The fundamental element of the development of any state is the strengthening of its legal ties, as well as the formation of a high-quality and new legal system for the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of a person and a citizen, including the sphere of acquiring Ukrainian citizenship. The legal framework that regulates the institution of Ukrainian citizenship at this stage is fragmented and inconsistent, and the process of forming such a framework is not systematic and consistent, which causes problems in legal regulation. It is important to examine the doctrinal approaches and views that relate to the institution of citizenship. There are different approaches to defining the concept of citizenship. It is interpreted from different aspects – political, legal or philosophical. The content of citizenship can be a stable legal connection with a certain state or a person’s belonging to a certain state, the people of a nation. Among the key characteristics of the institution of citizenship, the most important is its influence on ensuring the rights and freedoms of a person and a citizen. Citizenship gives a person a number of rights, including the right to protection by the state, participation in elections and public administration, access to social services and protection in court. It also imposes obligations, including: protecting the homeland, paying taxes, being loyal to the state, obeying the law, and participating in society. This interaction determines the ways of realizing civil rights and responsibilities, solving conflicts and problems related to citizenship and migration, as well as the formation of civil identity and joint responsibility for the future of the country. The definition of the signs of citizenship is also insufficient in the legal literature. These problems make it necessary to study the general legal and doctrinal characteristics of the institution of citizenship.