OBTAITING THE STATUS OF A FOREIGN UKRAINIAN

An overseas Ukrainian is a person who is a citizen of another state or a stateless person, and also has a Ukrainian ethnic origin or origin from Ukraine.

Ukrainian ethnic origin is the affiliation of a person or her ancestors to a Ukrainian nation and her recognition of Ukraine as a homeland of her ethnic origin.

The decision to grant, refuse or terminate the status of a frontier Ukrainian citizen is taken by the National Commission for the Frontier Ukrainians, which is created under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

In the case of a positive decision to grant the status of a frontier Ukrainian, the National Commission issues a certificate of identity to the person.

The certificate of a foreign Ukrainian is a document certifying this status, but does not replace passport. The certificate of a foreign Ukrainian is issued for 10 years with the subsequent re-registration.

The presence of a foreign Ukrainian status offers the following benefits:

• the possibility of obtaining higher education at the expense of the state budget of Ukraine within the limits of the established quotas for training;
• the right to free registration of a multiple-entry visa for visiting Ukraine without an appropriate invitation for a period of 5 years (for citizens of the states with which Ukraine has a visa regime);
• the possibility of immigration to Ukraine for permanent residence subject to obtaining an immigration permit in the manner prescribed by law for permanent residence outside the quota for immigration.

A foreign Ukrainian who resides in Ukraine on legal grounds uses the same rights and freedoms as well as carries the same duties as a citizen of Ukraine, with the exceptions established by the Constitution, laws of Ukraine or international treaties, the consent to the binding nature of which is given by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

LIST OF DOCUMENTS FOR THE FOUNDATION OF THE STATUS OF FOREIGN UKRAINE.

According to Article 3 of the Law of Ukraine "On Foreign Ukrainians", foreigners and stateless persons of Ukrainian ethnic origin or origin from Ukraine, have reached the age of 16 and are not citizens of Ukraine have the right to obtain the status of a foreign Ukrainian and a certificate of a foreign Ukrainian.

A person who has expressed a desire to acquire the status of a foreign Ukrainian, submits a written application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the territory of Ukraine, abroad - to a foreign diplomatic institution of Ukraine.

To the application for the status of a foreign Ukrainian:

• a passport document or a document that replaces it;
• Copies of documents certifying Ukrainian ethnic origin or origin from Ukraine (certificate or other documents on the birth of a person or his relatives, documents confirming the fact of residence of a person on the territory of Ukraine, and, if necessary, other documents);
• two color photographs in the size of 30 x 40 millimeters;
• a receipt for payment by the applicant of services related to the registration and issuance of a certificate.

Written evidence of Ukrainian citizens or foreign Ukrainians (not less than three persons) confirming the Ukrainian ethnic origin or origin of the applicant from Ukraine, as well as the request-request of the civic organization of Ukrainian foreign-born, of which the applicant is a member, may be attached to the documents.

The registration fee is charged in the currency of the country of residence of the applicant in the amount equivalent to USD 10 per one of the bank accounts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

This issue is regulated by the Law on Foreign Ukrainians and the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1531.

In order to obtain a certificate for a foreign Ukrainian, we encourage all those who wish to apply to the Migration Department of the law firm "Prikhodko & Partners" for advice and preparation of all documents.