Which exams do you need to pass for Ukrainian citizenship?

Why the exams exist

In its current version, the Law "On Citizenship of Ukraine" No. 2235-III makes knowledge of the basics of the Constitution, the history of Ukraine and the state language a condition for two routes. One is acceptance into citizenship (naturalization) under Article 9, the other is citizenship by territorial origin under Article 8. Knowledge is confirmed by exams held under rules set by the Cabinet of Ministers. The wider picture is in the guide to the ways of getting Ukrainian citizenship.

Here are the two exams side by side:

Constitution and history exam

The procedure for the exam on the basics of the Constitution of Ukraine and the history of Ukraine was approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 620 of 30 May 2024. The exam is run by the state institution "Scientific and Methodological Centre for Higher and Professional Pre-Higher Education". You register through an online account on the institution's website.

Questions come in two test blocks, one on the basics of the Constitution and one on the history of Ukraine. Testing takes place in Ukrainian at a testing centre. To pass, you must correctly answer the number of tasks the procedure sets for each block. The institution publishes the question list, so you can prepare from the official question bank.

State language exam

Command of the state language is assessed by the Нацкомісія зі стандартів державної мови (National Commission on State Language Standards) under Article 7 of the Law "On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language" and the procedure approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 409. Registration is on the National Commission's website.

For citizenship, the National Commission set the level by its own decision. It is the first stage of the intermediate level. A certificate at this level goes to candidates who score the required share of the maximum result. The state certificate is issued by the National Commission, and that is the document you attach to your citizenship application.

Certificates

Both certificates are valid indefinitely. You can therefore get them early, while you are still at the permanent residence stage, and attach them once the other conditions are met. Retakes are allowed, but no more often than the procedures permit.

Results of the Constitution and history exam can be challenged by a complaint to the institution and then in court. The certificates go into your citizenship application together with the other documents listed in the article on documents for citizenship.

Who is exempt

The law exempts from the exams children, people declared legally incapable by a court, people with disabilities related to impaired sight, hearing or speech, and people with mental disorders. Disability and disorders are confirmed by a medical report from a competent authority of a foreign state or from a Ukrainian healthcare institution.

Separately, the law exempts a child who lives in Ukraine and whose parent or legal representative holds a permanent residence permit. Citizenship for children is covered in the article on citizenship by birth.

Undertaking to pass the exams

Several categories may apply without certificates. Instead, they give an undertaking to pass the exams within two years of acquiring citizenship. These categories are:

An undertaking does not cancel the exams, it only postpones them. Failing to meet it is a ground for losing citizenship under Article 19 of the law. Concessions for military personnel are covered in the article on citizenship for foreigners serving in the Armed Forces.

• people with outstanding services to Ukraine;
• people whose acceptance into citizenship is in the state's interest;
• contract servicemen in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service or the National Guard;
• holders of a посвідка на тимчасове проживання (temporary residence permit, [TRP](/glossary/trp)) under parts 20 and 24 of Article 4 of Law No. 3773-VI.

Fees

Most foreigners pay for both exams. The fee is linked to the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons as of 1 January of the year. The first attempt is free for refugees and people granted asylum and for those who gave an undertaking to pass the exams, and people with combatant status also take the Constitution and history exam free. Check the exact amount on the institutions' websites before registering.

How to prepare

Prepare for the Constitution and history exam using the official question bank. It tests factual knowledge of dates and legal rules, so systematic revision topic by topic helps. The language exam usually takes longer to prepare for, because it tests how you use the language rather than isolated facts. For a foreigner who has never studied Ukrainian, reaching the required level may take a long time.

Start learning the language as early as you can, ideally while you still hold a temporary residence permit. The route from a temporary permit to permanent residence is described in the guide to permanent residence in Ukraine.

Lawyer's experience

The language exam is most often the bottleneck. A client has collected every document but has no certificate yet, and the filing slips by months. I advise taking the exams first, because the certificates have no expiry date and will not go to waste.

My second tip concerns the choice of route. If you are a contract serviceman, use the undertaking and apply straight away, then take the exams after you become a citizen.

If you are planning to apply for citizenship, at a migration law consultation I will suggest the order of steps.

Frequently asked questions