian government has published a list of countries whose citizens will be able to become Ukrainians without giving up their current citizenship. At the same time, Ukrainians living in these countries will have the right to obtain a second citizenship while keeping their Ukrainian one.
Contrary to earlier expectations of several dozen states, the approved list includes only five countries: the United States, Canada, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Citizens of these countries will be able to obtain Ukrainian passports under a simplified procedure, while Ukrainians will be able to acquire their passports without losing their own.
The government selected states with the largest Ukrainian communities: in Canada and the U.S., they are mostly descendants of earlier waves of emigration, while in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic they are Ukrainians who fled the war.
Officials hope that this initiative will not only strengthen ties with the diaspora but also help increase the country’s population.
How the simplified procedure will work
According to the BBC, the simplified process means that citizens of these five countries will not be required to submit a written renunciation of their citizenship. Instead, they only need to sign a declaration recognizing themselves as Ukrainian citizens – this can even be done online.
All other requirements remain the same: five years of residence in Ukraine and passing exams on the language, history, and Constitution. Exceptions apply to foreigners who fight for Ukraine, have special merits before the state, or face political persecution – for them, the conditions are eased.
Will the list expand?
When the law was being discussed, a much broader list of more than 30 countries was considered, including EU, NATO, and G7 members. However, for now, the government has limited it to five states that, as noted by the Foreign Ministry, “are consistent partners of Ukraine and leaders in providing military, financial, and humanitarian support in countering Russian aggression.”
The ministry emphasized that this list is not final – it will gradually be expanded “based on the Foreign Ministry’s analysis and the review of proposals from Ukraine’s executive authorities.”
The law and accompanying regulations will take effect on January 16, 2026. By then, the list of countries described by the president as “friendly” or “warm” toward Ukraine may be expanded.