Cabinet resolution #620 of May 30, 2024

Cosponsors: the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine

Status: in effect since May 30, 2024

Who is affected: the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the National Commission on State Language Standards, and persons applying or planning to apply for Ukrainian citizenship

Summary:

  • the resolution approves the mechanism for conducting exams on the basics of the Constitution and the history of Ukraine (hereinafter — exams) for foreigners, stateless persons, and Ukrainian citizens who received citizenship “in advance,” that is, conditional on passing the required exams once they are launched. According to the resolution:
    • to take the exams, candidates register via their electronic account and fill out an application form online
    • the state institution Scientific and Methodological Center of Higher and Professional Higher Education reviews the application and within 5 working days informs the applicant of the place, date, time, conditions, and requirements for the exams, as well as provides other necessary information
    • exams are recorded on video
    • the exams consist of 45 test tasks (20 on the basics of the Constitution of Ukraine and 25 on the history of Ukraine). Each question offers four answer choices, only one of which is correct
    • the exam duration is 45 minutes
    • to pass the exam, the candidate has to correctly answer 15 questions on the Constitution and 20 questions on history
    • upon passing the exams, the candidate receives a certificate
  • exemption from taking the exams is granted to the following people:
    • persons declared legally incapable by a court
    • persons with disabilities related to visual, hearing, or speech impairments, confirmed by a medical conclusion
    • persons with mental disorders, confirmed by a medical conclusion
  • the resolution changes the procedure for the use of funding, which will ensure:
    • development of regulations, standardized methods for assessing results, software for conducting the exams
    • development of curricula and tasks for the exams and their evaluation
    • organizational, technological, and technical support for exams, initial and professional expertise of results
    • creation and administration of a software and hardware complex for processing and checking tests. Technical equipment for conducting exams, production of certificates for passing exams, and maintaining their records.

What is right: the resolution defines the mechanism for conducting citizenship exams, but the actual introduction and organization of the exams require further adoption and implementation of various ordinances and provisions, as well as organizational measures.

Why this is important: knowledge of the Constitution and the history of Ukraine will aid in the integration of new citizens into Ukrainian society, enhance their understanding of its cultural and historical specifics, and contribute to a sense of belonging to the country.

Background information: on April 21, 2023, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law introducing mandatory exams for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship.