Can I renounce my citizenship? If so, how can I renounce Ukrainian citizenship?

One of the most urgent issues of modern political life is citizenship. International policy is aimed at eliminating statelessness with a view to protecting human rights and freedoms. But crossings, marriages, births of children require making adjustments to this problem. Many people have a question, how to renounce citizenship and can this be done? In this article, we will try to give a legal answer to the example of Ukraine.

Citizenship of Ukraine

Citizenship is the special political and legal relationship existing between a citizen and the state, which are expressed in specific civil rights and, of course, duties. So, one of the duties of a citizen is to give up a military duty, that is, to serve in the army of his state. The rights include the possibility to participate in the elections of representatives of the authorities, as well as to nominate their own candidacy for deputies of local or central authorities or presidents. Ukrainian citizenship is acquired by birth, territorial origin (residence in the territory of Ukraine at different times of parents, grandparents) or taken by subjects of another state under a special procedure. Dual citizenship is not recognized by law. In this case, we are interested in the question of how to renounce the citizenship of Ukraine.

International Citizenship Law

The United Nations regulates basic human rights. They also include the right to a nationality. No one can be deprived of it, - says the first provision. The second is that you can not deny a person a change of citizenship. The state can not obstruct and must legislatively regulate this process. The Law of Ukraine "On Citizenship" contains several articles ordering the withdrawal from the citizenship of this state. But in practice, many people have doubts whether it is possible to abandon the citizenship of Ukraine quickly and without delay, especially in the light of recent events. What should be done, where to go?

Categories of persons for whom withdrawal from Ukrainian citizenship is possible

The first category of persons having grounds to withdraw from the citizenship of Ukraine includes those who permanently reside in the territory of another state for a long time. The second category consists of a wide range of children. Circumstances can be different, but in any case, the petition of parents or even one of them is necessary. These are cases of moving, adoption by foreign citizens. One important nuance: children from 14 to 18 years must personally agree with the application of the parents. Also, the refusal of Ukrainian citizenship is satisfied when obtaining an indigenate of another state or at least documents confirming its receipt after the renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship.

Legal grounds for dissatisfaction with the application for withdrawal from the citizenship of Ukraine

State authorities can reject an application for the renunciation of citizenship in the following situations:

• The person who filed the application is brought to a criminal investigation as an accused;
• The applicant was convicted by the Ukrainian court, which must be carried out;
• The applicant, because of the loss of citizenship, will become a stateless person, that is, a natural person without citizenship; In accordance with international standards, this should be avoided in public policy.

Deprivation of citizenship of Ukraine

The law provides for situations in which the question of how to renounce the citizenship of Ukraine is no longer important, because the authorized bodies will deprive you of it. In what cases can this happen? First, with the voluntary acquisition of citizenship of another state. It is important to know that only the reference of a person to special representative offices of another state with a request for transfer to another citizenship and its satisfaction refers to this provision. Acquisition of citizenship due to adoption, marriage in this case is not considered. Secondly, obtaining citizenship of Ukraine by deception and false documents. And the third - voluntary service in the army of another state (except mandatory and alternative). It is clear that there is no automatic loss of citizenship. If you comply with some of the above conditions, but the migration or diplomatic service has not filed an application for termination of citizenship to the president, then officially you are still a bearer of the rights and duties of a citizen of Ukraine.

Documents required for renunciation of citizenship

So, let's move on to practice and understand how to abandon the citizenship of Ukraine with the least expenditure of energy, omitting the running around in various instances. It is necessary to collect a package of documents in advance, which will include:

• A written statement in two copies;
• Photographs measuring thirty-five by forty-five millimeters (two pieces);
• A copy of the passport of Ukraine or a Soviet passport with a note on leaving the country for permanent residence;
• Certificate of permanent residence abroad.

It is also necessary to provide a document confirming the receipt of the citizenship of another state or a certificate of the possibility of receiving it after the procedure for the liquidation of Ukrainian citizenship.

Execution of renunciation of citizenship to the child

In the question of how to renounce Ukrainian citizenship to a child, there are important nuances in the preparation of documents. In special services it is necessary to submit:

• A certified copy of the child's birth certificate;
• A document confirming the presence of a Ukrainian citizen in a minor;
• A document that can testify the acquisition of another citizenship or confirm the readiness of the special services of another state to resolve positively the question of its receipt after the renunciation of Ukraine's citizenship will succeed;
• The application of a child from 14 to 18 years with a request for deprivation of political and legal connection with the state;
• A document confirming the child's departure abroad on a permanent basis;
• The petition of parents.

The president's decision will put an end to your case

Authorities that make decisions on issues of obtaining and seceding from citizenship are a special commission under the president of Ukraine and the president himself. The first verifies the legal correctness of the completion of documents, maintains contact with local authorities, diplomatic services on the issue of the design of forms. The President also issues decrees on the adoption in the political and legal sphere of special relations with the state or on the termination of such. The problem is that even if you know how to renounce the citizenship of Ukraine, and properly complete all the documents, providing the necessary information, without this presidential decree in your legal status nothing will change.

Examples of people who applied for a refusal of citizenship back in the 90s, successfully transferred to a permanent state for another state during that time, not only did they accept foreign citizenship, but did not receive a refusal from the citizenship of Ukraine, quite a lot. In connection with the political events of this year, there were even more pitfalls and misunderstandings in this matter.

The question of the indigen in 2014

How to renounce the citizenship of Ukraine in 2014? This issue has become quite important for a large number of Ukrainians in connection with the simplification of the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship, introduced on April 21 this year. It is envisaged that any person living in Russia or having the closest relatives who lived on its territory will receive an indigenate of this state without an obligatory permanent stay in Russia for 5 years. The only condition is the mastery of the Russian language as a native language. This is not about checking literacy, for example, on the type of exam, but about an interview that should establish the free use of language in speech in everyday life. But not everything is so simple for those wishing to change their citizenship. That is, it became easier to obtain Russian citizenship. But how to renounce the citizenship of Ukraine, if she decided that this step will not lead to the termination of citizenship? Some say: "Well, all right, the main thing is that we got Russian citizenship, and the rest does not matter!" This is not quite true. After all, Ukraine sees you as your subject, assigning certain responsibilities to you. Many Ukrainians are afraid to return home in this situation, because they can immediately be drafted into the army. Therefore, it is important that everything is properly legalized.

Crimea

The transition of the Crimea to Russia has also generated a lot of misunderstandings in the issue of citizenship. Most of the inhabitants of this peninsula had Ukrainian citizenship. Since now it is the territory of Russia, the government of the Russian Federation made a decision on the massive legal appropriation of citizenship of the Russian Federation to all Crimean residents. All would be nothing, but the population was in a difficult situation. Firstly, the Kiev authorities do not recognize the "annexation" of the peninsula, and therefore they consider the population to be their citizens. On the other hand, the citizenship of Ukraine does not allow permanent residence on the territory of Russia without the necessary additional documents, such as a residence permit.

All those wishing to retain Ukrainian citizenship within a month were invited to apply to special services for the renunciation of Russian citizenship. It is officially announced that three and a half thousand people have done it. Nevertheless, after a while, Crimeans may have a question how to renounce Russian citizenship now, if they did not write an application to the migration service on time. The procedure in this case will be standard, based on the Russian law "On Citizenship."