Slovak Citizenship by Ancestry (Frequently Asked Questions)

#1: Based on April 2022’s New Legislation, Who Qualifies for Slovak Citizenship by Ancestry?

Two main routes are available. They are:

1) A path for people who have an SLA certificate (Certificate of a Slovak Living Abroad), and

2) A path for people who don't have an SLA certificate

Legal requirements imposed on applicants and their ancestors differ between each path. Yet, some similarities do exist.

Many applicants with the lineage can qualify for Slovakian citizenship by descent through the two routes. Situations do exist where individuals only have access to a single path (for example, if your ancestors are too distant).

With that, if you're aiming to become an EU citizen, you may qualify for either Hungarian or Czech citizenship.

Path (A): refers to those who have an SLA certificate and can use it to gain Slovakian citizenship under certain conditions. For applicants to receive their SLA Certificate, they must meet many ancestral requirements.

As a rule, an ancestor should have self-identified with their Slovak nationality. No clear rules exist that require your ancestors to be citizens or residents of Czechoslovakia or Slovakia at any time.

Path (B): applies to anyone who was born in Slovakian territories, and who have ancestors (up to great grandparents) who held Czechoslovak citizenship at some time in their lives. The legislation doesn't require the ancestor to be a citizen or to have spent their whole lives in Czechoslovakia. It is sufficient for them to have obtained citizenship at any time in their lives.

If none of your ancestors qualify (because their birthplace was outside the area or they lacked Czechoslovak citizenship at the time), you can choose to get citizenship via an SLA certificate.

#2: Am I Required to Reside in Slovakia to Get Descent Citizenship?

Yes.

While there are hopes that this may change, the legislation forces a minimum residency period for applicants during their ancestral citizenship application process. However, the residence requirements don't imply a lengthy commitment.

For example, if an application procedure requires one year, a residence of about 6 months might suffice. During that period, you can take Slovakian residence for many purposes, including conducting business, working, studying, and undertaking research. Afterwards, applicants can deregister and depart after their application has been approved.

At Global RCG, we can help you search for local entities who can provide residence for research, temporary work, or recommended locations for study.

#3: Are All Eligible Ancestry Citizenship Applicants Given Automatic Residence?

No. The rules of residency are unique. Unless the applicant has EU citizenship, they must provide grounds as to why their residence application should be accepted (for study, work, family reunion, business, research, etc.). It simply isn't feasible to stay in Slovakia unless you're actively participating in the community (for example, a residence for retirement).

Exceptions do exist. If you hold an SLA certificate, you can seek residence in Slovakia even if you lack a reason for staying.

#4: How Much Time is Required to Process Citizenship Applications?

You may need to wait up to 2 years unless an authority exists to hasten your case with application authorities.

During that time, all individuals are required to temporarily stay in Slovakia (at a minimum), which often means spending 183 days each year there. Alternatively, individuals having prior residency in a different EU state enjoy a more lax procedure.

#5: How Do I Tell If Someone Qualifies for Czechoslovakian Citizenship?

This is difficult to answer since it depends on each applicant’s unique ancestral history.