Key facts
- Ukraine's government approved a draft law to ease residency rules for foreign nationals who served in its military.
- The draft law aims to extend the legal temporary residence period from three to six months after contract completion.
- Time spent serving in the armed forces will count toward the five-year residency requirement for immigration permits.
- A special certificate will be introduced for foreigners unable to obtain or exchange passports from their home countries due to threats or political circumstances.
- A law passed in June 2025 reduced the necessary contract service time for foreign fighters to apply for citizenship from three years to one.
Ukraine's government has approved a draft law designed to streamline residency and citizenship processes for foreign nationals who have served in its armed forces. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi announced on Telegram that the proposed legislation aims to extend the period foreign and stateless individuals can legally reside in Ukraine after their military contract concludes, from the current three months to six months. This extended period is intended to provide more time for them to formalize their residency status.
Furthermore, the time spent serving in Ukraine's military will now count towards the five-year residency requirement necessary for obtaining an immigration permit. This change is particularly significant for foreign fighters who may face difficulties or prosecution if they were to return to their home countries, such as volunteers from Belarus and Russia. A new special certificate will also be introduced for those who cannot travel abroad to obtain or exchange passports due to political circumstances or threats.
These measures build upon a law passed in June 2025, which reduced the required contract service time for foreign fighters seeking Ukrainian citizenship from three years to one. A decree, No. 110/2026, introduced in February, further facilitated the process by allowing applicants to renounce their previous citizenship without formally exiting it and permitted applications using expired passports. However, the State Migration Service has historically faced criticism for lengthy naturalization processes.
The new draft law still requires approval from Ukraine's Parliament and has not yet been registered. The initiative comes as Ukraine faces a chronic manpower crisis, with President Volodymyr Zelensky announcing a renewed drive to recruit foreign fighters in June. Then-Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov had stated Kyiv's aim for 30-50% of the army's infantry and assault troops to be composed of foreigners, who continue to play an increasing role in combat missions.