Descent / Czechoslovak lineage · decided by Ministry of Interior
Slovak citizenship by descent
Slovakia can grant citizenship to descendants — to a great-grandparent — of a Czechoslovak citizen born in Slovak territory, with no language test and dual citizenship allowed. Since the 15 July 2026 reform, no Slovak residence permit is required first. This route is a ministerial grant rather than a right: the Interior Ministry states there is no legal entitlement to it even when every condition is met. Check whether you qualify, build your lineage, and get a primary-source-backed document checklist and cost estimate.
🇸🇰 Born in Slovak lands
Descendants to a great-grandparent of a Czechoslovak citizen born in Slovakia can acquire citizenship — no language test.
Eligibility
Who may qualify
An ancestor (to great-grandparent) who was a Czechoslovak citizen born in Slovak territory.
No language or knowledge test; dual citizenship allowed.
No Slovak residence permit needed — the 15 July 2026 reform (§7(8)) removed that step. You must never have held Slovak citizenship.
The general conditions still apply
The reform waived only the residence condition. Good character, the absence of criminal, expulsion, extradition and asylum-withdrawal proceedings, and compliance with Slovak tax, insurance and residence obligations are all still assessed by the ministry.
A decision, not an entitlement
The Interior Ministry decides each application against the interests of the Slovak Republic and states there is no legal claim to the grant even once the statutory conditions are met. Meeting the descent conditions is what gets an application in.
More distant ancestors don't qualify under the standard route.
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 Slovakia
What makes Slovakia different
Descent to the great-grandparent
The 2022 law opened citizenship to descendants — out to great-grandchildren — of a Czechoslovak citizen born in Slovak territory.
No language or knowledge test
The descent route waives the exams standard naturalization requires; dual citizenship is allowed.
Birthplace in Slovak territory is key
The qualifying ancestor must have been a Czechoslovak citizen born in what is today Slovakia.
Fee scales with distance
About €30 for a parent or grandparent claim, but roughly €1,000 at the great-grandparent tier.
No residence permit needed
Since the 15 July 2026 reform (§7(8)), applicants no longer need to hold a Slovak residence permit before applying — documentary proof of the ancestor's Czechoslovak citizenship governs.
By ancestor path
Your relationship to the Slovak ancestor determines which rules apply
Through your parent
A parent who was a Czechoslovak citizen born in Slovakia (€30 fee tier).
See requirements 02GRANDPARENTThrough your grandparent
Same €30 tier; document the chain and the ancestor's Slovak birthplace.
See requirements 03GREAT-GRANDPARENTThrough your great-grandparent
The maximum reach (a higher ~€1,000 fee applies).
See requirementsProcess
How to apply
- 1
Confirm the ancestor
Establish a Czechoslovak-citizen ancestor (to great-grandparent) born in Slovak territory.
- 2
Gather records
Collect birth and marriage certificates for the chain and proof of the ancestor's Slovak birthplace and citizenship.
- 3
Translate and legalize
Provide Slovak translations and apostille/legalize foreign documents.
- 4
Confirm you were never Slovak
The route is open only to applicants who have never held Slovak citizenship; no Slovak residence permit is required (removed by the 15 July 2026 reform).
- 5
File with the Ministry of the Interior
Submit the application with the fee tier matching your generation.
- 6
Allow up to ~24 months
Track the case and respond to any requests.
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 Slovakia citizenship
- Records are legible and translated where needed
- No broken-chain events (renunciation, timing gaps)
Talk to a specialist
$149- 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
- ≈ €30 (parent/grandparent); ≈ €1,000 (great-grandparent)
- Typical timeline
- Up to ~24 months
- Where
- Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic
Key dates & laws
The rules that decide your case
1 Apr 2022
Act 40/1993 amendment opened descent to grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
15 Jul 2026
Act No. 128/2026 replaced §7(2)(j) with §7(8), removing the residence-permit requirement for the descent route.
Great-grandparent max
More distant ancestors fall outside the standard descent provision.
Where it's processed
A single national authority
🇸🇰 Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic
Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic
Slovakia processes descent applications centrally through one national authority, rather than routing them through consulates.
See mailing instructionsTools & guides
Plan your application
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
🇸🇰 Not sure where to start?
See if you qualify in about a minute.
A personalized answer based on your specific line of descent. No passport or ID uploads — ever.