A clock in Prague, Czech Republic

If you want an EU passport, then Czech Republic citizenship (also referred to as Czechia) could be the solution for you. There are different routes to a Czech passport, including descent, naturalization, and declaration. In this article, we explore the criteria and processes involved.

A beautiful clock in a building in Prague, Czech Republic

How to get Czech citizenship

There are three main ways to become a Czech citizen:

  • Descent (or birth). The Czech Republic uses the principle of jus sanguinis or “right by blood” as its main nationality law principle.
  • Naturalization.
  • Declaration.

There is a fourth, much less common path.

  • Birthright – This right is referred to as Jus soli, or “right of soil”. Like most European countries, there is no birthright citizenship except in two very unusual cases (see below). This means that being born in the country does not automatically give you any nationality rights.

Czech Citizenship by Descent

You can inherit nationality from your parents or grandparents.

From your parents

  • Anyone born to a Czech citizen is a Czech citizen at birth. It does not matter where you were born. If your parents are unmarried, and your link to Czechia is through your father, you may have to supply proof of paternity.

From your grandparents

  • Both of your grandparents, on either your maternal or paternal line, are Czech citizens.

If you wish to gain citizenship by descent, you will need to complete an application for a Certificate of Czech Citizenship. The application needs to be filed at a local office of the Ministry of the Interior (Ministerstvo vnitra).

Czech Citizenship by Naturalization

You are eligible to apply for Czech citizenship by naturalization if you are:

  • The holder of a permanent residency permit for at least five years, and you have lived in the country for that period.
  • A citizen from another EU country, and have lived in the Czech Republic for at least three years.
  • Parents applying for your children aged under 15 years.

There is also immediate naturalization for some people legally living in the country. You can also apply for naturalization if you:

  • Were born in the Czech Republic, and are now living in the country.
  • Are a former Czech or Czechoslovak citizen.
  • Have been adopted by a Czech citizen.
  • Are married to a Czech citizen.
  • Have stateless or refugee status in the Czech Republic.

If you are applying for your Czech citizenship through naturalization, you must be able to fulfill the requirements below:

  • Demonstrate that you are proficient in the Czech language.
  • Have a clean criminal record.
  • Have basic knowledge of the constitutional system of the Czech Republic.
  • Understand Czech culture, society, geography, and history.
  • Prove that you are financially capable and a good taxpayer.
  • Show you are integrated into Czech society through family, social, and professional ties.
  • Show that you do not pose a threat to the state of Czechia.

There is a fee if you need to take exams in the Czech language and Czech civic knowledge to obtain your citizenship.

Czech Citizenship by Declaration

You are eligible to apply for Czech citizenship by declaration if you are:

  • A former citizen of the Czech Republic or Czechoslovakia who lost citizenship before January 1, 2014.
  • A child or grandchild of a former Czech or Czechoslovakian citizen. This applies if your parent or grandparent ceased to be a citizen of the Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia before December 31, 2013.

The application for Czech Republic citizenship by declaration requires detailed documentation relating to your Czech ancestor. You need to prove your relationship to them and the events surrounding their loss of citizenship. The process can be quite bureaucratic, but with assistance, it is manageable.

Two unusual ways to get Czech Nationality

  • A child under 15 living in Czechia and whose parents can’t be identified is deemed a Czech citizen.
  • You are entitled to citizenship if you were born in the Czech Republic and both your parents are stateless.

Applications and Fees

Whichever route you choose, you should file your application in person at the appropriate Regional Authority. If you are in Prague, file your application at the Municipal Authority. If you cannot provide any of the required documents, you will need to explain why and request an exemption.

When applying for your Czech citizenship you must have all the supporting documents ready before going to the Regional Authority office. You will then fill in the application at your appointment.

The Regional Authority will then send your application, together with your submitted documents, to the Ministry of the Interior within 30 days. The Ministry of Interior will rule on your Czech citizenship application within 180 days.

Certificate of Czech Citizenship Application

If your application is successful, you must apply for a Czech Citizenship Certificate (CCC).

All applicants must submit a Personal Data Form and prove their identity with a valid ID or passport.

A. Applicants born in the Czech Republic or Czechoslovakia.

  • Application form for Adult Applicants or Minor Applicants.
  • Czech birth certificate.
  • Marriage certificate if applicable.
  • Dated certificate of citizenship of any other countries that you hold citizenship for.

Note: All documents must be duly authenticated and translated into the Czech language.

B. Applicants born outside the state.

  • Application form for Adult Applicants or Minor Applicants.
  • Foreign birth certificate and translation.
  • Birth certificate of both parents and Czech citizenship affidavit.
  • Marriage certificate of parents. If married outside the Czech Republic, you must send both the original and translated documents.

Administration Fees for Czech Nationality

  • Adult: Kč 2000.
  • Minor child: Kč 500.
  • Asylum-seeker: Kč 500.

Check here for further information about the Certificate of Citizenship Application.

Czech Republic Passport

The biometric Czech passport is valid for ten years for an adult and five years for citizens under fifteen.

Application process

You will need to provide:

  • Your birth certificate – plus a translated copy if born outside the Czech Republic.
  • Czech Republic Identity Card or Certificate of Citizenship.
  • Passport format photograph (2 copies).
  • Marriage Certificate – plus a translated copy if married outside the Czech Republic.

The passport is issued by the Ministry of the Interior or from consular offices in other countries.

The timeframe for processing a new passport from abroad is 120 days. It will take 30 days if applied from the Czech Republic.

Advantages of Czech Republic Nationality

When choosing second citizenship, there are several reasons to choose Czechia. A Czech passport gives you the freedom to travel to 183 different countries with visa-free access. You are also able to live, work and travel in all 28 member countries of the EU.

The Czech nationality is well respected. The country offers economic strength, ease of travel, human development, political stability, and overseas employment opportunities for its citizens. It also scores well in most Powerful Passport ranking.

One of the many advantages of living in the Republic of Czechia is the peacefulness of its country. In fact, according to Global Peace Index 2020, the Czech Republic is the eighth highest out of 163 countries.

Choosing to live in the Czech Republic will mean you benefit from quality healthcare and an excellent educational system. There are also the benefits of a low cost of living.

Czech Republic Dual Citizenship

Since 2013, the Czech government has allowed dual citizenship. This nationality law means that you can keep the current passport of your country of origin.

If you have dual citizenship you can:

  • Travel between the countries easily.
  • Live and work freely in both countries.
  • Own property in both countries.

Drawbacks are the potential for double taxation and your liability to be bound by the laws of both nations.

Some countries do not allow dual citizenship. For example, if you are from Japan and wish to obtain Czech citizenship, you would need to renounce your Japanese citizenship. Check with our immigration lawyers for detailed advice.

Can my Czech Citizenship be revoked?

Czech law states that citizenship is irrevocable: it cannot be forcibly taken away from you. However, there are two exceptions to this. The first is that the state may change the conditions for naturalization, which can affect citizenship applications that are in process. The second is that fraudulent applications can be reviewed within three years.

If you wish to give up your Czech citizenship voluntarily, you can do so, provided you have another citizenship.

Is Citizenship of the Czech Republic for you? Here are your next steps.

There are so many advantages to taking up citizenship in this beautiful country, not least the Czech passport. If you are thinking about applying for Czech citizenship, then the first thing to do is to identify the full requirements of your citizenship option. Then, you will need to gather all of the documentation to make your case. The laws and processes change all the time and for this reason, we recommend using an immigration law firm that you can trust.

We spent a number of months assessing and interviewing immigration law firms in Czechia and we have found a company that we feel comfortable recommending to you.

As a Where Can I Live client you can book a 30-minute consultation with Jaroslav and his team. They will explain what you need to do to get citizenship and will be honest about how long it will take. They will also provide you with a quote on helping you through the whole process.

36 Comments

  1. My grandmother was born in Czechoslovakia, she passed away a few years ago, would I qualify for a passport for Czech Republic ? Thank you in advance for your help. Kind regards Veranique Lombard

    Reply

    1. Hi Veranique. To get citizenship through your grandparents both must be Czech citizs. You may be able to get citizenship through your parent as they will also be a Czech citizen through birth. All the best, Alastair

      Reply

      1. Hello! I’m an American citizen who recently just married a Czech citizen. I’d like to renounce my American citizenship and become a Czech citizen. I read that to become a citizen by naturalization, you need to show you can speak Czech. Is this the same for citizenship by marriage? Will I need to prove I’m fluent? Or do I just have to be a permanent resident for 5 years? Thank you so much!

        Reply

  2. Hello, if I have a 2 times great grandmother who was born in Czech but moved to America would I be able to get citizenship with her birth certificate? Thanks

    Reply

  3. Hi, my grandfather was Czech as well as all his father and mother. He moved to Southamerica during WWII as he was detained in a Concentration Camp for being jewish. Is is possible for me to apply for Czech citizenship?
    Best regards,

    Erwin

    Reply

  4. Buenos días,

    my great grandemother who was Czech citizen immigrated to Mexico. We still have the pasaportes. Can I get the citizenship? Gracias

    Reply

    1. Hola Valentina. Czech citizenship is generally only heritable form your grandparents. Our Czech experts will be happy to see if there is a pathway for you – please book a consultation if you’d like to find out more. All the best, Alastair

      Reply

  5. Hi there,
    From year of2000 until now I’m withe my girl friend and from 2011 we got married.my first child son born on 2001 and second son born on 2003.i got a pr in Czech it’s more than 10 years before.but I didn’t go to school for Czech language.but I can speak the language.if any chance get a citizen here?

    Reply

  6. Nowadays so many immigration companies are selling Czech passport through the so-called community donations. Is this real?

    Reply

    2. Hi,
      I am a British citizen but both my parents were born in the Czech Republic as was the rest of my family going back many, many generations. I know I can get a czech passport but do you know what are the tax implications if I have both British and Czech nationality? Thanks.

      Reply

      1. Hi Peter. Taking up your Czech citizenship will not impact your tax status at all. If you do move to the Czech Republic then you may become a resident there for taxation. Regards, Alastair

        Reply

  7. Hello , I have permanent residency in Czech Republic. If I go to Canada and live there for 2-3 years, will my permanent residency be revoked? If I pay social and insurance to Czech government while I’m in Canada.

    Reply

    1. Hi Arjin. If you spend more than 12-months outside the Czech Republic or the EU then your PR may be revoked. Exceptions may be made in some circumstances including “in particular pregnancy and giving a birth, serious disease, studies or professional training, or secondment abroad.” All the best, Alastair

      Reply

  8. My grandfather born 1903 in what became czechoslovakia he came to us and was naturalized us citizen in the 1960s. my grandmother was born in us but she moved back at age three and came back before her 21st birthday. Poland pre 1920 says no. How does Czech handle pre end of ww1?

    Thanks

    Reply

  10. Hello,

    Some countries (such as the Netherlands) do not require the language test for expats over a certain age. Does the Czech Republic have any such exceptions?

    Reply

    1. Hi Taylor – I have listed the possible exceptions below. All the best, Alastair

      An applicant who documents that he or she has attended three years of basic, secondary or post-secondary school where classes were taught in Czech
      An applicant who on the date of submission of the Czech citizenship application was less than 15 years old or more than 65 years old
      An applicant with a physical or mental handicap that prevents him or her from learning Czech
      An applicant who documents that he or she has successfully completed an equivalent language exam (pursuant to Section 13 of the Decree on demonstrating knowledge of the Czech language and Czech culture and history for the purposes of granting Czech citizenship), which includes:
      School-leaving exam in Czech
      State Czech language exam taken at a language school with authorisation to give state language exams
      State final exam, state rigorous exam or state doctoral exam taken at a university as a party of a study programme taught in Czech
      A Czech as a foreign language exam for the B1 proficiency level or higher, certified by the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) and given by a full-fledged member of this association

      Reply

  11. My father immigrated to America in 1922, had to renounce Czech citizenship in order to gain American citizenship in 1930 due to non-dual citizenship laws. I want to reestablish my Czech heritage with citizenship under new laws since 2013. I can supply my birth certificate and my father’s death certificate, plus other documents relating to his immigration all showing his Czech roots, but do not have his birth certificate. Can I still get my Czech citizenship through descent?

    Reply

  12. Hello, I am American , My company works with Czech company so I am there often. My great grand parents where Czech. I would like to invest in Czech and buy an apartment in Prauge. I am told that if I want to rent it out when I am not there I need to have a permanent residency . Can you guide me on how to get more information on this? Thank You

    Reply

  13. Hello,
    I am living in Czech Republic for 8 years and 9 months, I had a Czech permanent residency since 2021, and I got my Ph.D. degree in engineering (Czech language program), Can I apply for Czech citizenship now or do I have to complete 10 years?

    Thanks You

    Reply

  14. Hi,
    I am just starting the process to get dual citizenship (my father emigrated from CZ in 1969, regained citizenship later). I would like to get my minor children citizenship as well. Can we all apply at the same time, or is it necessary to complete my application first, then start my children’s? Thank you!

    Rachel

    Reply

  15. I am starting the process of getting Czech citizenship by descent (through my father). I would also like to get dual citizenship for my three minor children. Is it possible to submit all of our applications at the same time, or do I need to obtain it for myself first, and then submit applications for my children after mine has been approved? Thank you!

    Reply

  16. Hi! My great-grandparents were both Czech but then my grandpa and father were born in the US. If my father applied and became a Czech citizen through descent could I apply after him? (I am not a minor).

    Thanks!

    Reply

  17. Hello. I was born in Czech Republic in 1998, and have birth certificate. My parents were immigrants from Armenian, both are armenians. I lived in Czech only 1.5 years after birth. Now I live in Armenia, but I want to go to Czech and live there. Can my birth certificate help me for becoming a citizen?

    Reply

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