How to obtain Slovak citizenship based on Slovak ancestry?

Were your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents Czechoslovak citizens born on the territory of Slovakia? Good news! In that case, you may also qualify for Slovak citizenship. Here’s how:

Verify eligibility for citizenship
As a first step, check whether at least one of your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents was a Czechoslovak citizen born on the territory of present-day Slovakia.

Obtain the Required Documents
You will need the following documents:

Ancestor’s birth certificate: Proves the place of birth within Slovakia.

Proof of ancestor’s Czechoslovak citizenship: This can be a passport, domicile certificate, census sheet, or citizenship certificate issued by Czechoslovak or Slovak authorities.

Documents proving the family relationship: Birth and marriage certificates that confirm your direct lineage to the ancestor.

If you do not have these documents, you can obtain them from registry offices, parish offices, or state archives in Slovakia. For instance, census sheets are still stored in archives and can help prove your ancestor’s citizenship.

Obtain a residence permit in Slovakia
According to the law, you must have a residence permit in Slovakia. You can apply for permanent residence at the appropriate department of the Foreigners’ Police or consider temporary residence—for example, for studies, employment, or specific activities. It’s sufficient to be granted residence; you don’t need to actually live in Slovakia. Ideally, you should obtain residence before applying for citizenship.

Submit an application for Slovak citizenship
The application must be submitted in person at the District Office in the regional capital, at the Department of General Administration, according to your place of residence in Slovakia. The application must include:

• A completed application form for Slovak citizenship.
• A detailed structured CV.
• A valid ID.
• Birth certificate.
• Proof of marital status (e.g., marriage certificate, divorce decree).
• Certificate of good conduct: Extracts from the criminal register of countries where you have lived in the past 15 years.
• Documents proving Slovak ancestry: Documents obtained in step 2.

Attend an interview and demonstrate Slovak language proficiency
When submitting the application, you will need to demonstrate your Slovak language skills through an interview. For applications based on Slovak ancestry, the language requirement may be less strict.

Pay the administrative fee
An administrative fee is charged for submitting the citizenship application. The fee amount and payment method are listed in the Schedule of Administrative Fees.

Wait for the decision
Once the application is submitted, the assessment process begins, which may take several months. The Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic considers various factors, including state security and your integration into society. After approval, you will be granted Slovak citizenship and can apply for Slovak identity documents, such as an ID card and passport.