Ukraine: Whether Ukrainian citizenship is revoked from those who emigrated to Israel in 2000 and acquired Israeli citizenship; what procedure is to be followed by a former Ukrainian who wishes to recover revoked Ukrainian citizenship
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 25 October 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | UKR39485.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ukraine: Whether Ukrainian citizenship is revoked from those who emigrated to Israel in 2000 and acquired Israeli citizenship; what procedure is to be followed by a former Ukrainian who wishes to recover revoked Ukrainian citizenship , 25 October 2002, UKR39485.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4e2f2d.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For detailed information on the recovery of Ukrainian citizenship, please refer to ZZZ31034.E of 2 February 1999. For information on the process for acquiring Israeli citizenship and/or renouncing foreign citizenship for immigrants from Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, please refer to ISR21640.E of 18 August 1995. These two Responses expand on and add to information in earlier Responses and the February 1993 Issue Paper Israel: Jews From the Former Soviet Union.
The information that follows was provided by a consular officer at the Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa during a 21 October 2002 telephone interview.
A Ukrainian citizen who emigrates to another country does not automatically lose his or her Ukrainian citizenship. There is no automatic loss of Ukranian citizenship, neither upon emigration nor upon acquisition of another citizenship. Ukraine does not formally recognize dual citizenship with Israel or other countries; however, to lose citizenship, a person must formally request renunciation of their Ukrainian citizenship from Ukrainian authorities, and that process is neither automatic nor immediate.
The text of Ukranian legislation governing citizenship can be found, in Ukranian, at In addition to the above, in early 2002 the United States Defense Personnel Security Research Center published the following information on loss and acquisition of Ukranian citizenship: CITIZENSHIP: (IPE) Citizenship for Ukraine is based upon the 1991 Statute on Citizenship. All those who resided in Ukraine until the approval of this statute retain their citizenship. BY BIRTH: Birth within the territory of Ukraine does not automatically confer citizenship. BY DESCENT: – Child born within the territory of Ukraine, with at least one parent being a citizen of Ukraine. – Child born abroad, with at least one parent being a citizen of Ukraine and having permanent residence in Ukraine. REGISTRATION: Citizenship may be granted by registration for the following persons: – Children adopted by citizens of Ukraine. – Persons who have no other citizenship and at least one parent or grandparent was born in Ukraine. – Foreign persons and persons without citizenship under certain conditions listed by the Statute. BY NATURALIZATION: Ukrainian citizenship may be acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person does not possess any foreign citizenship, has resided in Ukraine for at least five years, is able to function in the Ukrainian language and is knowledgeable of the Ukrainian Constitution. DUAL CITIZENSHIP: NOT RECOGNIZED. LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP: VOLUNTARY: Voluntary renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship is permitted by law. Contact the Ukrainian Embassy for details and proper paperwork. INVOLUNTARY: The following is grounds for involuntary loss of Ukrainian citizenship: Person voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship. Person is enrolled for military service, security service. Law enforcement authorities, judicial bodies or other bodies of state power of a foreign state (United States 16 Apr. 2002). This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Ukraine. Embassy of Ukraine, Ottawa. 21 October 2002. Telephone interview with consular officer.
United States of America. Defense Personnel Security Research Center (DPSRC), San Francisco. 16 April 2002. "Ukraine." Sources Consulted
Country Reports 2000-2001. 2001-2002.
European Bulletin on Nationality. 2000-2002.
IRB Databases.
NEXIS.
Travel Information Manual (TIM).
Internet sites and search engines, including:
Amnesty International.
Governments of Israel and Ukraine.
Human Rights Watch.
UNHCR Refworld.
Note:
This list is not exhaustive. Country and subject-specific publications available at the Resource Centre are not included.
