Stateless identity card: how to get it?

A stateless person (or stateless person) is a person who is not recognized as a citizen by any country in the world, and who does not have any grounds for obtaining citizenship of one or another state.

In Ukraine, until 2013, there was no mechanism to assist such persons in processing documents, however, at the present time, our state, as a participant in the Conventions on the Status of Stateless Persons, takes an active part in fulfilling its obligations to improve the status of stateless persons, as well as in settling the issue regarding the preparation of documents for them.

The very first stage at which it is necessary to start the procedure of granting a person who was not born on the territory of Ukraine, but under certain circumstances is now on the territory of our country, the status of the OBG is the preparation of the necessary package of documents for applying to the Embassy/Consulate of the country in which the person was born. In this case, all available documents will come in handy, for example, a birth certificate, education documents, etc. It is necessary to obtain a certificate from the state institution - confirmation from the person's country of birth that he does not have the status of a citizen of this state and has never received such status.

After receiving the necessary document, a person, in accordance with the legislation, has the right to apply to the migration service at his place of residence with an application to grant him the status of a stateless person. A package of documents is also attached to the application: a birth certificate, a certificate that confirms the fact that the person is not a citizen of any other state, documents that can confirm that the person is married, the fact of education or employment, the presence of children, and, if available, a passport old model of the former USSR, certificates of residence, ownership, etc.

The application review period is six, and in some cases twelve months.

In the case of receiving a positive answer and granting the person the status of a stateless person (OBG), such a person is obliged to apply to the migration service in the shortest possible time (10 days) to issue a permit for temporary residence in the territory of Ukraine.

If you disregard this rule, you will be considered a person living in Ukraine illegally, which is a violation of Article 203 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, as a result of which fines may be imposed on OBG.

I would also like to point out that after living in Ukraine on a temporary permit for 2 years, they have the right to submit documents for an immigration permit and, subsequently, a permanent residence permit, which will allow them to live indefinitely on the territory of Ukraine, enjoy all rights, which are provided for by law for foreigners and OBG.

It is worth noting that foreign nationals who legally reside in Ukraine on the basis of a temporary or permanent residence permit have the right to apply to the competent authority for the issuance of a national foreign national certificate for crossing the border. This will enable OBG to cross the border not only of Ukraine, but also to travel to other countries.

If you need help with the preparation of documents to obtain the status of an OBG, as well as, in the future, a temporary or permanent residence permit or a travel document, contact the lawyers of our company, who will help prepare the necessary package of documents, which will minimize the chance of receiving a refusal to grant the status of a person stateless.