Military personnel who are foreigners or stateless persons may obtain Ukrainian citizenship upon their own application.
The general conditions remain the same for everyone:
• to recognise the Constitution and laws of Ukraine,• to pass examinations on the knowledge of the Constitution, history, and the Ukrainian language,• to hold an immigration permit,• to have lawful sources of income.However, for military personnel, additional special conditions apply from 16 January 2025.
For foreigners and stateless persons serving under contract in the AFU, the SSTS, or the NGU, the period of continuous residence in Ukraine must be the last three years preceding the date of application for citizenship, calculated from the date of entry into force of the military service contract.
Alternatively, one year of contracted military service during a state of martial law is sufficient.
For individuals who have received a temporary residence permit under Article 4, Part 24 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons”, the requirement is the last three years from the date of obtaining the temporary residence permit.
If the contract is terminated on grounds defined by Ukrainian law (currently only for health reasons), a foreigner has the right to apply for citizenship without fulfilling the conditions on length of continuous residence, possession of an immigration permit, or sources of income.
Instead of the standard requirement to formally terminate citizenship of another state (which may be difficult or impossible), certain categories of foreigners may submit a declaration of renunciation of foreign citizenship. According to new amendments to legislation, these categories include:
• persons recognised as refugees or granted asylum in Ukraine,• foreigners serving under contract in the AFU, the SSTS, or the NGU, including those awarded a state decoration of Ukraine, as well as their spouses, children, stepchildren, and parents-in-law,• foreigners who served under contract in the AFU, the SSTS, or the NGU, whose contracts have been terminated and who were discharged on grounds defined by law, including those awarded a state decoration of Ukraine, as well as their spouses, children, stepchildren, and parents-in-law,• foreigners who obtained a temporary residence permit under Article 4, part 20 or part 24 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons”, as well as their spouses, children, stepchildren, and parents-in-law,• persons who have outstanding merits before Ukraine or represent a state interest for Ukraine, as well as their spouses, children, and stepchildren,• persons who are citizens of an aggressor or occupying state and have suffered political persecution, as well as their spouses, children, and stepchildren,• spouses, children, stepchildren, or parents-in-law of foreigners who served under contract in the AFU, the SSTS, or the NGU and died in the line of duty,• spouses of Ukrainian citizens who serve/served in the AFU, other military formations, the Security Service, the State Special Communications Service, the NGU, the State Border Guard Service, the State Guard Department, the SSTS, specialised law enforcement agencies, or intelligence agencies, and who died, passed away, or were discharged on grounds defined by law, as well as their children, stepchildren, and parents-in-law,• spouses or parents-in-law of foreigners who held the right to a temporary residence permit (Article 4, part 20 or 24 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons”) and died in the line of duty, as well as their children and stepchildren.
