Wartime Emergency Framework (Decree 64/2022)
Citizenship in Ukraine
- Eligibility
- Continuous martial law since 2022-02-24; cascade-FIRST active-wartime citizenship framework
- Timeline
- 1 year (wartime per Law 4502-IX Art 9)
- Renunciation
- Not required
Overview
Wartime emergency framework — continuous martial law since 2022-02-24 affects all citizenship processes. T1+ Wartime-Active jurisdiction with Law 4502-IX of 2025-06-18 (EIF 2026-01-16) restructuring 15-scenario jus sanguinis + multi-citizenship Art 5-1 (6 cases) + simplified friendly-state procedure Art 10-1 + 1-year wartime Defender pathway Art 9 + 8 historical successor-state territorial enumeration Art 8. Konstytutsiynyi Sud apex jurisdiction; martial law continuous since Decree 64/2022 (2022-02-24); occupied-territory non-recognition regime per Law 1207-VII (Crimea + Donbas) + Law 4502-IX Article 19(1) third paragraph codification.
Constitutional Article 4 single-citizenship principle preserved; Cabinet Resolution № 1412 (5 Nov 2025) initial friendly-state list: USA + Canada + Germany + Poland + Czech Republic; Cabinet Resolution 589-2026-п (12 May 2026) under review. In UA legal relations, multi-citizen treated as UA citizen only.
How to apply
Martial law framework operative continuous since 2022-02-24 by 90-day renewable extensions. T1+ Wartime-Active jurisdiction with Law 4502-IX of 2025-06-18 (EIF 2026-01-16) restructuring 15-scenario jus sanguinis + multi-citizenship Art 5-1 (6 cases) + simplified friendly-state procedure Art 10-1 + 1-year wartime Defender pathway Art 9 + 8 historical successor-state territorial enumeration Art 8. Konstytutsiynyi Sud apex jurisdiction; martial law continuous since Decree 64/2022 (2022-02-24); occupied-territory non-recognition regime per Law 1207-VII (Crimea + Donbas) + Law 4502-IX Article 19(1) third paragraph codification.
Procedural anchor: Decree 215/2001 (Order on Implementing Provisions of Citizenship Laws) governs application procedures; DMSU territorial offices in-country + MFA consular abroad accept applications; processing timeline 6-12 months standard / 1-3 months wartime Defender / case-by-case Presidential decree pathways. Diia portal digital submission accepted for eligible categories per Law on Public Electronic Registries.
Legal basis
Presidential Decree № 64/2022 of 24 February 2022 introduced martial law. Constitutional basis: Art 106(1)(20) + Law 389-VIII Legal Regime of Martial Law. Constitution Article 83 prohibits elections during martial law. Continuous extensions through 2026-05-15.
Competent authority
President + Verkhovna Rada (extension approval) + Cabinet of Ministers (operational regulations) + National Security Council. T1+ Wartime-Active jurisdiction with Law 4502-IX of 2025-06-18 (EIF 2026-01-16) restructuring 15-scenario jus sanguinis + multi-citizenship Art 5-1 (6 cases) + simplified friendly-state procedure Art 10-1 + 1-year wartime Defender pathway Art 9 + 8 historical successor-state territorial enumeration Art 8. Konstytutsiynyi Sud apex jurisdiction; martial law continuous since Decree 64/2022 (2022-02-24); occupied-territory non-recognition regime per Law 1207-VII (Crimea + Donbas) + Law 4502-IX Article 19(1) third paragraph codification.
DMSU (State Migration Service of Ukraine, derzhmihratsiya.gov.ua) operational lead + MFA consular offices ~100+ countries + DRACS (Department of Civil Status Acts of Justice Ministry) civil registration + Cabinet of Ministers operational regulations + Presidential Commission per Decree 215/2001 review + President formal grant per Constitution Article 106(1)(26) + Konstytutsiynyi Sud constitutional review + Verkhovna Rada legislative authority + Diia portal digital services.
Martial law operational chain: Cabinet of Ministers emergency authority; Verkhovna Rada extension approval every 90 days; National Security and Defense Council coordination.
Exceptions & edge cases
Critical operational context: DMSU + MFA modified procedures; Diia portal digital services expanded; Defenders pathway codified. T1+ Wartime-Active jurisdiction with Law 4502-IX of 2025-06-18 (EIF 2026-01-16) restructuring 15-scenario jus sanguinis + multi-citizenship Art 5-1 (6 cases) + simplified friendly-state procedure Art 10-1 + 1-year wartime Defender pathway Art 9 + 8 historical successor-state territorial enumeration Art 8. Konstytutsiynyi Sud apex jurisdiction; martial law continuous since Decree 64/2022 (2022-02-24); occupied-territory non-recognition regime per Law 1207-VII (Crimea + Donbas) + Law 4502-IX Article 19(1) third paragraph codification.
Ukrainian diaspora ~20M total per Ukrainian World Congress: Canada 1.4M + USA 1.0M + Russia 1.9M (pre-2022) + Brazil 600K + Argentina 250K + Germany 1.2M + Poland 1.5M post-2022 + Italy 240K + Czech Republic 200K + Spain + Israel + Australia + Kazakhstan + Uzbekistan + Romania + others. Foreign Ukrainian status per Law 1582-IV provides 1-year accelerated residence per Law 4502-IX Article 9.
Example scenarios
WARTIME ENTRY DEFENDER PATHWAY
Visa-free entry per Decree 82/2022. Recruitment through ildu.legion.army or MFA consular. Contract via Decree 248/2016 + Law 2232-XII. 1-year service threshold per Law 4502-IX Art 9 for citizenship.
WARTIME FRAMEWORK OPERATIONAL
Continuous martial law since 2022-02-24 (90-day renewals). DMSU + MFA + Cabinet 437-2022 wartime notary flexibility apply. Diia portal digital services. Article 9 1-year wartime contract codification operates indefinitely while martial law continues.
Informational summary compiled from primary legal sources — not legal advice. Citizenship law changes; verify with the competent authority before acting. Last verified 2026-05-15.
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