Your choice is highly subjective and determines your situation in terms of where you came from, whether you are a citizen of a country and what is happening in your family.
The four major courses to Czech Citizenship
- By Descent (Jus Sanguinis “Right of Blood”).
- Through the normal route (The long-term resident) of Naturalisation.
- Through Declaration (A simplified process in particular groups).
- By Birth (Automatic in special cases).
A method of descent (The most straightforward method)
This is the most convenient and quickest method provided that you are qualified.
Who is eligible
A child born of a father and/or mother who is a Czech citizen is born a Czech citizen, irrespective of their place of birth.
Claiming procedure
You need to present some documented evidence of the citizenship (the Czech birth certificate. The old passport or the citizenship certificate) of your Czech parent and the evidence of your relationship with him/her (your birth certificate naming him/her as parent).
Special Case, Grandparents: You may qualify even in the case you have Czech grandparents, even though your parents were born overseas, but not your grandparents. The citizenship of your parent was probably revoked (as of pre-2014 laws), and now you are eligible to reclaim it under the Declaration process . This happens to descendants of Czech emigrants very often.
Through Naturalisation (Udeleni)
This is the general path to follow by foreigners who have resided in Czech Republic a long time. The requirements are holistic and strict.
In order to be qualified to apply, you have to generally satisfy the following requirements:
Residency requirement
Permanent Residence 5 or more years: Citizens of European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
Permanent residence (10 or more years)
All other nationals (e.g. US, UK, Canadian, Asian nationals). This time consists of time on long-term visa (vizum k pobytu nad 90 dnu) and long-term residence permit (povoleni k dlouhodobyemu pobytu).
Clean criminal record
You are required to have a clean criminal record in the Czech Republic as well as a country of which you have resided more than 6 months in the past 10 years. This is confirmed by certificates of individual nations.
Czech language knowledge
You have to pass a certified test that demonstrates your level of knowledge of Czech, at least B1 of CEFR level. Applicants (e.g. seniors, former students of Czech) are exempt of some.
Familiarity with the Czech Environment
You will have to take a test on Czech culture, society, legal system, and geography.
Financial Independence: You have to demonstrate a steady and lawful income and that you are not a liability to the social support system of the state.
Compliance with Legal obligations
You are required to be up to date with all your tax, health insurance and social security payments.
Dual Citizenship notice
As a rule of thumb of naturalisation, the state wants you to renounce your existing citizenship/s. But you can keep it provided there are some important exceptions in that:
- You are a nation of a different EU member or Switzerland.
- You cannot renounce your citizenship or it would do you great harm (e.g. you are an Iranian or a Syrian. You would lose the right to a pension).
- You are a stateless or a refugee.
By the declaration (Prohlaseni)
A shortcut in the language, knowledge and residency process of naturalisation, this is a privilege. It is available to:
Former Citizens
An individual who has lost citizenship of Czechoslovak or Czech nation formerly (i.e. by emigrating and obtaining a foreign citizenship until the change in the law in 2014) may reclaim it.
Former Citizens
The descendants of the above.
Slovak Citizens
As a result of the common past, the citizens of Slovakia can obtain Czech citizenship by mere declaration without any residence requirement and without losing the Slovak citizenship.
Note of Dual Citizenship: This is the route whereby virtually you can retain your current nationality.
By birth (On Czech Territory)
In Czechia unconditional jus soli (right of soil) does not exist. The birth of a child of foreign parents in the Czech Republic does not necessarily make him a citizen.
Nevertheless, the citizenship is automatic at birth provided that:
The child is born on the Czech territory, or at least one parent is Czech (this is included in the descent).
The child is born on the Czech soil to parents who do not have a state, and at least one of the parents of the newborn has permanent residence on the territory of Czechia.
The child is left abandoned (a foundling) in Czechia and their parents are unknown.
Other less common options
- Through Adoption: A adopted child who is a citizen of Czech is entitled to citizenship.
- Through Marriage: Marriage with a Czech citizen will not automatically give citizenship.
Though, it greatly reduces the naturalization term of 10 years to 3 years (you need to be married and stay together throughout the naturalization period). The rest of the naturalization requirements (tests, language etc) remain in place.
To receive citizenship because of exceptional contributions to the state in the areas of science, culture or sports, the President of the Republic may grant citizenship to any person. This is an exception to all the standard requirements but very uncommon and voluntary.
How to apply
Applications are all made in the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the interior. It is carried out in only Czech.
Strong Recommendation: Due to the complicated nature of the process, language barrier, and the necessity of the absolutely ready documentation.It is highly recommended to hire an immigration lawyer or a trusted consultancy and make it through your particular case.
To have the most up-to-date official information at all times, be sure to consult the source: Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.
You can also view these posts:
Living in Czechia
Traveling to Czechia: Visa requirements
Getting a job as an expat in Czechia
