In most instances, the Czech Republic permits dual citizenship although the regulations vary widely with the following variations:
- Having a Czech citizen receiving another nationality.
- An international national who wants to gain citizenship in the Czech Republic.
The main principle lies in the fact that the Czech state acknowledges and permits its citizens to possess the other nationalities. But it will not be permitted by your other citizenship.
Getting a second nationality of current Czech Citizens
This is the simplest case scenario.
Czech citizens, who obtain the citizenship of a foreign country and do not do so by force, do not lose their Czech citizenship since 2014.
The former rule: The former rule was that before 2014, a foreign citizenship obtained would result in the loss of Czech citizenship. This is no longer the case.
The Czech state permits it, but, you MUST inquire of the laws of the other country. Other countries (e.g., Japan, Singapore, India) demand that you abandon your former citizenship in order to naturalize.
Exception: The Czech Ministry of the Interior may revoke Czech citizenship under the condition that the actions of a citizen threaten the interests of Czech Republic seriously. This is however, very rare and is not utilized just to obtain another passport.
How to get (and retain) Czech Citizenship
Here the matter becomes complicated. Dual citizenship is legal according to the method of acquiring citizenship in Czech.
By declaration (Prohlaseni)
It is streamlined not complete naturalization. It is open to certain groups and dual citizenship is in most cases permitted. Eligible people include:
Former Czechoslovak Citizens: The citizens of Czechoslovak who lost citizenship of the Czechoslovak Republic between 1948 and 1990 (e.g., either by emigration) and their descendants.
Current Slovak Citizens The former common state also means that Slovak citizens may obtain Czech citizenship merely by declaration, without any residency requirement, and without losing their Slovak citizenship.
The citizens who lost their Czech citizenship post-1993: As an example, by obtaining a different citizenship prior to the 2014 amendment of the law.
The important thing is that in case you become a citizen through the declaration of citizenship, you can nearly always retain the nationality you have had.
The standard path by Naturalization (Udeleni)
This is what happens to the vast majority of foreigners who spend a long time in Czechia. The regulations are more restrictive, yet the dual citizenship is possible.
Eligibility Criteria:
- In order to apply to become a naturalized citizen, you need to usually:
- Permanent Residence: Have been able to reside permanently long enough.
- Standard requirement: 5 years of permanent residence to EU citizens.
- Normal requirement: permanent residence not less than 10 years long (including long term visa and thereafter the long term residence permit).
- Clean Criminal Record: Both in the Czech Republic and home country.
- An established Good Command of language: You are required to successfully take a certified Czech language exam (CEFR level A2 or B1, based on the track).
- Knowledge of Czech Context: Be familiar with the culture of the country, society and legal system.
- Financial Independence: Demonstrate that you do not make a liability on the social system.
- Pay taxes/Health Social Insurance: Keep up with tax payments and health/social insurance payments
The General rule: Under the Czech law, when you are seeking to naturalize, you are supposed to forsake your former citizenship(s). This is to show that you are undeniable in the Czech society.
The Exceptions (How to keep your original passport): You do not have to renounce the requirement can be done when:
- You are not supposed to renounce your country (e.g. Iran, Afghanistan, Cuba, etc.).
- You would be doing yourself serious harm (e.g., losing pension rights, property rights, or persecuted). This is assessed case-by-case.
You are a validly asylum-seeking refugee.
- You are a stateless person.
- You are a nation or Switzerland citizen of another EU country. This is a huge widespread exception.
By birth (Narozeni)
Jus Sanguinis (Right of Blood): The child of at least one Czech parent is supposedly born a Czech citizen, but may be born in any country. The other country, to which the child will be born, must also confer citizenship by birth (e.g., jus soli in the US or Canada) otherwise the child will be a dual citizen.
Jus Soli (Right of Soil): Czechia does not offer citizenship rights to people born in the country. Nevertheless, stateless children or children of parents who are unable to pass their citizenship but were born on the Czech soil can be eligible.
By marriage (Snatek)
You are not just given citizenship by a marriage to Czech citizen. It may, nevertheless, reduce the 10-year residency period to naturalization to 3 years of permanent residence (and you have to be married and living with each other the whole time).
There always is the dual citizenship requirement of the naturalization route (see section B above).
Crucial considerations
Two-Way Street: Never forget to look at the laws of your mother country. Czech Republic can permit you to retain your passport, yet your native country can take away your citizenship against the acquisition of another. It is legal in the US, Canada and the majority of the EU. This is not the case of many nations in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Military Service: In countries where it is mandatory (e.g., South Korea, Israel), where you are a male citizen, it may not ever be the case that dual citizenship will relieve you of your duty.
Procedure Czech: The Ministry of the Interior only accepts applications, forms and communication in the Czech language.
You can also view these posts:
Living in Czechia
Traveling to Czechia: Visa requirements
Freelancing and self-employment opportunities in Czechia for expats
