To become a citizen by naturalisation is not an inherited right, as citizenship by descent is. It is a discretionary act that is given to you by the Czech state under your personal conditions and the performance you show in the Czech society.
Who is eligible for naturalisation
The main legislation is the Act No. 186/2013 Coll. on Citizenship. You are eligible to apply provided that you fulfil a set of standard and specific conditions.
You are a permanent resident with a residence permit and have lived long enough in the Czech Republic, as a rule:
- At least a permanent resident for 5 years.
- At least 10 years aggregate in case of an EU citizen (who do not usually have permanent residency).
There are certain Criteria (Exemptions or reduced periods).
You can apply with a period of lesser residence or Special circumstances in case you are:
- An ex-citizen of the Czech Republic: You are allowed to reclaim citizenship. Residency is also less frequently long.
- A wife of a Czech citizen: You have to spend at least 2-3 years (depending on the situation) of your life in the Czech Republic and be a permanent resident.
- The daughter of a Czech citizen who is a minor.
- The individual was born in the Czech Republic and has resided there the majority of his/her life.
- An individual who has a minimum of 2 years as a refugee.
- A person with an international protection (asylum) and permanent residence.
Basic eligibility of every applicant
However, whether through this route or not, you should meet the following main conditions to qualify:
Permanent residence
To apply, you have to be the owner of a valid permanent residence permit (povoleni k trvalemu pobytu).
Clean criminal record
You have not been found guilty of a deliberate criminal offence in the Czech Republic or in another country in the past 5-10 years.
You should not be facing continuous criminal charges
You should not be considered as a threat to the public order, national security or health.
Language skills
You will have to demonstrate a level of the Czech language at least on the A2 (basic communication) level. This one is tested during an exam conducted by certified language schools.
Czech Realia
You have to display the fundamental knowledge of the Czech constitutional system, culture, society, and geography. This too is in the exam that is conducted by accredited institutions.
Financial self-sufficiency
You will need to demonstrate that you have a steady income and that you have not been subjected to several state social benefits (such as welfare) over the last 3 years. This indicates that you do not weigh down the state.
Integration & ties
A more subjective one, but you must have real and effective ties to the Czech Republic (family, work, property, community involvement).
Application process
Step-by-step guide:
Meet the residency requirement
You are also required to have spent the necessary time as a permanent resident in the country.
Preparation and gathering of Documents (Longest Step)
- Application Form: The time-consuming application for receiving citizenship (zadost o udeleni statniho obcanstvi).
- Evidence of residence: Your permanent residence card and a copy of the Population Register extract (vypis z evidence obyvatel).
- Criminal Record Extract:
- The Czech Republic (vypis z rejstriku trestu).
- What country did you leave as your home country, and what country did you reside in for more than 6 months within the past 3 years (usually needs an apostille and official translation).
- Evidence of the knowledge of the language and realia: The certificate of an authorised examination.
- Evidence of earnings: Bank statements, employment contracts, tax returns.
- Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate: (Where applicable) of your home country, apostilled, and translated into Czech officially.
- Passport and Photos.
- Administrative Fee: The existing fee is CZK 2,000.
Submit the application
The application should be presented physically to the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy (OAMP) of the Ministry of the Interior, according to the region of residence. You need to demonstrate that you possess effective health insurance in the Czech Republic when you are applying.
Wait for processing
The statutory time limit for processing is 180 days (approximately 6 months). It can, however, take 1.5 to 2 years or more in reality because of high demand and complexity. The status will be checked with the help of a reference number issued to you.
The oath and decision
In case you are successful, your application will receive a decision letter. You become a citizen till you have sworn an oath of citizenship (slib).
Audience: You will be invited to a ceremony, normally in your regional office.
Once the oath is given, you are granted a citizenship certificate.
Then you may apply to get a Czech passport and ID card.
Conclusion
Czech naturalisation is not an easy task, though possible, it takes a lot of preparation, demonstration of integration and waiting a long time to be streamlined. Attending to the requirements of documents is the key to success.
You can also view these posts:
Living in Czechia
Traveling to Czechia: Visa requirements
Frequently Asked Questions on Czechia
