Ukrainian citizenship is the primary pre-requisite for the State to protect rights and freedoms of its citizens on the territory of Ukraine as well as beyond its borders.

In accord with the Constitution of Ukraine, single citizenship is being exercised in the country. Ukraine does not support the idea of multiple citizenries since a person is not capable to equally efficiently use the rights and bear responsibilities with regard to several states. If a Ukrainian citizen acquired citizenship (nationality) of another country or countries, in legal relations with Ukraine he/she is treated as the citizen of exclusively Ukraine. The same concerns an alien that acquired Ukrainian citizenship who is regarded in legal relations with this country as Ukrainian subject only. As to the issue of multiple citizenships, the position of Ukraine is fully in line with the international rules.

The Law “On the Ukrainian Nationality” states that irrespectively of the grounds for the acquiring, the citizenship of Ukraine is single and equal. Unrelated to the fact of citizenry being it from birth or receiving it on different grounds, all the nationals use equal rights and bear identical responsibilities.

The Law also stipulates the reasons for naturalization, in particular, by origin, by free choice, by reinstating citizenship, etc. Simultaneously, the law of Ukraine denies obtaining citizenship by certain categories of persons, specifically, to those who committed crime against humanity, perpetrated genocide, used acts of violence against the national independence of Ukraine, etc.

The same Law also provides for the grounds to give up Ukrainian citizenship and the procedure of carrying it out.

Revoking Ukrainian citizenship is allowed only under the condition that the person obtained citizenship of another country or is in possession of a document issued by the authorities of another nation proving the citizen is to receive the latter’s nationality after revoking that of Ukraine. The condition is directed at avoiding cases of stateless persons emerging resulted through abrogating Ukrainian subjecthood. Revoking Ukrainian citizenship is not allowed if a person seeking this is brought to trial being under accusation of criminal offence or against whom there is a court indictment in Ukraine that gained force and is executory.

Citizens of Ukraine are not liable to be deprived of citizenship or the right to alter the one, as well as of the right to return to Ukraine at any time. Also, Ukrainian subjects cannot be banished or extradited.

Habitation or temporal stay of Ukrainian citizen beyond the country’s border does not sever his/her citizenship of Ukraine.

Aliens and stateless persons that stay in Ukraine of lawful grounds use the same rights and freedoms, and bear the same responsibilities as the citizens of Ukraine, which norm is vested in the Law of Ukraine “On Legal Status of Aliens”.

Ukraine meets its international commitments concerning protection of the human right of persons that left the country of his/her patriality or permanent residence. In particular, aliens and stateless persons may be granted asylum in accord with “The Law on Refugees”.

The President of Ukraine takes decision on admitting to and revoking citizenship of Ukraine, as well as granting asylum to aliens and stateless persons.