Reanimation package of reforms > News > Statements > The RPR Coalition Joins the Statement of Civil Society Organizations on Draft Law of Ukraine No. 13071 “On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons”
To the President of Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
To the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Ruslan Stefanchuk
To the Chairman of the VRU Committee on Human Rights, De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, National Minorities, and Interethnic Relations
Andrii Zadorozhnyi
“On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons” regarding the abolition of visa requirements for foreigners and stateless persons who are humanitarian workers and volunteers during martial law
We, representatives of Ukrainian civil society organizations and international NGOs, express our deep concern regarding the version of Draft Law No. 13071 for the second reading, prepared by the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights, which may soon be considered by Parliament.
On 15 May 2025, Members of Parliament unanimously supported Draft Law No. 13071 in its first reading, in the version endorsed by both the President of Ukraine and civil society. It was civil society organizations who initiated changes to legislation to ease visa requirements for foreign humanitarian workers and volunteers during martial law. The draft also received positive feedback among international partners.
The main provisions proposed in the initial version of Draft Law No. 13071 included:
Simplifying the procedure for obtaining a temporary residence permit for foreign volunteers and employees of local branches of foreign NGOs. These changes aimed to simplify the involvement in Ukraine of citizens of visa-free countries who do not require a “volunteer” D visa as a basis for entry. The need to obtain a long-term visa solely to acquire a residence permit is unjustified both organizationally (requiring travel back to the country of origin) and financially (costing at least USD 65).
Regulating the stay of foreigners who entered Ukraine visa-free but overstayed the permitted period (90 days within 180 days).
However, the updated version for the second reading introduces changes that undermine these key decisions and create risks for the future development of volunteerism in Ukraine.
Civil society organizations and experts — including the authors of the bill — were not involved by the Committee in preparing the second reading text. After the draft was published, they informed the Committee that the new provisions negate the purpose and key points of the publicly agreed first version.
Extension to “accredited representations of foreign states”
This introduces a category inappropriate for migration law, since the legal status of diplomatic staff is governed by international treaties and conventions ratified by Ukraine. Including them in this draft is unnecessary and potentially problematic, creating risks for diplomatic missions.
Uncertainty regarding organizations that may involve humanitarian workers
The proposed wording is inconsistent with other laws and problematic in practice, especially concerning foreign staff of international NGOs and charities. The term “accredited representations of foreign humanitarian organizations in Ukraine” has no definition in Ukrainian law. Without clarification, the simplification of visa requirements for numerous foreign humanitarian workers becomes unworkable.
Restrictions by citizenship and delays due to additional government procedures
The draft introduces wording excluding citizens of certain states (to be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers). This creates risks of delays, since the government may not develop and approve such lists within the three-month deadline. While national security considerations are legitimate, civil society must be engaged in drafting these documents to avoid blocking humanitarian access.
Shortening the duration of the law
The validity of the law is proposed to be reduced to six months after the end of martial law (instead of one year in the first reading). Yet humanitarian needs will persist post-war, during the recovery phase — including demining, housing restoration, water supply, psychosocial support, and assistance to veterans.
Delaying EU integration processes
Simplifying conditions for long-term stay of foreign volunteers and humanitarian NGO staff is part of the EU Roadmap on democratic institutions. Therefore, Draft Law No. 13071 is inherently EU-integration-related, requiring an inclusive adoption process with consultations with civil society and international partners.
We call on the VRU Human Rights Committee to revise Draft Law No. 13071 with the participation of authors and experts, preserving its original goal — to facilitate the work of humanitarian workers and volunteers.
We call on Members of Parliament to support the draft only after revising problematic provisions that create legal uncertainty and unnecessarily extend the law to representatives of foreign states.
We call on the President of Ukraine to veto Draft Law No. 13071 if adopted without these necessary revisions.
We also express our readiness to participate in working groups, consultations, and other formats to jointly improve the legal environment for volunteering and humanitarian activity in Ukraine.
Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition:
Association of Community Advisors of Ukraine
NGO “Parents for Vaccination”
NGO “Struggle for Rights”
Detector Media
Institute of Civil Society
Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting
Institute of Euro-Atlantic Cooperation
Institute “Respublica”
Institute of Regional Press Development
Institute of Central European Strategy
Committee of Voters of Ukraine
National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine
Plast
NGO “Together Against Corruption”
CF “East-SOS”
ICF “Ukrainian Public Health Foundation”
Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research
Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation
New Europe Center
Advocacy Center “LIFE”
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law
Center for Research on the Liberation Movement
LRHub Center for Economic Growth
EIDOS Center for Political Studies and Analysis
Center for Innovation Development
Centre of Policy and Legal Reform
Ukrainian Center for European Policy
School of Political Analytics
NGO “Legal Hundred”
NGO “EasyBusiness”
Other Civil Society Organizations:
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
CF Coordination Humanitarian Center
NGO Gender in Detail Expert Resource
NPO Austria stands with Ukraine
UAid Direct Foundation
NGO Brave to Recover
UN-Habitat National Office in Ukraine
NGO Rotary Club Kharkiv “New Level”
NGO Piatykhatky-BAM
CF Help to Evacuate
NGO Protection for the Sake of Victory
ICF Ukrainian Public Health Foundation
NGO Know This
Association of Polish Journalists of Ukraine
NGO Priority
CF Charity Foundation “LIFE”
NGO Voice of Parents
NGO Kebeta
CF Foundation Volunteers Without Borders
NGO Association of Girl Guides of Ukraine
NGO Women’s Opportunities Space “AktyvnaYa”
CF 100% Life Rivne Network
NGO Ukrainian Union of Maidan Activists “Unbroken”
NGO Kolezhanky
NGO Fundamentals of Consciousness
NGO Gender Creative Space
NGO Vazhlyva (Important)
NGO Zhyttiedaina (Life-giving)
International Charitable Foundation Caritas Ukraine
NGO Inclusive Studios
Kirovohrad Regional Organization of the All-Ukrainian NGO Association for the Promotion of Self-Organization of the Population
NGO Descendants of the Unbroken
NGO In Unity – Power!
NGO Grateful Paw
CF Charity Fund “Oleksandriya Help Center”
