In Czech Republic, Citizenship may be acquired by foreign nationals permanently living in the Czech Republic or stateless persons permanently residing in the Czech Republic. An application for Czech Citizenship is assessed by the Ministry of Interior.
Conditions for granting Citizenship in the Czech Republic
The Ministry of Interior shall grant Citizenship only to a person who meets the following conditions:
- on the date of application the applicant must have over five years of permanent residence and be staying in the Czech Republic during this time
- the applicant must demonstrate that the acquisition of Czech Citizenship will cease their current Citizenship or prove that they lost their Citizenship unless the person is without Citizenship or has a refugee status
- in the last five years the applicant has not been convicted of an intentional crime; this claim is verified on the basis of their criminal records
- during the interview with the competent authority an applicant must demonstrate knowledge of the Czech language
- the applicant must fulfill the obligations arising from the provisions of a special law that regulates the entry and stay of foreigners in the Czech Republic and obligations arising from special regulations on public health insurance, social security, retirement insurance, deductions and taxes
Removal of conditions for granting Citizenship in the Czech Republic
The Ministry of the Interior office shall waive conditions for granting Citizenship only in reasons specified by law. The applicant must prove one of the following:
- applicant was born in the Czech Republic
- applicant lives in the Czech Republic continuously for ten years
- applicant had a history of Citizenship of the Czech Republic
- was adopted by a citizen of the Czech Republic
- the husband / wife is a citizen of the Czech Republic
- one of the applicant’s parents is a citizen of the Czech Republic
- moved to the Czech Republic prior to 31 December 1994 at the invitation of the Government
- the applicant is homeless without Citizenship or the Czech Republic has granted refugee status
Applying for Citizenship of the Czech Republic
The application for Citizenship in the Czech Republic shall be filed with the regional office belonging to the place of permanent residence. The office will ask the applicant to fill out an application form and will verify the applicant’s command of Czech language. This application and other documents are then submitted to the foreign police with approval from the regional office. Once approved by foreign police, the application is forwarded to the Ministry of Interior office which will state the final decision on the request. Applicants may be called for an oral interview.
With the application for Citizenship in the Czech Republic the following documents are requested:
- a completed application for Czech Citizenship
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate
- proof of divorce or death of the husband / wife
- proof of the loss of their existing Citizenship
- curriculum vitae
For the issue of the Certificate of Citizenship in the Czech Republic it is necessary to pay an administrative fee 10 000,- CZK. This amount may be reduced to the Ministry of the Interior office to 1 000,- CZK. The fee is paid only when the application is successful i.e. after the above-mentioned Certificate is issued. Otherwise the application for Citizenship is free.
Detailed information on the Citizenship of the Czech Republic can be found on the website of the Ministry of Interior:
