Ukraine Imposes New Limits on Multiple Passports for Citizens.

New Regulations for Issuing Ukrainian Passports

According to Novyny.live: Ukraine has established specific regulations governing the issuance of international passports. These rules cover the cancellation of old documents, the option to retain them, and a new limit on the number of valid passports a citizen can hold. Under the new policy, Ukrainian citizens are now restricted to possessing no more than two valid international passports at the same time. When a new passport is issued, the previous one is typically invalidated by punching two holes through its machine-readable zone.

What Happens to an Invalidated Passport?

Once canceled, the passport loses its validity for travel. However, any active visas or residence permits stamped inside it may remain legally effective. This is a crucial detail for citizens planning trips who hold valid visas in their old document. Is it possible to keep the old passport? Yes, individuals can request to keep their invalidated passport by submitting a formal written explanation, allowing them to retain the document for potential future use.

Additional Key Information for Ukrainians

As of March 2026, Ukraine officially recognizes dual citizenship only with the United States, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Canada. These rules are part of broader efforts to modernize and secure the country's travel document system. Previously, foreign investment could lead to citizenship, but all such programs were terminated by 2026. Therefore, it is vital for Ukrainians to stay informed about passport regulations to avoid complications during travel and document processing.

Understanding these rules provides clarity in the passport application process and allows citizens to preserve important visas in canceled documents. Awareness of the two-passport limit and the retention option helps prevent travel planning issues. Given that dual citizenship is permitted with only a select few nations, monitoring legislative updates is essential to maintain future travel and visa opportunities.