Slovakia is an EU country with one of the world's best passports.
An estimated 800,000 Americans can be eligible for Slovak citizenship by ancestry. Eligibility for Slovak citizenship by descent is limited to those whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were born in Slovakia's territory.
Amendments to the nationality law became effective in April 2022.
No generational limit: Couldn't have left prior to 1861.
Emigration Date: 1910
Naturalization Date: None
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There has been a new ruling from the Cassation Court (Italian Supreme Court), one of the highest courts in Italy, (Decision 17161 of June 15, 2023) that could affect huge numbers of people seeking citizenship by descent, both through courts and administrative lines through consulates/comuni"
Can't get a consular appointment for multiple years?
Cant get one at all?
The Problem We Solve
Are you eligible for Italian citizenship but stuck in a bureaucratic maze? Have you found yourself waiting years for an Italian Consular Appointment or The US Italian consulates often present a daunting challenge with some Consulates with 10 plus years wait time. Even if you secure an appointment, the process can be frustratingly slow, and the clerks may seem like insurmountable obstacles. The road to Italian citizenship through this route can take up to 4 to 10 years.
The law paves the way for the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of previous Slovak citizens to be qualify for citizenship by descent.
Only Ireland has a larger global diaspora, on a per capita basis.
Earning EU citizenship is now within the grasp of nearly 1 million U.S. citizens.
A new Citizenship Law was enacted in Slovakia in February 2022, and it went into effect in early April of that same year. The law permits descendants of Slovak migrants to acquire citizenship through descent, which paves the way for the children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren of previous Slovak citizens to be qualified for citizenship.
Since Slovakia was a part of Czechoslovakia for the majority of the 20th century, descendants of former citizens of Czechoslovakia who were residing on the Slovak side of the country are also eligible for Slovak citizenship by descent.
This new legislation presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the offspring of Slovak migrants to acquire citizenship by descent and become qualified for EU citizenship.
After numerous delays, an amendment to the Slovak Citizenship Act has finally been passed by the Slovak Parliament, allowing descendants of Slovaks living abroad to apply for citizenship. This positive development is especially significant for the estimated 800,000 Americans who claim Slovak ancestry, as many of them may now be eligible for citizenship through descent. The law, which came into effect in April 2022, permits citizenship for descendants up to the third generation, including children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of forme Czechoslovakian citizens. In order to qualify for Slovak citizenship, applicants must meet one essential condition: at some point, their parent, grandparent, or great grandparent held Czechoslovakian citizenship, regardless of whether it was later lost.
Determining whether an ancestor was a Czechoslovakian citizen can be challenging, particularly if they emigrated during the early days of the country's establishment in 1918. The most reliable evidence is an ancestor's Czechoslovakian passport, although this may not always be available. In the absence of a passport, there are currently no standardized guidelines on how to demonstrate an ancestor's citizenship, which is why it's crucial to work with an experienced provider.
However, some general guidelines may be helpful. Generally, anyone who emigrated from Slovakia after July 17th, 1910, became a Czechoslovakian citizen. Additionally, those who still lived in Czechoslovakia after 1930 were likely listed on the country's 1930 census, with their citizenship noted.
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Condition 1
To be eligible for citizenship by ancestry, an ancestor must have been a citizen of Czechoslovakia after the country's establishment in 1918. It's worth noting that the first Czechoslovakian citizenship act was enacted on July 16th, 1920. Before this date, Slovaks were citizens of the larger Hungarian empire, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
Hungarian citizenship was a requirement for becoming a Czechoslovakian citizen in 1920. However, Hungarian citizenship rules at the time stipulated that individuals absent from the country for over ten years would lose their Hungarian citizenship.
Thus, if your ancestor left Slovakia before July 17, 1910, which is more than ten years prior to the establishment of Czechoslovakian citizenship, or if they naturalized in another country, such as the United States, before July 16, 1920, they automatically lost their Hungarian citizenship and would not have been able to obtain Czechoslovakian citizenship.
Condition 2
In order to acquire Slovakian citizenship through ancestry, it is imperative that the ancestor was born within the boundaries of present-day Slovakia. This requirement can be substantiated by providing relevant documentation such as birth or marriage certificates, passports, or census records. It is important to note that ethnicity does not play a role in this process; the decisive factor is the place of birth.
Nevertheless, it is worth emphasizing that Slovakia perceives citizenship as a privilege rather than an inherent right, in contrast to the Czech Republic, where individuals with eligible ancestors are legally entitled to Czech citizenship. In Slovakia, the Ministry of the Interior exercises discretionary power in assessing and granting Slovak citizenship to individuals.
Condition 3
Requires the applicant to hold a Slovakian residence permit, which is an unusual requirement for citizenship by ancestry programs. However, this allows for more extensive vetting of potential applicants. There is no set time for how long an applicant must hold their residency, and the residency application process is simplified for the purposes of the citizenship by descent program. Additionally, there is no physical residence card issued. In practice, you can apply for both residence and citizenship at the same time at your nearest Slovak embassy, without needing to come to Slovakia for any part of the process.
Alternatively, you can obtain a "Slovak Living Abroad" certificate, also known as "semi-citizenship," which grants you a residence permit and a physical residency card.
The duration of the entire process is currently unknown, but it is certain that you will not be required to demonstrate proficiency in Slovak or renounce your other citizenship upon obtaining Slovak citizenship.
Regarding your family members, your spouse will not receive any special treatment. If your children were born before you became a Slovak citizen, they would need to have a qualifying Slovak ancestor to be eligible for citizenship.
For example, if you are qualifying through your Slovak great-grandfather (3rd generation), your children, who are four generations removed, would not be eligible. However, any children born to you after you become a Slovak citizen would automatically inherit Slovak citizenship at birth.
What is it?
Obtain residency permit approval by Slovakia's Ministry of the Interior.
How do I meet it?
Sequence your application in the correct way and thus, eliminate the need to physically reside inside Slovakia for an extended period of time.
In 1920, Slovakia gained the right to citizenship in Czechoslovakia.
At that time, citizenship applicants had to meet two key requirements:
Must have earned the "right of residence" in a municipality that became Czechoslovakia.
Must be citizens of the Kingdom of Hungary.
In practice, these two prerequisites meant that by 1910, those who had left the Kingdom of Hungary for ten years or longer lost their Slovak citizenship as a result of this policy.
How so?
In 1920, Slovakians acquired the right to citizenship in Czechoslovakia, regardless of their geographic location. For this to occur, they had to have possessed the "right of residence" within a municipality that later became Czechoslovakia, and in order to have that right, they had to be Kingdom of Hungary citizens. Thus, since Citizenship was lost if one left the Kingdom for more than ten years, anyone who left prior to 1910 wouldn't have had the right to Citizenship in 1920; hence the 1910 Rule.
Your “anchor ancestor” was the last member of your direct family line (parent, grandparent, great-grandparent) to have been born in inside of modern day Slovakia's territory.
Background
The Slovak Republic updated its Citizenship Act on April 1, 2022, to make it easier for the ancestors of Slovak citizens who had immigrated abroad to recover their ancestral rights to Slovak citizenship. The Bureau for Slovaks Living Abroad issues the Slovak Living Abroad Certificate to members of the Slovak Diaspora and their descendants. This certificate is required as the initial step in obtaining Slovak nationality.
Requirements
To qualify for a Slovak Living Abroad Certificate, the applicant must meet at least one of the two criteria below:
National and/or cultural awareness, which is an active manifestation of the Slovak nation and the values that represent the Slovak language, Slovak cultural heritage, and traditions, shall be demonstrated by:
A Slovak living abroad is defined in the Act on Slovaks Living Abroad as a person who does not have a permanent residence in the Slovak Republic and
1. Is a citizen of the Slovak Republic, or
2. Is not a citizen of the Slovak Republic but retains national awareness, and he or his
ancestors in the direct line have Slovak nationality.
To issue a certificate, the applicant must prove that he meets at least one of the above criteria. To prove that a person is a Slovak citizen, they need an official document that shows they are a Slovak citizen or have Slovak ancestors in their direct line.
Whether or not you require one depends on several factors. These may include your objectives, such as obtaining Slovak residency or citizenship, as well as details about your ancestral background, such as the migration date of the last ancestor to migrate from Slovakia.
Which is the best option for me?
Direct Path to Apply for Citizenship, does not require a residency period. If through your paternal line, you can submit your application at the Italian Consulate under the jurisdiction of where you are a formal resident. If you have a 1948 case, You must apply through through the local Italian Immigration Court, based on where your Italian ancestor was born.
The key question:
“Did your Italian-born ancestor naturalize before his/her child’s birth (born in the US)? Or prior to 1912?
If yes, may be eligible through naturalization, If no to both, apply for Citizenship directly
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By establishing Permanent Residency in Italy, on the basis of being eligible for Citizenship by Descent, you can obtain citizenship within 2-4 months. Minimal physical presence in Italy is required.
Which is the best option for me?
Path 1
The key question:
“Was the Anchor ancestor (i.e. your father or mother) a Slovak citizen at the time of your birth?”
Case 1: Yes, my Anchor ancestor remained a Slovak citizen until the time of birth of their children.
Path: Apply for Citizenship directly.
Case 2: No, the Anchor ancestor naturalized prior to having children.
Path: Evaluate for citizenship by descent.
Path 2
The key question:
“Was the Anchor ancestor (i.e. your father or mother) a Slovak citizen at the time of your birth?”
Case 1: Yes, my Anchor ancestor remained a Slovak citizen until the time of birth of their children.
Path: Apply for Citizenship directly.
Case 2: No, the Anchor ancestor naturalized prior to having children.
Path: Evaluate for citizenship by descent.
Your anchor ancestor was born in the territory of the Slovak Republic and emigrated before 1910.
The Principal Applicant demonstrates how they’ve significantly benefited the community of Slovaks living abroad due to their
“extraordinary contributions” within their respective diasporic communities.
Path 3
Requires eight years of residency before becoming eligible to apply, however, the law grants an exception to the length of residence requirement if:
Your anchor ancestor was born in the territory of the Slovak Republic and emigrated before 1910.
You have continuous permanent residency in the territory of Slovak.
You have been granted a Slovak Living Abroad certificate and have continuously resided in the territory of Slovakia for 3 years prior to submitting citizenship application.
How long does it take to get Italian Citizenship by Descent?
Global RCG: 4-30+ Months to Citizenship
Utilizing the Global RCG Advisory services, along with our technology enabled record retrieval applications, the entire process, from initiation to completion, can span a duration of
4- 36 months, depending on the chosen path to apply under.
The application for granting Slovak citizenship is submitted in person at the competent district office in Slovakia, the diplomatic mission, or the consular office of the Slovak Republic.
The following administrative fees are levied in connection with the granting of citizenship:
Granting Slovak citizenship to a person over 18 years of age:
EUR 700
Granting Slovak citizenship to a child:
Granting Slovak citizenship to former Slovak or Czechoslovak citizens and those who opt to revert to their former citizenship under international law:
EUR 20
Granting Slovak citizenship to Czech citizens born after 1 January 1993:
EUR 20
Granting Slovak citizenship to a person at least one of whose parents or grandparents was a Czechoslovak citizen:
EUR 20
Granting Slovak citizenship to a person who has been issued with a valid certificate proving their status as a Slovak living abroad:
EUR 400
Application for a permanent residence for five years at the Foreign Police Department:
165.50 EUR
Application for a permanent residence for an unlimited time period:
165.50 EUR
For an application for a certificate of a Slovak living abroad:
EUR 10
The Do-It-Yourself Route (DIY):
30-48 Months
Slovak migration primarily took place in 4 mass waves. About halfway through the 19th century and shortly thereafter, the first of these large-scale migrations of Slovaks to the United States occurred. A third of Slovakia's whole population had migrated to the United States by the start of World War I in 1914.
1873
Given that 1,300 Slovaks emigrated to America in 1873, that year can be seen as the start of a widespread exodus. The majority of them most likely originated in Slovakia's Spi (Spish) county, where the emigration wave was started by unemployed miners, craftsmen, and small farmers. Weavers and fabric makers, who once had a thriving industry and worked out of their own cottages, came next. When the first groups began to depart in order to seek out better economic opportunities, the emigration fever quickly spread, and before long even boys as young as 14 and 16 started to abandon their homes for America.In time, there was essentially no one left in the towns and villages to complete the necessary work, so hired laborers had to be brought in from nearby areas.
By 1879, the Zemplin district had become aware of the new movement, and by 1883, around 8,500 people had departed the area, which is substantial. Jan Hanzlik notes that in this case, there were numerous instances of entire families from the Zemplin region traveling to America, scheduling their departure for the days following the harvest season, in his study of the early phase of emigration to the United States. An immigrant family's home was typically sold for a steep discount, sometimes as little as five to twenty florins or gold pieces.
Very many of these immigrants went to the United States in search of work in the mining areas, but there was also a clear tendency to settle in Cleveland, where many of them found job at the Kuntz Plant, a business owned and run by one of their own citizens from Zemplin.
In response to laws requiring all men under the age of 50 to serve in the military, more and more women ventured to embark on arduous journeys with their partners and face the challenges of adjusting to life in a foreign country and a new social setting.
As word spread that there were better opportunities in America, the flood of emigration gradually grew from these beginnings. The presence of individuals who had returned and actually brought home the tools to enhance their homes and their situation in general validated this word of mouth.
1918-1938
Another pivotal period in Slovak history, 1918–1938, saw a considerable number of intimidated, persecuted, and disgruntled Slovaks flee a country that had turned into a foreign state rather than their homeland. Many of them believed that leaving would be more beneficial than remaining. Many saddenedly understood that while their country was strong enough to persevere, it was not strong enough to triumph.
Those who made the decision to endure the new hardships stayed at home and gave their all to defend the nation's rights to life and freedom. Many people sought refuge and survival in the United States after feeling driven to look elsewhere for answers to life's issues. During the years when immigration quotas were already placing limitations, some 60,000 Slovak immigrants came to the US. Many more who would have opted to immigrate to the United States discovered that they had been postponed and would have to wait a number of years before they could be admitted. Some of them requested asylum in other free nations, such as Australia, South America, and Canada.
1945
There was a third wave of emigration from Slovakia after the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1945, when barbed wire barriers, watch towers, forced labor, concentration camps, and deportation to Communist Russia became a plague on the land. But things were different this time. Only a small number of Slovakians were allowed to depart, and many more tried but failed to join the 8,000 who did. Many people died as a result of their fight for democracy and freedom.
1946
After the Dubek era ended and Czechoslovakia was terrorized by the menacing rumbling of Soviet tanks, a fourth massive exodus occurred. About 30,000 Slovaks risked everything to escape the savage invader's paralyzing action, and they eventually made it to the United States.
How does Slovakia define what a "tax “resident” is?
Residence: an individual is a resident if the individual has a permanent address or home available in Slovakia, or spends more than 183 days during a calendar year in the country.
What is taxable by Slovakia’s government?
A Slovak resident is taxed on worldwide income, non-residents (those citizens that spend less than 183 days in the country) are taxed only on Slovak-sourced income.
What foreign tax relief (if any) exists per the U.S. & Slovak Republic Tax Convention?
Any foreign tax paid (ex. US) may be credited against Slovak tax on the same income, but the credit is limited to the amount of Slovak tax payable on the foreign income under the applicable tax treaty. The Slovak Tax Treaty eliminates double taxation by the exemption method, meaning that income taxed abroad is excluded from Slovak taxation.
Other notable facts about Slovakia’s tax regime include:
Try our online tool to find out if you are eligible.
There are two basic routes: A) option for individuals with a Certificate of a Slovak Living Abroad, or B) option for individuals without the SLA Certificate. Although both routes have different legal requirements for ancestors and applicants, they substantially overlap. Many people with Slovak heritage will be eligible for citizenship through both routes. However, there are cases where only one of the routes is available to applicants (eg too distant ancestors). If your goal is to gain EU citizenship, you might be eligible for Czech or Hungarian citizenship.
Option A) concerns individuals with a certificate of a Slovak Living Abroad who can convert it into Slovak citizenship under some circumstances. In order to obtain an SLA Certificate, you have to fulfil different requirements for ancestry. Generally, your direct ancestor must have self-identified as being of Slovak nationality. There is no explicit requirement that your ancestors were citizens, or that they ever lived in Slovakia or Czechoslovakia.
Option B) concerns individuals whose parents, grandparents or great grand-parents were at some point Czechoslovak citizens and were born in today’s territory of Slovakia. The law does not require that they were citizens or lived in Czechoslovakia their entire life. The fact that they gained citizenship at any point in their life will suffice. If your ancestors do not qualify (eg because they were born outside the territory, or were not Czechoslovak citizens), you can still gain citizenship through a certificate of a Slovak Living Abroad.
Yes. Despite the political signals that this might change, the law still requires residency during the application process for citizenship by descent. However, residency does not mean a long-term stay, and in-fact, there is no legally defined length of physical presence in regards to citizenship by descent applicants. Global RCG sequences its members’ applications in order to eliminate the need to physically reside inside Slovakia for extended periods of time.
No. Residency has its own rules. Generally, unless you are an EU citizen, you need a justification for an application for residency (eg work, study, business, research, family reunion, etc.). Simply staying in Slovakia as a resident without any local engagement, eg for the purposes of retirement, is not possible. However, if you have a certificate of a Slovak Living Abroad, you can gain residency in Slovakia regardless of the purpose of your stay.
The effective date is April 1st, 2022. The President of SlovakiFa has signed the bill into law on March 7th, 2022.
No, there is no language requirement for applicants with qualifying ancestors.
Fees are only collected for successful applications.
Those with qualifying parent(s) or grandparent(s) will pay 20 Euros.
The fee for those with qualifying great-grandparent(s) is not yet clear – in the absence of a “discount”, the standard fee is 700 Euros.
Holders of the Slovak Living Abroad Certificate (unless they qualify for a lower fee, as per the above/below) will pay 400 Euros.
Children under the age of 18 pay 150 Euros and children under the age of 15 pay 100 Euros (unless they qualify for a lower fee, as per the above).
Persons above the age of 65 pay no fee at all.
There is no physical presence requirement as part of the citizenship by descent program.
Essentially, good character means that a person has not been convicted of an intentional criminal offense. If over 5 years have elapsed since expungement, such an applicant may be eligible, although such applications are likely to be given extra scrutiny.
You may still qualify to apply for Slovak Citizenship by Descent. Many of our clients had ancestors who left prior to 1910, however there a few variables that need to be considered. Please contact us for a free evaluation to determine whether you are eligible.
Yes. All that matters is that they were at some point a Czechoslovak citizen.
Unfortunately, only those ancestors born in what is now Slovakia are eligible. Unfortunately, only those ancestors born in what is now Slovakia are eligible. However, if they were born in a territory within the Austro-Hungarian empire, there is a good chance that you could potentially be eligible for another EU countries Citizenship by Descent program.
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