Regaining Czech Citizenship for Descendants of Former Czechs: Options and Process
Have you ever dreamed of returning to your Czech roots?
Throughout history, many Czechs and their descendants have lost their Czech (or Czechoslovak) citizenship for various reasons, including politically motivated events or the conclusion of international treaties. If you are among the descendants of these former Czech (Czechoslovak) citizens who, for example, acquired US citizenship as a result of the Naturalization Convention between Czechoslovakia and the USA from 1928, you might be interested in whether there is a way for you or your children to regain Czech citizenship.
Czech citizenship acquired by declaration according to Section 31 of the Citizenship Act
The key provision for descendants of former Czech citizens is Section 31 of Act No. 186/2013 Coll., on the Citizenship of the Czech Republic. This provision allows not only former Czech or Czechoslovak citizens to acquire Czech citizenship by declaration, but also their descendants (children and grandchildren) who have never held Czech or Czechoslovak citizenship.
Conditions for descendants
In order for a descendant of a former Czech citizen to acquire Czech citizenship by declaration, the following conditions must be met:
- At least one of their parents or grandparents is or was a former Czech or Czechoslovak citizen who lost this citizenship before January 1, 2014.
- The loss of citizenship by the ancestor must not have been due to the Constitutional Decree of the President of the Republic on the Adjustment of Czechoslovak Citizenship of Persons of German and Hungarian Nationality or under the Treaty between the Czechoslovak Republic and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Carpathian Ukraine.
- The descendant is not a citizen of the Slovak Republic on the date of making the declaration.
Documents required for submitting a declaration
To submit a declaration, it is necessary to submit, among other things, documents proving the family relationship to the ancestor (birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates), as well as a document proving the date and manner in which the ancestor (parent or grandparent) lost their Czech or Czechoslovak citizenship. Such a process is often very time-consuming and requires the assistance of archives or registry offices in the Czech Republic. In the case of minor children, the consent of the other parent to the acquisition of citizenship is required, or a court decision appointing a guardian. The consent of children over the age of 15 is required.
Frequent case: Loss of citizenship due to the Naturalization Convention with the USA
If your ancestors lost their Czech citizenship due to acquiring US citizenship based on the Naturalization Convention of 1928, the aforementioned provision of Section 31 very likely applies to you. Descendants of these individuals have the right to acquire Czech citizenship by declaration, provided that all legal conditions are met.
Why contact a law firm?
The process of acquiring citizenship by declaration can be complex and requires careful preparation and fulfillment of all legal requirements. Our law firm specializes in immigration law and has extensive experience in successfully guiding clients through the entire process of acquiring citizenship.
We offer you:
- Comprehensive assessment of your case: We will evaluate your specific situation and verify whether you meet all the conditions for acquiring citizenship by declaration.
- Preparation and submission of the declaration: We will help you prepare all the necessary documents and ensure their correct submission to the relevant authority.
- Representation in proceedings: We will represent you throughout the entire administrative process and communicate with the authorities on your behalf.
- Expert advice: We will provide you with legal advice on all matters relating to the acquisition of citizenship and, if necessary, assistance with obtaining the necessary documents.
Do not hesitate to contact us
If you are interested in obtaining more information about acquiring Czech citizenship for yourself or your descendants, please contact our immigration and citizenship law team led by Solers legal partner Petr Merta at [email protected] . We will be happy to provide you with professional assistance and guide you through the entire process.
