As a foreigner moving to Czech Republic, you are entitled to obtain Czech citizenship in given circumstances, and our immigration lawyers can help you acquire it.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Ways to acquire citizenship in Czech Republic | – by descent, – by naturalization, – by declaration, – by birth |
Citizenship rules for EU citizens | The same rules applied to other foreigners are available also for EU citizens, but for the citizenship by naturalization, the residency requirements are reduced, compared to the standard. Thus, EU citizens can start the procedure after 3 years of becoming permanent residents. |
Citizenship rules for non-EU citizens | They have to be permanent residents of Czech Republic for at least 5 years. |
| Minimum requirements for citizenship by naturalization | – meet the residency requirements (3/5 years of permanent stay), – make proof of knowing the Czech language, – have a clean criminal record, – know the Czech constitutional system, the history, culture and society, – meet the financial thresholds, – show their ties with Czech Republic and the integration in the Czech society, – proof that they do not represent a threat to the local society. |
| Requirements for citizenship by descent | – make the proof of having parents or grandparents who are Czech nationals (both maternal and paternal ties apply), – the application form. |
| Requirements for citizenship by marriage | The spouse of a Czech national can obtain permanent residency after 2 years of continous living in this country, and this can slightly reduce the amount of time necessary to apply for citizenship. |
| The law regulating citizenship procedures | Act No. 186/2013 Coll., on Acquiring and Losing Citizenship in Czech Republic |
| Dual citizenship available (yes/no) | Yes, the citizenship law amended in 2014 grants the right to dual citizenship. |
| Institution in charge with the issuance of citizenship | Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic |
| Documents necessary for the citizenship application | They vary based on the citizenship pathway: – provide evidence on residency in Czech Republic, – visas and residence permits obtained here, – personal documents and others required for each type of citizenship, – completed application form, – information on the financial situation of the applicant, – a Czech language certificate, etc. |
| Rights obtained through citizenship | All the rights granted to Czech nationals born in Czech Republic. |
| Citizenship by adoption available (yes/no) | Yes, Czech citizenship by adoption is regulated by the law. |
| The average time of stay in Czech Republic for acquiring citizenship | 3-5 years of permanent residency (for most cases). Permanent residency can generally be acquired after 5 years of stay in the country. |
| The duration of the Czech citizenship processing | A Czech citizenship application can be processed in approximately 180 days. |
| Legal services offered by our lawyers for citizenship applicants | – presenting/explaining the law on citizenship and the conditions to acquire various types of citizenships, – helping clients in preparing the application file, – providing legal assistance in cases related to citizenship (legal assistance for adoption papers, contacting the Czech authorities for the issuance of various documents attesting Czech ancestry, etc.), – legal representation in court cases. |
Table of Contents
What types of services you can offer to foreigners interested in obtaining Czech citizenship in 2026?
Our immigration lawyers in Czech Republiccan:
- inform you on the types of citizenship available in this country;
- assist in preparing the application file;
- help you gather various documents (many documents related to Czech citizenship are issued by the Czech authorities – for example, birth /marriage/ death certificates, and, if you are not in the possession of those documents, we can take the necessary steps in obtaining them);
- provide legal representation in citizenship appeals, etc.
What is the main rule of law regulating citizenship?
The manner in which foreigners can acquire citizenshipthrough naturalization and other pathways in this country is regulated by the Act No. 186/2013 Coll., on Czech citizenship and on amendments to certain acts (the Czech Citizenship Act).
What is the main citizenship pathway for foreigners who want to acquire citizenship?
Citizenship by naturalization is the most common way to acquire Czech nationality – this refers to the process through a foreigner, who is unrelated to Czech nationals, arrives here for various purposes (work, business, family) and resides in the state for a significant amount of time.
What are the basic conditions for acquiring Czech citizenship through naturalization in 2026?
Regarding citizenship matters, one should know that the following apply:
- the basic legal requirements are prescribed by Section 11 of the Act No. 186/2013, which outlines the conditions for permanent residents and for applicants with an age above 15 years old;
- an applicant can request Czech citizenshipthrough naturalization if he or she has lived in Czech Republic for more than 5 years based on permanent residence permit;
- the same is available if a foreigner has had a permanent residence permit in Czech Republic for at least 3 years and if he or she is a citizen of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA);
- the right to citizenship is also available for a foreigner who has lived in the Czech Republic for an overall period of 10 years;
- special conditions apply to those requesting Czech citizenship and who have an age above 15 years old and less than 18, and to those who have an age above 65 years old.
What are the documents for acquiring Czech citizenship by naturalization for adult applicants?
When starting the procedure for acquiring citizenship, you will need to prepare a set of documents, in accordance with the requirements of the law. In the list below, our immigration lawyers in Czech Republic present some of the necessary documentation:
- complete a questionnaire;
- complete a request for citizenship;
- provide various documents attesting the identity and/or the social status;
- submit marriage certificate, a CV, etc.
What are the main prerequisites to be accepted for citizenship by naturalization in Czech Republic?
Below, we invite you to read the main conditions you must comply with in order to have the right to apply for Czech citizenship by naturalization:
- at the moment of the application, the person has become a permanent resident and has been living in the Czech Republic for minimum 10 years (5 years of temporary stay plus 5 years of permanent residency) or minimum 8 years (5 years of temporary residency and 3 years of permanent residency, as it is the case of EU nationals);
- he or she has a suitable income, which covers the needs of the applicant and /or of his or her family;
- the person does not live in Czech Republic based on social benefits provided by the Czech state;
- at the moment of the application, the person does not have any due taxes, or fines charged by the local authorities and he or she is not in debt;
- the person has a fixed residential address, in a real estate that is personal property or a rented one.
Do I need to know the Czech language?
Yes, you need to prove Czech language proficiency – B1 level is mandatory.
Are there any exemptions from language proficiency?
Yes, it is not required to provide evidence of havingCzech language proficiency in the case in which the applicant is a minor under the age of 15 or an adult older than 65. This rule also applies to individuals who have certain disabilities.
We invite you to read our infographic presenting the basic steps to acquire Czech citizenship in 2026:
Do I have a deadline to start the citizenship process?
No, if you meet the standard requirements for the citizenship pathway you qualify for, you can start the citizenship process at any given moment – immediately as you qualify or at any later date.
Are there other legal pathways for acquiring Czech citizenship in 2026?
Yes, the Czech Republic immigration lawon citizenship provides several legal options in this sense, which are represented by the following:
- citizenship by birth;
- by determination of paternity;
- by adoption;
- by being found on the Czech territory;
- by declaration.
How can one obtain Czech citizenship by adoption?
Adoption can also open the legal pathway to citizenship in the Czech Republic. There are 2 primary ways granting this right, as follows:
- the adoption was established by a decision taken by the Czech authorities and one of the future parents of the adopted child holds Czech citizenship;
- the adoption took place following the ruling of an overseas state authority.
Are there any fees for acquiring Czech citizenship in 2026?
Yes, citizenship applications imply the payment of various administrative fees, as follows:
- the 1st category of fees refers to adult applicants, who are generally charged with CZK2,000;
- the 2nd category, minor applicants – CZK 500;
- the 3rd category, asylum-seeking applicants, must pay the same fees as minors.
We invite you to watch a short video about citizenship in the Czech Republic:
Can I appeal Czech citizenship refusals?
Please mind that you have the right to appeal a decision in a period of 15 days since you received the information concerning the denial of Czech citizenship.
How long does it take to review my citizenship appeal?
The citizenship appeals are handled by the Ministry of the Interior. The law states that the institution has 120 days to decide on the appeal, since the date when you submitted your request (our immigration lawyers in the Czech Republic can offer more information concerning this procedure).
You can contact usif you want to know more on how to acquire citizenship in the Czech Republic.
