Obtain Czech Citizenship by Descent

A person can obtain Czech citizenship by descent provided that he or she has a Czech heritage. The procedure is complex, as one needs to provide enough evidence on the Czech/ Czechoslovak descent. Persons interested in the procedure should address our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic, who can present the main rules of law and help them with the steps to be taken.

Quick Facts
When can a person apply for citizenship by descent?	It is possible to obtain Czech citizenship by descent provided that you can prove you have a Czech parent or grandparent.
Form available for citizenship by descent	The Czech Citizenship Preliminary Eligibility Assessment Form, Declaration of Acquisition of Czech Citizenship for a Child
Application fee	CZK 2,000 for adults and CZK 500 for minors and other categories of individuals, as established by law
Categories of citizenship by descent in Czech Republic	It is possible to obtain Czech citizenship by descent following Section 31, Paragraph 3 of the Act No 186/2013 (individuals who are direct descendants of parents and grandparents who were Czech nationals). Section 31, Paragraph 2 also grants this right to descendents of Czechoslovak nationals who were permanent residents of the former Czech Socialist Republic.
Institution in charge with the application process	The Ministry of the Interior
Documents required for the application	– the application form; – the birth certificate and identity documents; – the birth certificates of the Czech parent/grandparent; – the marriage certificates of the Czech parents/grandparents; – a declaration through which the applicant declares he/she is not a Slovak national.
Dual citizenship allowed (yes/no)	Yes (starting with 1 January 2014)
Law regulating citizenship by descent in Czech Republic	The procedure on how to obtain Czech citizenship by descent is governed by the Act No 186/2013.
How can an application be submitted?	For those outside the country, the application can be made through embassies and consulates, while those living in the Czech Republic can address the services operating under the Ministry of the Interior.
Certification/authentication required (yes/no)	Yes (for documents issued by the authorities of other countries)
Documents issued after citizenship is granted	The citizenship certificate and the passport (issued only when presenting a valid citizenship certificate)
Costs of Czech identity documents	CZK 300 (citizenship certificate), CZK 1200 (biometric passport for adults)
Validity of Czech identity documents	5 years (for children up to 15 years), 10 years (for all other applicants)
Passport accelerated issuancce procedure (yes/no)	Yes
Law governing the issuance of Czech identity documents	The Travel Documents Act

Table of Contents

How can your team assist me in acquiring citizenship by descent in Czech Republic in 2026?

Our immigration lawyers in Czech Republic can offer the following:

an initial meeting, during which we will listen to your personal situation that could help you acquire citizenship by descent;
legal counselling on the most suitable pathway you should take;
help for gathering and submitting the paperwork (we can also assist clients in obtaining relevant documents previously issued by the Czech authoritiesthat may not be in your possession and which are necessary for the citizenship process);
assistance for necessary official translations of the documents.

When can one qualify for Czech citizenship by descent?

In order for an applicant to be considered eligible, he or she must have 1 direct ancestor (parent, grandparent) who complies with these 3 conditions:

was born in the Czech Republic;
did not leave the territory of the Czech Republic before 1918;
did not became a Slovak citizen in the meantime.

What is the law on Czech citizenship by descent in 2026?

The following regulations apply:

those who have lost the citizenshipbefore the effective date of the Act No. 186/2013 Coll (Act on Citizenship of the Czech Republic) can apply;
a person in the above mentioned situation can apply if he or she qualifies under the Section 31, Paragraph 1 of the Law before 1 January 2014;
Section 31, Paragraph 2 states that this right is also granted to former Czechoslovak citizens who were permanent residents of Czech Republic/Czech Socialist Republic;
Section 31, Paragraph 3 states that persons who have parents or grandparents who are/were Czech nationals (or Czechoslovakian nationals) canapply for citizenship;
the latter was amended under the Act No. 2017/2019 Coll. (6 September, 2019).

In the infographic below, you can read a short list on the steps for acquiring Czech citizenship by descent:

What is the documentation needed for citizenship by ancestry in the Czech Republic?

In general, the Czech Republic immigration authorities will ask for the following types of documents, but they can vary on a case-to-case basis:

a completed application form;
the identity document/ passport;
the birth certificate;
the birth certificates of the applicant’s parents and their marriage certificate;
the birth certificates of the applicant’s grandparents and their marriage certificate;
a proof showing that the parents or the grandparents have lost their Czechoslovakian citizenship;
a declaration that states that the applicant is not a Slovakian national;
marriage/ death/ divorce certificates, if the applicant is married, a widow or a divorcee.

How can I apply for citizenship by declaration?

Our immigration lawyers in the Czech Republic present in the list below the main conditions a person must satisfy in order to qualify for citizenship by declaration:

must be at least 18 years old, but must apply at no later than 21 years old – Section 35 (1);
should be related to a Czech national;
has his/her permanent residence in the Czech Republic– Section 35 (1)(a);
has resided on the Czech territory, from the age of 10 years old up until the moment of the application, at least two thirds of time in the country – Section 35 (1)(b);
has never been considered a threat to the Czech society – he/she doesn’t have any type of convictions – Section 35 (1)(c).

Do I need to meet any residency obligations?

No, unlike citizenship through naturalization, which requires mandatory residency formalities, citizenship by descent can be acquired without meeting any residency obligations, unless you apply for citizenship by declaration (mentioned above).

In the video below, we invite you to find out some of the conditions for becoming a Czech citizen by descent:

Are there any citizenship fees applied in the Czech Republic in 2026?

Yes, adult individuals must pay a processing fee of CZK 2,000, while for minors, the standard fee is CZK 500.

How long does it take to acquire citizenship by descent in 2026?

The duration of the procedure is influenced by many factors – the availability of documents which prove your connection to Czech nationals, the workload of the Czech authorities at the moment when the application is submitted, etc. In practice, it can take around 6 months to 1 year.

Is it necessary to know the Czech language for the purpose of becoming a citizen?

No, citizenship by descent is determined based on your family ties to an individual who is/was a Czech national.

Can I include my minor child in my citizenship application?

It depends on the age and the circumstances of the case. Children older than 15 can submit their own citizenship application, while those who are under this age, should be included in their parent application (however, the procedure that must be started varies on several conditions, and our immigration lawyers in the Czech Republic can offer more details).

Can I retain my first citizenship?

Yes, after you acquire citizenship by descent, you are free to maintain your first citizenship, as the Czech Republic recognizes dual citizenship (starting with 1st of January 2014).

Are there any circumstances under which I must renounce my first citizenship?

Yes. While the Czech Republic allows dual citizenship, the regulations of some other countries may not, which means that when you start the process of obtaining Czech citizenship by descent, you will need to renounce your initial citizenship as per the rules of your country.

Am I eligible for a Czech passport as a citizen by descent?

Yes, of course. All individuals can obtain a Czech passportregardless of the citizenship pathway they’ve qualified for. The procedure for a Czech passport can be started once the citizenship formalities have been successfully completed.