Acquisition of Ukrainian Citizenship by Territorial Origin

A foreign national or a stateless person, as well as his or her children, is entitled to acquire Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin if the person concerned, or at least one of his or her parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, or full or half siblings (brother or sister), son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter, was born or permanently resided before 24 August 1991 in the territory that became the territory of Ukraine in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Succession of Ukraine".

The same right applies where the person concerned, or at least one of his or her parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, or full or half siblings, was born or permanently resided before 24 August 1991 in other territories which, at the time of their birth or residence, formed part of the Ukrainian People's Republic, the West Ukrainian People's Republic, the Ukrainian State, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Transcarpathian Ukraine, the Ukrainian SSR, the Crimean People's Republic, or the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

In such cases, the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship shall be initiated by one of the person's legal representatives, and upon reaching the age of majority, by the person concerned personally.

The conditions for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin are:

• recognition of and compliance with the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, confirmed in the application for acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship submitted in the prescribed manner;
• knowledge of the fundamentals of the Constitution of Ukraine and the history of Ukraine;
• proficiency in the state language at the level established by the National Commission on State Language Standards.