Ukrainian citizens cannot apply for Estonian citizenship during wartime

Ukrainian citizens currently cannot apply for Estonian citizenship because Ukraine prohibits its citizens from acquiring citizenship in another country during the war. According to Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise, this restriction does not violate the constitution, as the war is not permanent.

Ukrainians living in Estonia face a situation where they cannot currently apply for Estonian citizenship — the reason lies in Ukraine's own laws, which prohibit citizens from accepting citizenship of a foreign country during wartime.

A prerequisite for obtaining Estonian citizenship is renouncing one's previous citizenship. However, due to the war, Ukraine has prohibited its citizens from accepting citizenship of another country, making it practically impossible for people of Ukrainian origin to obtain an Estonian passport at present.

Ülle Madise, Estonia's Chancellor of Justice, explained that the wartime situation is temporary and therefore restricting Ukrainian citizens' access to Estonian citizenship is not unconstitutional, at least for the duration of the war. According to Madise, it must be taken into account that the war will not last forever, and once the situation changes, Ukrainian citizens will also have the opportunity to fulfill the normal conditions for obtaining Estonian citizenship.

The issue affects thousands of Ukrainians who have moved to Estonia since February 2022 and wish to stay here longer. Many of them have expressed a desire to obtain Estonian citizenship but have had to acknowledge that the current situation does not permit this. Under Estonia's citizenship law, dual citizenship options are generally limited, meaning that without renouncing Ukrainian citizenship, an Estonian passport is not available.