Slovakia Citizenship by Descent

Updated on Wednesday 03rd August 2022

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Foreign citizens who live in Slovakia for several years are entitled to apply for citizenship by naturalization. However, there are also other ways of acquiring a passport in this country, one of them is descent.

Obtaining Slovakia citizenship by descent is not complicated, however, it implies meeting specific requirements, such as having origins in this country. Even so, one needs proof of his relationship with people who were born here.

Below, our immigration lawyers in Slovakia explain the main conditions to obtain citizenship by descent. If you are foreign citizen who want to settle here indefinitely, we can also help you with the naturalization procedure. You can rely on us on a wide range of legal services, including if you want to move to Slovakia through permanent residency.

What does Slovakia citizenship by descent imply?

Descent or ancestry is the simplest of obtaining citizenship in Slovakia, as it implies having Slovak origins. Those who have Slovak parents but moved abroad or were born abroad can be eligible to become Slovak citizens based on a few documents.

There are several advantages linked to citizenship by descent in Slovakia, however, the conditions are more stringent when compared to obtaining a Slovak passport by naturalization or investment, for example.

Our Slovak lawyers are at the service of foreign citizens who want to file their papers for obtaining citizenship by ancestry.

We can also assist foreign citizens interested in immigration to Slovakia from other countries.

Eligibility for citizenship by descent in Slovakia

The following conditions must be met by those seeking to obtain Slovakia citizenship by descent:

they need to have at least one parent who is a Slovak citizen;
the parent must have been born before 1990;
the parent must have still had Slovak citizenship at the time of the applicant’s birth.

People who were Slovak citizens until December 1992 but lost it or gave it up can also reclaim it.

All applications must contain specific documents that attest to the origin of the person requesting the Slovak passport.

Our law firm in Slovakia can offer support in drafting the necessary documents and filing them with the Ministry of Interior.

If you want to relocate to Slovakia, our specialists can offer support in filing for various types of residence permits.

Documents to prepare for citizenship by ancestry in Slovakia

People who want to apply for citizenship by descent must prepare various documents. Among them, the passport and the papers indicating their Slovak origins. These can take the form of the parents’ birth certificates.

However, there are cases in which such documents can be difficult to find, which is why one may need to search through various records. These can often be found with local registries. It should also be noted that documents issued abroad must be translated into Slovak and certified before being filed.

Our Slovak lawyers can offer guidance in preparing the paperwork for obtaining citizenship by ancestry.

Advantages of obtaining a Slovak passport by descent

There are several advantages linked to being eligible for Slovakia citizenship by descent, and the most important is that compared through naturalization, the applicant is no longer required to live in this country for the necessary number of years to obtain a passport. On the other hand, finding out all the details about one’s ancestors can be difficult.

Applying for Slovak citizenship by ancestry is subject to fewer requirements in terms of paperwork and according to recent news, the procedure will be simplified in the near future, as the project is already being analyzed by the government. Moreover, the new law provides for granting citizenship by descent to the third generation of citizens of Slovakia and the former Czechoslovakia, as the division of the country has led to many nationals living abroad.

Expected to be passed in December 2021, the new law is awaited by many people with Slovak descent who want to reconnect with their origins.

You can obtain updated information about from our immigration lawyers in Slovakia.

Statistics on Slovakia’s population

At the level of 2021, Slovakia’s population was made of 5,463,335 inhabitants. Also:

53.7 % of them lived in urban areas;
the median age of the population is 41.2 years;
by 2025, it is expected for the number if inhabitants to register a decrease of 0.04% and reach 5,449,599;
this trend is predicted to continue by 2030, when the decrease is expected to drop by 0.17%.

If you are interested immigration to Slovakia or in applying for citizenship by descent and need guidance, please contact our local law firm. We can also help you apply for residency by investment.