Citizenship of Czechia

The Czech Republic is a European Union country characterised by an interesting culture and affordable prices for food and various goods. Especially in comparison with a number of other EU countries, such as Austria, Germany and Italy.

A Czech passport allows you to live and travel freely within the Schengen countries, do business in any of the EU countries, and receive social benefits. However, the migration policy of the Czech Republic can hardly be called loyal. Not all categories of foreigners can obtain citizenship.

Benefits

A Czech passport allows you to live and travel freely within the Schengen countries, do business in any of the EU countries, and receive social benefits. 

However, the Czech Republic's migration policy can hardly be called loyal. Not all categories of foreigners can obtain citizenship.

Ways of Obtaining Citizenship

According to local legislation, only a few categories of migrants are eligible to apply for citizenship. There are several ways to obtain a local passport:

Naturalization.

To obtain a citizen’s passport, one must reside in the country for at least 5 years with permanent residency status. For individuals who hold citizenship from any European Union country, this period is reduced to 3 years.

Declaration.

Individuals who were citizens of Czechoslovakia before December 31, 1992, can apply for citizenship through a declaration.

By Right of Birth.

If one of the parents is a citizen of the Czech Republic, the child can obtain a passport through a simplified procedure.

Adoption.

Children found in the Czech Republic with unknown parents automatically receive citizenship.

If a child is adopted by citizens of the country, they also receive a Czech passport.

Advantages of Czech Citizenship

Czech citizenship offers immigrants a wealth of additional opportunities. The benefits of acquiring this status include:

• Living in the EU. The Czech Republic is a country with a high standard of living. Immigrants who obtain citizenship status can live permanently not only in the country but also in any EU member state.
• Traveling. Within the Schengen Area, there are no internal borders. Citizens of any Schengen state can travel freely between them without the need for additional visas. For trips to Canada or the USA, a special permit is sufficient.
• Healthcare. The Czech Republic has a high level of medical care, using modern treatment protocols approved by the Ministry of Health. With insurance, one can receive free medical treatment, medications, and more.
• Education. The country has public universities where one can receive a quality education for free. Czech citizens can also study in other EU universities under preferential conditions, and may even qualify for scholarships.
• Social assistance. The Czech Republic takes care of its citizens. They are eligible to receive various benefits, pensions, and other payments from the state.
• Employment. Czech citizens can find employment not only in the Czech Republic but also in any EU member state. They are exempt from the need to obtain a work visa or other permits.
• Business opportunities. A Czech passport allows citizens to engage in legal entrepreneurial activities throughout the EU, effectively providing access to international markets.
• Use of the European banking system. Czech citizens can open accounts in any EU bank, deposit funds, and participate in preferential loan programs.
• Real estate purchase. A Czech passport allows the acquisition of any type of property within the country and in other EU member states.

Children of citizens also automatically receive a Czech passport, meaning that citizenship is inherited.

Foreigners who obtain a Czech passport can vote, work in government institutions, and access various services on an equal basis with native residents.

The advantage of Czech citizenship.

The Czech Republic has one of the lowest taxes compared to other EU countries. The income tax rate is only 15%.

Dual Citizenship

In the Czech Republic, dual citizenship is legally permitted. This means that a foreigner does not need to renounce the passport of their country of origin. As a result, one can live and travel the world with either of the available passports. The main condition is that holding a second citizenship must not be prohibited by the person's country of origin.

The Citizenship by Investment Program

The Czech Republic does not have a program that grants citizenship through investments in real estate or companies operating within the country. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain a passport through this method.

Recent Reforms of the Citizenship Program

Not long ago, changes were made to Czech legislation regarding residence permits, which impact the path to obtaining citizenship.

For example, graduates of local universities now receive a residence permit for 9 months after completing their studies. This period is provided so that the individual can find a job in the country or start a business.

Students will receive a residence permit for the entire calendar year. This prevents interruptions in the temporary residence status. As a result, the period required to obtain permanent residence, and later citizenship, is reduced.

Starting in 2024, property tax will almost double. Exceptions are properties exempt from taxation or those not subject to tax under the law. This is expected to lead to an increase in housing prices.

Step-by-step application process

To become a full citizen of the Czech Republic, you need to go through several stages:

For citizens of EU countries, the timelines for obtaining citizenship have been shortened.

Collection of Documents and Submission of Application

To submit documents for Czech citizenship, several steps must be completed:

• Collection and translation of documents. Documents must be submitted already translated into Czech for the citizenship application to be considered. Additionally, they must undergo apostille certification, which means they need to be authenticated by the relevant authority.
• Appointment. The submission of documents can be done at the local municipality based on your place of residence, an embassy, or a consulate. Appointments are scheduled online through the organization's website.
• Submission of documents. At the appointed time, you must appear at the municipality, embassy, or consulate with the originals of all documents and their certified copies.

Minor children can apply for a passport together with the applicant. To do this, they must be included in the parents' application. Additionally, the children's documents must be attached to the case.

List of documents

To apply for citizenship, you need to provide the following package of documents:

• Application form;
• Personal data questionnaire;
• Identity document;
• Birth, marriage, or divorce certificates;
• Certificate of no criminal record;
• Certificate of successful completion of a language exam;
• Income statement;
• Proof of residence registration.

Additionally, an insurance policy and a document listing all places of residence in the country may be required.

The entire package must be submitted in person by the applicant.

Additional information

When submitting the application, a state fee of approximately €100 must be paid. The full amount is paid in a single transaction. The receipt is submitted along with all the documents.

Review and Decision

Regardless of where the documents are submitted—whether to the municipality at the place of registration, the consulate, or the embassy—the application is reviewed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country.

Important

Based on the submitted documents, the municipality prepares a report within 30 days, which is then forwarded along with the entire package to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The ministry reviews the documents and makes a decision, which typically takes up to six months.

High standards are imposed on applicants, so rejections are not uncommon. In such cases, the decision can be appealed in court. To do this, you will need to hire a qualified lawyer familiar with the immigration laws of the Czech Republic.