Other Pathways to Czech Citizenship

The very first sets of laws governing Czechoslovakian citizenship were enacted in 1920, two years after the country gained independence after the end of WW1. In 1939, the Czechoslovakia was invaded by Nazi Germany. Slovakia broke away and the Czech part was named the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. After WW2, Czechoslovakia was restored but most Czechoslovak citizens of German and Hungarian descent were stripped off Czechoslovak citizenship. These restrictions apply until today. Ethnic Czechs and Slovaks retained Czechoslovak citizenship.

After the Soviet Union annexed the Carpathian Ruthenia region of Czechoslovakia in 1945, now part of Ukraine, residents were forced to give up their Czechoslovak citizenship. Changes were introduced to Czech citizenship laws in 1947 and again in 1969, when Czechoslovakia became a federation with separate Czech and Slovak citizenships as well as Czechoslovak citizenship.

In 1993 Czechoslovakia was divided into two independent states called the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. Their citizens retained their current Czech or Slovak citizenship and Czechoslovakian citizenship ceased to exist. The latest citizenship law of the Czech Republic was enacted in 2014.  

You qualify for Czech citizenship by declaration if one of your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents has held but lost their Czech or Czechoslovak citizenship after immigrating. Additionally, they must have lost their Czech or Czechoslovak citizenship before January 2014 and must have never held Slovak citizenship. There is no limit on generations for Czech citizenship.

To be able to apply for naturalization in the Czech Republic, you need to have lived there continuously as a temporary resident for more than 5 years AND have been registered as permanent resident for more than 5 years. Thus you must have lived in the Czech Republic for a total of 10 years to satisfy the eligibility criteria.

Reduced timelines of 5 and 3 years respectively apply to citizens of other EU countries. Thus if you’re a citizen of a different EU country, you must have lived in the Czech Republic for a total of 8 years. For children of Czech or Czechoslovak citizens the timelines are 5 years in total.

The applicant must be physically present in the Czech Republic for at least half of the time stated above. Permanent residency requirement can be waived in cases of minors, adopted children and Asylum Seekers.

Naturalization applications can be fast-tracked for people who:

• Were born in the Czech Republic,
• Have held Czech citizenship or Czechoslovak citizenship prior to 1968,
• Have a parent who is a Czech citizen or are a spouse or registered partner who is a Czech citizen.

To eligible through naturalization, applicants must demonstrate knowledge of the Czech language, culture and history, have no debt towards the Czech government and have a clean police record.  Adult applicants must provide proof of income for the last 3 years.

The Ministry of the Interior may grant Czech citizenship to an applicant who is a registered temporary resident in the Czech Republic provided they can demonstrate that becoming a Czech citizen would be a significant benefit to the Czech Republic in the fields of science, education, culture. All other conditions can be waived, except for permanent residence and criminal clearance.