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In recent years, due to the political and military situation in Ukraine, many of its citizens are renouncing citizenship of their country and want to leave its borders. The process of renouncing Ukrainian citizenship differs from similar renunciation in other countries. You will learn how to renounce Ukrainian citizenship from this article.
In general, Ukrainian legislation does not provide for the term “renunciation of citizenship,” which is why some difficulties arise with this procedure. Usually, relinquishing citizenship is possible voluntarily and due to loss of citizenship status.
The first option involves the citizen submitting an application and documents directly to the competent authorities directly in his homeland or through the Ukrainian Embassy. The second is that it does not depend on the citizen’s desire to be a citizen; the entire procedure is initiated from beginning to end by the competent authorities of the Ukrainian authorities.
Why renounce Ukrainian citizenship?
Many citizens, feeling that they do not like the new political system of Ukraine, leave the country. When the time comes to obtain a new citizenship, the question arises: how to renounce Ukrainian citizenship? After all, the legislation of this country does not accept dual citizenship.
It is important
Even if you receive a new passport in another country where dual citizenship is not prohibited, in your former homeland you will only be recognized as a Ukrainian citizen. Also, having another citizenship will give the Ukrainian authorities grounds to expel you from the country and forcibly deprive you of citizenship.
Withdrawal from Ukrainian citizenship
Ukrainian laws do not include such a thing as renunciation of citizenship. A simple application expressing a desire to renounce citizenship will not be considered at the Embassy. Having accepted the citizenship of another country without going through the full correct procedure, a person on the territory of Ukraine will continue to be considered its citizen. The procedure for renouncing citizenship involves several lengthy stages.
Grounds for renunciation of citizenship
The process of secession as Ukrainian citizens is quite long and complicated. Let's consider both methods of leaving the citizenry.
If a voluntary renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship is carried out, then there are also two types - standard and simplified. The simplified method is facilitated by the existence of international treaties between Ukraine and some countries.
Attention
Thus, citizens who want to change their citizenship of Ukraine to the citizenship of Belarus, Georgia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will automatically lose their previous citizenship after the change, and they do not need to additionally confirm their refusal.
The standard method forces citizens to independently contact internal affairs bodies or Ukrainian diplomatic missions with an application and documents.
The main conditions that must be met with this method of secession from the country:
- Lack of obligations to the country;
- The person permanently resides outside the state;
- A person must have documents confirming permanent residence abroad.
Automatic renunciation of citizenship is initiated only by state bodies of Ukraine and is possible only if the following conditions are met:
- The citizen has adopted another citizenship;
- Used false information to obtain a Ukrainian passport;
- Enlisted in military service in another country.
Info
Immediately after these facts are discovered, the competent Ukrainian authorities begin the process of deprivation of citizenship. Typically this procedure takes up to 8 months. Exit due to loss of citizenship is free of charge. The decision to revoke citizenship is made directly by the President of Ukraine.
Exit can only be made after the migration service or consulate has prepared the following documents:
- confirmation of Ukrainian citizenship;
- grounds for loss of civil rights;
- confirmation that the person will not become stateless.
To speed up the process of deprivation of Ukrainian citizenship, we advise you to seek advice from lawyers who will answer all your questions and offer the best options for solving your problems.
Extension of temporary asylum in the Russian Federation
Application for recognition as a native speaker of the Russian language
Resettlement program for compatriots - list of regions
Where should I send my citizenship renunciation?
You must send an application to the diplomatic mission or consular office of Ukraine in your country of residence with an application to renounce Ukrainian citizenship.
Renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship
There is no agreement between Russia and Ukraine on the possibility of obtaining dual citizenship. To become a citizen of the Russian Federation, you must renounce Ukrainian citizenship .
Changes in 2017-2018
In 2021, the Russian leadership decided to simplify the change of residence for Crimean citizens. To do this, it is enough to state your desire in writing, have the document certified by a notary and submit it to the relevant government agency. A simplified procedure has also appeared for Russian-speaking people and those who consider themselves Russian. From the beginning of 2021, all residents of the Crimean Peninsula are required to declare a second citizenship, if any, to the FMS. It is better not to delay transmitting such information for more than 60 days, otherwise you will be fined.
Normal order
Since both countries do not allow dual citizenship, the laws of each of the two countries must be taken into account to regulate its change. There are three clauses in the Law “On Citizenship of Ukraine” concerning this topic:
- Renunciation of one's own free will.
- Refusal in case of loss of trust.
- Automatic renunciation of residence if there is a corresponding agreement between states. This is the easiest way.
According to the first two points, it will not be possible to quickly solve the problem. Involuntary deprivation of citizenship occurs under the following circumstances:
- A resident of Ukraine voluntarily accepted the citizenship of another country.
- Intentional provision by a person of false information about himself.
- Voluntary service of a Ukrainian in regular military units of another state.
The decision is made by the commander-in-chief of the country, but until a response is received, the person awaiting deprivation of the right to reside must continue to reside in his historical homeland.
Changing the country of residence of one's own free will, of course, is initiated by the person himself.
To become a full citizen of another state, you must have a confirmed certificate from the country you are leaving about the absence of debts. It should have Fr. To obtain such a document, a person will have to take care of the consent of another country to accept him into its membership. Having added these certificates to other required documents, the entire package must be taken to the consulate. You can also send papers by mail or hand them in person.
Automatic change of legal residence occurs only between countries that have an agreement on this. There is no such agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Features of the procedure in Crimea
To become a full-fledged resident of the Russian Federation, a Crimean citizen will have to go through several steps . He must first apply for short-term status, and after six months - indefinite status. When these stages are completed, you can be confident of receiving official Russian citizenship.
A certificate of renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship must be attached to the package of documents. Although for the Ukrainian side this point is controversial. They consider Crimea their territory, temporarily and illegally annexed. From the legal side, residents of Crimea are simultaneously citizens of both countries. But in fact, changing your country of residence can be taken to its logical conclusion. To do this, a person must go to another state for permanent residence and from there, after a few years, apply for registration in the desired country.
List of required documents
The list of papers for registering citizenship is the same for all states. The main thing is to carefully check all the data when preparing documents, avoid corrections and erasures, and also not allow the certificates you receive to expire . The following documents will be needed:
- The petition itself.
- Passport of the country of departure and 4 copies of pages with information about permission to move for permanent residence.
- 4 photographs 35 x 45 mm.
- A certificate guaranteeing Russian citizenship if Ukrainian citizenship is renounced. The document must be provided in 5 copies (original + 4 copies).
- Five copies (original + 4 copies) of the receipt for payment of the state fee for traveling for permanent residence in another country.
One month is allotted for studying the documents. If there are no questions regarding their content and design, a decision will be made. To avoid long red tape with corrections and additions, it is better to entrust the case to a lawyer.
Lack of registration
If a resident of Crimea does not have registration in the Russian Federation, but considers himself a Russian citizen, lives permanently and works on the peninsula, he needs to go to court with the following documents:
- A request to confirm the fact of his permanent residence in Crimea.
- Papers confirming his constant presence on the peninsula (work book, extracts from the clinic, housing department, etc.).
- A receipt for payment of the duty.
Additionally, you must provide two or more witnesses who can confirm all the facts presented in the petition.
To obtain citizenship in Crimea, it is not necessary to live on the peninsula. If necessary, you can submit an application from any region of Russia about your desire to obtain such status. The list of documents will be the same as for the indigenous inhabitants of the peninsula.
The procedure for sending a renunciation of citizenship to the Ukrainian Embassy
Voluntary renunciation of citizenship can only be made with the consent of both parties - the citizen and the state. Thus, not only the desire of the citizen is necessary, but also the absence of his obligations to the country (military, debt, established by the court and others).
Helpful advice!
In order to avoid additional problems before leaving your homeland, we advise you to go through the exit procedure at the state migration authorities, and when moving to another country, register for migration at the Ukrainian consulate.
Algorithm of action when filing a renunciation of citizenship:
- Write an application on Form 20 - for citizens over 18, on Form 21 - for minors;
- Submit it personally to the Consulate or diplomatic mission. If personal submission of documents is not possible, then the use of a proxy is allowed, then a notarized power of attorney must be drawn up.
The application form (Form No. 20) can be downloaded from our website below, or obtained from the Consulate.
The submitted application and documents are first reviewed by the authorized state bodies of Ukraine, then they transfer the package of documents to the president. In total, the application is considered within eight months. Then a decision is made, it is adopted in the form of an official presidential decree. From the day the decree enters into legal force, a person ceases to be a citizen of Ukraine. Representatives of the consulate are required to notify the person a week before this day.
A person will need to come to the Consulate, submit all his Ukrainian documents and receive a certificate of termination of Ukrainian citizenship.
How to renounce citizenship on the territory of Ukraine
The law states that people who have received a permanent residence permit in another country can voluntarily renounce their citizenship. Applications for renunciation of citizenship filed on the territory of Ukraine are an exception to the rule. Such requests are extremely rarely granted.
You should submit documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine while on its territory only in cases when it comes to the adoption of a child who has its citizenship.
Video about simplifying the renunciation of citizenship:
On Russian territory
If the applicant permanently resides in Russia, he only needs to contact the Ukrainian consulate located closer to his place of residence.
- Installed package of documents;
- Two copies of the application for renunciation of citizenship, certified by a notary.
Consular staff must accept documents for processing. One copy of the application is certified by the employee who accepted the documents and remains with the applicant. It will serve as confirmation of the start of the procedure for renunciation of citizenship for the FMS.
Features for residents of Crimea
Due to the transition of the peninsula to Russia and Ukraine’s refusal to recognize this fact, Crimeans cannot use the generally accepted procedure.
- Live on the peninsula for at least 6 months;
- Have a Russian residence permit;
- Express a desire to obtain citizenship of the country.
In order to free themselves from Ukrainian citizenship, they only need to submit an application for exit to the local department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and hand over their Ukrainian passports. After this procedure, residents of the region in Russia are considered as persons who do not have ties with foreign countries.
The procedure for renouncing Ukrainian citizenship is not too complicated, but it is often delayed as a result of incorrect paperwork or submission of false information. If you have doubts about your own competence, the applicant can use the services of a notary.
Refusal form
You can renounce Ukrainian citizenship here. You will need 4 copies. The form must be printed on both sides and filled out in Ukrainian.
Form for renunciation of citizenship of Ukraine(.pdf)
In the header of the application, the full name of the President of Ukraine is indicated on the left, and a photo of the applicant is pasted on the right (only after the application has been verified by a consular officer).
After this comes the main text of the statement. At the end there is a date and signature.
Why you may need to renounce citizenship
Refusal of citizenship, according to the Law “On Citizenship of Ukraine” dated January 18, 2001 No. 2235-III, is not taken into account. This law allows for the loss of citizenship after filing a petition for voluntary renunciation of citizenship.
This procedure may be necessary if a citizen wants to take citizenship of another country whose laws prohibit having two passports. The Russian Federation is one of these.
For people who have received political asylum or refugee status in Russia, there is no need to initiate the procedure for renouncing Ukrainian citizenship.
- Applicants for a passport on a general basis;
- Recognized as native speakers of language and culture;
- Who participate in the resettlement program for compatriots;
- To reunite with one of the parents;
- Having legal grounds for obtaining a passport outside the quotas.
