provide the authorities with photographic identification, or when there is no record of the applicant in state registries, the SMS interviews the applicant’s relatives, neighbours, or other persons listed in the written explanation attached to the application. The identification procedure cannot exceed two months. If the authorities cannot identify the applicant, the SMS informs the applicant of its decision to reject the application for issuing the internal passport.42 The initial overall procedure for issuing the passport is free of charge. Laws and regulations governing registration of residence The main piece of legislation governing the registration of residence is the Law of Ukraine on Freedom of Movement and Free Choice of Place of Residence in Ukraine43 which prescribes that the executive bodies of local councils are in charge of registering an individual’s place of residence (Art. 3). Registration of residence plays a very significant role in the process of determining the administrative body in charge of issuing personal documents for citizens residing in a particular territorial jurisdiction. Article 379 of the Civil Code of Ukraine prescribes that “housing” is defined as “an individual house, apartment, or other dwelling designed for and suitable for permanent or temporary residence”. The informal arrangements in which Roma often live are not regarded as meeting the definition of “housing”. This prevents a number of Roma living in tabors44 or other informal housing from registering their residence at the address where they actually live. Regulation No. 302 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine On the approval of the template form, technical description and Rules of procedure for processing, issuing, exchanging, forwarding, withdrawing, returning to the state, invalidating and destroying the passport of a citizen of Ukraine (RoP)45 prescribes that an application for issuing an internal passport can be made either in one’s registered place of residence or in one’s de facto place of residence. Moreover, homeless centres are established to provide registration places for those without officially recognized places of residence. Applicants therefore have three address options available when applying for an internal passport: a) the place of their officially registered residence, b) the place of their de facto residence, and c) registration of their place of residence at a local homeless centre. 42 RoP, op. cit., note 38, Article 83. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Law of Ukraine on Freedom of Movement and Free Choice of Place of Residence in Ukraine, Law No. 1382-IV, 11 December 2003, 44 Op. cit., note 1. See also pp. 25–26 of this report. 44 Op. cit., note 1. See also pp. 25–26 of this report. 45 Op. cit., note 38. 43 23