Old city center in Banska Bystrica city during the sunny weather in Slovakia

Slovakia Citizenship by Descent [August 22]

Europe

Slovakia

image 8
Capital City

Bratislava

image 1 1
Visa free on arrival

167 countries

image 2 1
Total area

49.035 km²

image 3 1
Languages

Slovak

image 6
Currency

Euro

image 8
Capital
City

Bratislava

image 1 1
Visa free
on arrival

167 countries

image 2 1
Total area

49.035 km²

image 3 1
Languages

Slovak

image 6
Currency

Euro

Was one of your direct ancestors (parent, grandparent,
or great-grandparent) born inside Slovakia?
You probably qualify for EU citizenship!
Slovakia’s passport
currently ranks amongst
the world’s top 20.
Slovakia is the 7th EU country
to allow direct descendants
within three generations or earlier
to qualify for EU citizenship.
In the 1990 U.S. census,
1.8 million people self-identified
as having Slovak ancestry.
On April 1st, 2022, an amendment
to Act No. 40/1993 Coll.
on Citizenship of the Slovak
Republic came into effect.

Three paths to Slovak citizenship

Path #1

Citizenship
By Birth

Path #2

Citizenship
By Descent

Path #3

Citizenship via
Naturalization

Process & Timeline

Time to Citizenship: 18 Months (Current estimate Aug. 2022)

01

New Member Onboarding

New Member Onboarding

The five most important sets of data are:

– Date of birth
– Marriage date
– Date of death

01. New Member Onboarding

The five most important sets of data are:

– Date of birth
– Marriage date
– Date of death

ezgif.com gif maker

02

Retrieval of vital records in U.S. and Slovakia

Retrieval of vital records in U.S. and Slovakia

Procure relevant documents including:

02. Retrieval of vital records in U.S. and Slovakia

Procure relevant documents including:

ezgif.com gif maker 2

03

Application Preparation & Supporting Documents
Application Preparation & Supporting Documents
03. Application Preparation & Supporting Documents
ezgif.com gif maker 3

04

Document Preparation
Document Preparation

(Apostille, Legalizations, Translations, etc)

Documents issued by courts and authorities that are valid in the applicant’s home country as public documents are considered public documents in the Slovak Republic if they are provided with the prescribed verifications, i.e., if they bear the “APOSTILLE” certification clause (for the Hague Convention countries) or are subject to legalization or super legalization (for other countries), with certification clauses not being older than six (6) months.

Documents issued by the applicant’s home country must be officially translated into Slovak (including stamps, signatures, and official stamps on the official translation of the document into Slovak).

04. Document Preparation

(Apostille, Legalizations, Translations, etc)

Documents issued by courts and authorities that are valid in the applicant’s home country as public documents are considered public documents in the Slovak Republic if they are provided with the prescribed verifications, i.e., if they bear the “APOSTILLE” certification clause (for the Hague Convention countries) or are subject to legalization or super legalization (for other countries), with certification clauses not being older than six (6) months.

Documents issued by the applicant’s home country must be officially translated into Slovak (including stamps, signatures, and official stamps on the official translation of the document into Slovak).

slovakia citizenship by descent

05

Consular Appointment and Application Submission

Consular Appointment and Application Submission

Attend consular appointment to apply for recognition of your Slovak citizenship.

05. Consular Appointment and Application Submission

Attend consular appointment to apply for recognition of your Slovak citizenship.

ezgif.com gif maker 6

06

Apply for Slovak Living Abroad Certificate

Apply for Slovak Living Abroad Certificate

On April 1, 2022, the Slovak Republic revised its Citizenship Act to make it simpler for the ancestors of Slovak citizens who had immigrated abroad to reclaim 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 the first essential step in attaining Slovak nationality.

To qualify for a Slovak Living Abroad Certificate, the applicant must meet at least one of the two  criteria below:

1. Is a citizen of the Slovak Republic; or

2. Is not a citizen of the Slovak Republic but retains national/cultural awareness, and enjoys a direct line to Slovak nationality through ancestry.

06. Apply for Slovak Living Abroad Certificate

On April 1, 2022, the Slovak Republic revised its Citizenship Act to make it simpler for the ancestors of Slovak citizens who had immigrated abroad to reclaim 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 the first essential step in attaining Slovak nationality.

To qualify for a Slovak Living Abroad Certificate, the applicant must meet at least one of the two  criteria below:

1. Is a citizen of the Slovak Republic; or

2. Is not a citizen of the Slovak Republic but retains national/cultural awareness, and enjoys a direct line to Slovak nationality through ancestry

07

Apply for Residence Permit

Apply for Residence Permit

The residence permit application is submitted in person at the Immigration Police competent according to the applicant’s place of residence in Slovakia or at the Slovak embassy/consulate in the country of which the applicant is a national or in which the applicant resides.

Physical presence in Slovakia is not a requirement, provided that the Principal Applicant visit Slovakia within 180 days of approval to collect their residence permit, in person, in Slovakia.

07. Apply for Residence Permit

The residence permit application is submitted in person at the Immigration Police competent according to the applicant’s place of residence in Slovakia or at the Slovak embassy/consulate in the country of which the applicant is a national or in which the applicant resides.

Physical presence in Slovakia is not a requirement, provided that the Principal Applicant visit Slovakia within 180 days of approval to collect their residence permit, in person, in Slovakia.

slovakia citizenship by descent

08

Apply for Slovak Citizenship!

Apply for Slovak Citizenship!

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.

When submitting a citizenship application, the applicant shall also fill in their applicant’s questionnaire issued by the Ministry. The form shall be given to the applicant when submitting the application. The questionnaire of an applicant under 18 years of age shall also be signed by the applicant’s parents. If only one of the parents signs it, the consent of the other parent, whose signature must be officially certified, must be attached.

08. Apply for Slovak Citizenship!

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.

When submitting a citizenship application, the applicant shall also fill in their applicant’s questionnaire issued by the Ministry. The form shall be given to the applicant when submitting the application. The questionnaire of an applicant under 18 years of age shall also be signed by the applicant’s parents. If only one of the parents signs it, the consent of the other parent, whose signature must be officially certified, must be attached.

slovakia citizenship by descent

01

New Member Onboarding

New Member Onboarding

The five most important sets of data are:

– Date of birth
– Marriage date
– Date of death

01. New Member Onboarding

The five most important sets of data are:

– Date of birth
– Marriage date
– Date of death

ezgif.com gif maker

02

Retrieval of vital records in U.S. and Slovakia

Retrieval of vital records in U.S. and Slovakia

Procure relevant documents including:

02. Retrieval of vital records in U.S. and Slovakia

Procure relevant documents including:

ezgif.com gif maker 2

03

Application Preparation & Supporting Documents
Application Preparation & Supporting Documents
03. Application Preparation & Supporting Documents
ezgif.com gif maker 3

04

Document Preparation
Document Preparation

(Apostille, Legalizations, Translations, etc)

Documents issued by courts and authorities that are valid in the applicant’s home country as public documents are considered public documents in the Slovak Republic if they are provided with the prescribed verifications, i.e., if they bear the “APOSTILLE” certification clause (for the Hague Convention countries) or are subject to legalization or super legalization (for other countries), with certification clauses not being older than six (6) months.

Documents issued by the applicant’s home country must be officially translated into Slovak (including stamps, signatures, and official stamps on the official translation of the document into Slovak).

04. Document Preparation

(Apostille, Legalizations, Translations, etc)

Documents issued by courts and authorities that are valid in the applicant’s home country as public documents are considered public documents in the Slovak Republic if they are provided with the prescribed verifications, i.e., if they bear the “APOSTILLE” certification clause (for the Hague Convention countries) or are subject to legalization or super legalization (for other countries), with certification clauses not being older than six (6) months.

Documents issued by the applicant’s home country must be officially translated into Slovak (including stamps, signatures, and official stamps on the official translation of the document into Slovak).

slovakia citizenship by descent

05

Consular Appointment and Application Submission

Consular Appointment and Application Submission

Attend consular appointment to apply for recognition of your Slovak citizenship.

05. Consular Appointment and Application Submission

Attend consular appointment to apply for recognition of your Slovak citizenship.

ezgif.com gif maker 6

06

Apply for Slovak Living Abroad Certificate

Apply for Slovak Living Abroad Certificate

On April 1, 2022, the Slovak Republic revised its Citizenship Act to make it simpler for the ancestors of Slovak citizens who had immigrated abroad to reclaim 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 the first essential step in attaining Slovak nationality.

To qualify for a Slovak Living Abroad Certificate, the applicant must meet at least one of the two  criteria below:

1. Is a citizen of the Slovak Republic; or

2. Is not a citizen of the Slovak Republic but retains national/cultural awareness, and enjoys a direct line to Slovak nationality through ancestry.

06. Apply for Slovak Living Abroad Certificate

On April 1, 2022, the Slovak Republic revised its Citizenship Act to make it simpler for the ancestors of Slovak citizens who had immigrated abroad to reclaim 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 the first essential step in attaining Slovak nationality.

To qualify for a Slovak Living Abroad Certificate, the applicant must meet at least one of the two  criteria below:

1. Is a citizen of the Slovak Republic; or

2. Is not a citizen of the Slovak Republic but retains national/cultural awareness, and enjoys a direct line to Slovak nationality through ancestry

07

Apply for Residence Permit

Apply for Residence Permit

The residence permit application is submitted in person at the Immigration Police competent according to the applicant’s place of residence in Slovakia or at the Slovak embassy/consulate in the country of which the applicant is a national or in which the applicant resides.

Physical presence in Slovakia is not a requirement, provided that the Principal Applicant visit Slovakia within 180 days of approval to collect their residence permit, in person, in Slovakia.

07. Apply for Residence Permit

The residence permit application is submitted in person at the Immigration Police competent according to the applicant’s place of residence in Slovakia or at the Slovak embassy/consulate in the country of which the applicant is a national or in which the applicant resides.

Physical presence in Slovakia is not a requirement, provided that the Principal Applicant visit Slovakia within 180 days of approval to collect their residence permit, in person, in Slovakia.

slovakia citizenship by descent

08

Apply for Slovak Citizenship!

Apply for Slovak Citizenship!

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.

When submitting a citizenship application, the applicant shall also fill in their applicant’s questionnaire issued by the Ministry. The form shall be given to the applicant when submitting the application. The questionnaire of an applicant under 18 years of age shall also be signed by the applicant’s parents. If only one of the parents signs it, the consent of the other parent, whose signature must be officially certified, must be attached.

08. Apply for Slovak Citizenship!

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.

When submitting a citizenship application, the applicant shall also fill in their applicant’s questionnaire issued by the Ministry. The form shall be given to the applicant when submitting the application. The questionnaire of an applicant under 18 years of age shall also be signed by the applicant’s parents. If only one of the parents signs it, the consent of the other parent, whose signature must be officially certified, must be attached.

slovakia citizenship by descent

What documents are required to prove your ancestral ties to Slovakia?

To prove Slovak nationality, the application must contain a record of the Slovak nationality of the applicant’s “anchor ancestor” (parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, great-great-grandparent etc..)

Eligible documents include:

A birth certificate plus the following documents:

1. A baptismal certificate

2. A registry extract

3. A marriage certificate

4. A certificate of citizenship or a certificate of the applicant’s permanent residence;

5. A deed of release from the state union of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, Slovak Socialist Republic, or the Slovak Republic;

6. A school certificate;

7. A military book;

8. A working book;

9. A house book;

10. A certificate of nationality from the Slovak National Archive, the National Archive of the Czech Republic, the State Archive of the Transcarpathian Region in Uzhhorod, or another national archive of Ukraine or the former USSR, including the census if it contains a record of nationality.

slovakia citizenship by descent

Do you qualify for EU citizenship?

Take a free eligibility test today! Your eligibility for ancestry-based citizenship will be determined within 48 hours by the internal genealogy team at Global RCG.

Dual citizenship delivers a lifetime of dividends
that will last for generations to come

slovakia citizenship by descent

Join the Slovak Citizenship Council

An invitation-only membership network of
descendants of Slovak nationals

The Slovak Citizenship Council (SCC) is an exclusive, invitation-only membership organization built by globally-minded individuals with verifiable ancestral ties to Slovakia.

Inspired by the Slovak government’s recent passage this past April of new regulations long-awaited by a global diaspora of Slovak descent, SCC members are actively collaborating with Global RCG as they work towards re-establishing Slovak citizenship by descent.

slovakia citizenship by descent
slovakia citizenship by descent

Enjoy our pilot pricing membership fees

Membership Plans

Individuals

Core Program

Four Membership Options

Upfront

Annual Plan (1)

18-Month Plan (2)

18-Month Plan (3) | No Deposit

Initial Deposit

$4,950

$990

$494

$0

Monthy Payments

$0

$396

$315

$344

Total Costs

$4,950

$5,346

$5,841

$6,187

Save

$396

$891

$1,237

Premium Program

Four Membership Options

Upfront

Annual Plan (1)

18-Month Plan (2)

18-Month Plan (3) | No Deposit

Initial Deposit

$6,188

$1,238

$495

$0

Monthy Payments

$0

$495

$393

$430

Total Costs

$6,188

$6,682

$7,301

$7,734

Save

$495

$1,113

$1,546

Our membership services are organized around three key stages

Stage 1
slovakia citizenship by descent
slovakia citizenship by descent
Group 77
Stage 2
slovakia citizenship by descent
slovakia citizenship by descent
Group 75
Stage 3
slovakia citizenship by descent
slovakia citizenship by descent
Group 76
The market for dual citizenship and residency rights into the European Union ranges
from €280,000 to €3,000,000
Residency and Citizenship by Investment (RCBI) Solutions

Country

Residency by investment (RBI) or Citizenship by Investment (CBI)

EU Member Country

Min. Investment Amount

Austria

CBI

Yes

€3,000,000

Ireland

RBI

Yes

€1,000,000

Malta

RBI

Yes

€875,000

Spain

RBI

Yes

€500,000

Italy

RBI

Yes

€500,000

Montengro

CBI

No

€475,000

Greece

RBI

Yes

€400,000

Portugal

RBI

Yes

€280,000

Take our free eligibility test

Your eligibility for ancestry-based citizenship will be determined within 48 hours by the internal genealogy team at Global RCG. We will also produce an assessment report summarizing our results.

FAQs

The effective date is April 1st, 2022. The President of Slovakia has signed the bill into law on March 7th, 2022.

No, all that matters is their Czechoslovak citizenship and place of birth.

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.

It seems that with the agreement announced by Dr. Vetrák, member of parliament, physical presence in Slovakia is likely not a requirement.

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.

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.

No, there is no language requirement for applicants with qualifying ancestors.

The application for granting Slovak citizenship is submitted in person at the competent district office in Slovakia, through a POA, the diplomatic mission, or the consular office of the Slovak Republic.

In the early years of Czechoslovakia, it is unclear exactly who was a citizen of that country. The fact that any legally residing citizen of the Kingdom of Hungary who departed Slovakia on or after July 17, 1910, became a citizen of Czechoslovakia is unquestioned, nonetheless (although there are certain exceptions, such as naturalizing in the United States before 1920). Additionally, anyone who left after 1930 would probably be listed on the Czechoslovak census, which lists citizenship.

Obviously, a Czechoslovak passport would be the finest proof. To satisfy the criterion in the absence of the aforementioned information, it may be sufficient to show the applicable circumstances (emigration after 1910).

You may be eligible, provided you obtain a Slovak Living Abroad certificate before applying for Slovak citizenship.

Yes. All that matters is that they were at some point a Czechoslovak citizen.

Slovaks gained the right to citizenship in Czechoslovakia in 1920, regardless of where they lived.

In order for it to have happened, they both had to be citizens of the Kingdom of Hungary AND they had to have the “right of residence” within a municipality that eventually became Czechoslovakia.

On April 1, 2022, the Slovak Republic revised its Citizenship Act to make it simpler for the ancestors of Slovak citizens who had immigrated abroad to reclaim 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 the first essential step in attaining Slovak nationality.

As defined in the Act on Slovaks Living Abroad, it refers to 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/cultural awareness, and he or his ancestors in the direct line have Slovak nationality.

To qualify for a Slovak living abroad certificate, the applicant must meet at least one of the two  criteria above.

As a rule, the Office shall decide within 60 days of receiving the application with all the requisites. The period for the decision begins to run from the delivery of the application to the Office, even if the application was submitted at a Slovak embassy/consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. However, this deadline is only ordinary, and the Office may decide for longer.

1. A critical element of your SLA application is being able to demonstrate that you are, or have, actively contributed the national, or cultural awareness of the Slovak Republic. The following are examples of ways to show an active manifestation of the Slovak country and the values that reflect the Slovak language, Slovak cultural heritage, and traditions:

The applicant’s declaration of the achievements in his public activities demonstrating his awareness of national and cultural issues.

2. Written testimony from expatriate organization in applicant’s home country on their significant benefit/contribution to the community of Slovaks living abroad.

3. Written testimony from at least two Slovaks Living Abroad.

4. Mastery of the Slovak language, providing school certificate.

Do you want to speak?

“One of the most generous ancestry-based citizenship programs in the European Union is Slovakia’s new citizenship by descent program. As of April 1st, 2022, Slovak-Americans may qualify for EU citizenship provided that just one out of fourteen of their ascendants was born in the territory of the Slovak Republic”

Tate Worswick circle

- Tate Worswick, Head of Ancestry-based Services at Global RCG.

slovakia citizenship by descent

Slovakia Passport Dashboard

World reach:

Visa free/on arrival:

84%

161 countries

image 57
Screenshot 1

Join the Slovak Citizenship Council!

Learn about all the benefits for you

By clicking Sign Up you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.

Latest Articles on Slovakia

Enjoy our articles related to Slovakia

Scroll to Top
“Was the anchor ancestor (i.e. your father or mother) a
Slovak citizen at the time of your birth?”

Case 1:

Yes, the Anchor ancestor remained a Slovak citizen until the time of birth of their children.

Apply for citizenship directly

Case 2:

No, the Anchor ancestor naturalized prior to having children.

Evaluate CBD instead

Case #1 Direct Ancestors

1. Your anchor ancestor was a Czechoslovak citizen born in the territory of the Slovak Republic and emigrated before 1910.

Case #2 Significant benefit to Slovak community

The following two conditions must be met:

1. Your anchor ancestor was born in the territory of the Slovak Republic and emigrated before 1910.

2. The Principal Applicant demonstrates how they’ve significantly benefited the community of Slovaks living abroad due to their “extraordinary contributions” to their respective diasporic communities.

For applicants who do not have a direct Slovak ancestor nor have their contributions significantly benefited the Slovak community.

Eight years residency is required before citizenship by naturalization can be granted

Exceptions granted if one of the following conditions is met:

1. Marriage with a Slovak citizen for at least five years.

2. Continuous permanent residence in the territory of the Slovak Republic beginning at least three years before reaching the age of 18.

3. Granted a Slovak Living Abroad certificate and resided in Slovakia for at least three years.

Membership Services
Premium Services
Premium service

Core services plus our Approval Guarantee

Global RCG will issue refund of its membership fee, in the event that citizenship application is denied

Membership Services
Slovak Citizenship
by Descent
Wanna take a free eligibility
assessment test?