Granting Ukrainian citizenship to foreign volunteers: Parliament adopts the law in the second reading
Kyiv • UNN
The Verkhovna Rada has passed a law granting Ukrainian citizenship to foreigners serving in the Armed Forces and other military formations. The law also regulates the legal status of foreigners who defend Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted in the second reading and as a whole a draft law on granting Ukrainian citizenship to foreigners serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service or the National Guard of Ukraine.
This is reported by UNN with reference to MP Oleksiy Honcharenko and the card of the bill No. 9585.
Details
The Verkhovna Rada supported the draft law on the legal status of foreigners and stateless persons participating in the defense of the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine (No. 9585)
According to the draft law, legal residence on the territory of Ukraine is provided for foreigners who have extended their stay on the territory of Ukraine in accordance with the established procedure, or have a permanent or temporary residence permit on the territory of Ukraine, or have a military ID. Foreigners who are or have been serving under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service or the National Guard of Ukraine will also be able to obtain Ukrainian citizenship.
To do this, you will need to submit a declaration of renunciation of foreign citizenship.
According to the draft law, family members of foreigners who have signed a contract to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard of Ukraine will be eligible for a temporary residence permit.
It also provides for the granting of immigration permits or Ukrainian citizenship to those whose passports have expired. This also applies to foreigners and stateless persons who have defended Ukraine.
It is planned to grant the right to obtain a temporary residence permit to family members of people who have signed a contract in the Armed Forces. Citizens of Russia and Belarus who have acquired Ukrainian citizenship since February 24, 2020, must confirm the termination of their previous citizenship after the end of martial law.
People who have served in the Armed Forces and obtained Ukrainian citizenship within two years of the end of martial law must pass exams on the Constitution of Ukraine, history and confirm their language skills.As a reminder, on Thursday, August 15, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the Verkhovna Rada to convene urgently in the near future to consider a defense legislative package, including issues related to the regulation of trophy weapons, citizenship of foreigners fighting in Ukrainian legions and deprivation of state awards for traitors.
In May, the Rada supported the draft law in the first reading.
