Descent · decided by Ministry of Interior
Czech citizenship by descent
Czechia lets children and grandchildren of former Czech/Czechoslovak citizens acquire citizenship by a simple declaration — no language, residence, or chain requirement. Check whether you qualify, build your lineage, and get a primary-source-backed document checklist and cost estimate.
Grandparent or great-grandparent claim? Complex chain? Skip the research — talk to a Czech Republic citizenship specialist in 30 minutes.
🇨🇿 A simple declaration
Children and grandchildren of former Czechoslovak citizens can reclaim citizenship by declaration — no language test.
Eligibility
Who may qualify
A parent or grandparent who was a Czech/Czechoslovak citizen.
The ancestor lost citizenship before Jan 1, 2014.
You don't hold Slovak citizenship; exclusions apply for the 1945 Decree 33.
Great-grandchildren are not currently eligible.
A general overview — your eligibility depends on the specifics of your line. The free check gives a personalized answer. EasyPassport is not affiliated with Ministry of Interior. We help you organize and verify your documents. You submit your application to Ministry of Interior directly — we do not file, submit, or act on your behalf with any government authority.
Why Czech Republic
What makes Czech Republic different
A simple declaration, not naturalization
Eligible descendants acquire citizenship by a §31 declaration — no language, residence, or knowledge test.
Two generations only
Open to children and grandchildren of a former Czech/Czechoslovak citizen; great-grandchildren are not currently eligible.
Timing condition on the ancestor
The ancestor must have lost citizenship before 1 Jan 2014.
Low fee, fast act
The declaration itself costs about CZK 500 (~$20) and is quick; most time goes into document research.
Slovak-citizenship and 1945-decree exclusions
Holding Slovak citizenship, and certain Decree 33/1945 cases, can exclude a claim.
By ancestor path
Your relationship to the Czech ancestor determines which rules apply
Process
How to apply
- 1
Confirm eligibility
Verify a parent or grandparent was a Czech/Czechoslovak citizen who lost it before 1 Jan 2014, and that no exclusion applies.
- 2
Gather proof of the ancestor's citizenship
Obtain evidence of their former Czech/Czechoslovak citizenship plus the birth and marriage records linking your generations.
- 3
Translate where required
Provide Czech translations of foreign-language documents.
- 4
Make the §31 declaration
File the declaration at the competent regional authority (Prague 1 for many abroad) or your Czech consulate.
- 5
Pay the fee and submit
Pay the ~CZK 500 charge (consular fee may differ abroad) and lodge originals and copies.
- 6
Receive confirmation
Once documents are complete the declaration is processed relatively quickly.
Choose your path
Do it yourself, or talk to a specialist?
Do it yourself
Free tool- Parent or grandparent claim with clear documentation
- You know your ancestor held Czech Republic citizenship
- Records are legible and translated where needed
- No broken-chain events (renunciation, timing gaps)
Talk to a specialist
- Great-grandparent or further-back claim
- Unsure whether a naturalization broke the chain
- Mixed ancestry — multiple possible pathways
- Want a professional to verify before gathering 10+ documents
At a glance
What you'll need
- Government fee
- CZK 500 (~$20); consular fee abroad varies
- Typical timeline
- Declaration is quick; document research often 6+ months
- Where
- Regional authority / Prague 1 / Czech consulate
Key dates & laws
The rules that decide your case
Act No. 207/2019
Extended the §31 declaration to grandchildren of former citizens.
Pending (2024)
A proposal to extend eligibility to great-grandchildren stalled and is not yet law.
1993 — Dissolution of Czechoslovakia
Czechia and Slovakia split; the §31 declaration route (Act No. 186/2013, extended to grandchildren in 2019) lets descendants of former Czech/Czechoslovak citizens reclaim it.
Where it's processed
A single national authority
🇨🇿 Regional authority / Prague 1 / Czech consulate
Regional authority / Prague 1 / Czech consulate
Czech Republic processes descent applications centrally through one national authority, rather than routing them through consulates.
See mailing instructionsTools & guides
Plan your application
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
🇨🇿 Not sure where to start?
See if you qualify in about two minutes.
A personalized answer based on your specific line of descent. No passport or ID uploads — ever.