Basic methods and conditions for obtaining Czech citizenship

What will a Czech passport give an immigrant?

United Nations and World Bank ratings rank the Czech Republic among the thirty best livable countries in the world. And this is not surprising, because this is a country with a highly developed economy, a high educational and cultural level of the population, and a decent standard of living. The Czech Republic is also famous (despite its developed industry) for its ecological purity, unique natural beauty and amazing cultural heritage. All these factors attract many immigrants, some of whom plan to subsequently receive a document on Czech citizenship.

Among the main advantages of citizenship of the Czech Republic are the following:

• Citizenship of the Czech Republic also means citizenship of the European Union. Accordingly, along with the passport of the republic, all the benefits that an EU citizen has are acquired;
• The Czech Republic is a full member of the EU and a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, so with a passport from this country you can move freely throughout the European Union;
• Czech citizenship allows you to quickly obtain citizenship of any other country of the European Union;
• a Czech passport opens up the possibility of receiving state social assistance;
• With a passport of the Czech Republic you can visit more than 170 countries without having to resolve visa issues;
• the opportunity for a Czech citizen to do business in all EU countries and interact with European financial organizations is open;
• a Czech citizen can count on priority employment in the Czech Republic and other EU countries;
• Possession of Czech citizenship makes it possible to invite close relatives from Russia or Ukraine to live with you;
• a naturalized Czech citizen has the right to hold positions in government agencies, including government agencies, the army, police, and intelligence services;
• Citizenship means having the right to vote, so the holder of a Czech passport has the opportunity to take an active part in elections - to vote and be elected.

It is also worth noting several negative aspects associated with obtaining citizenship of the republic. Among them:

• Czech citizenship is not easy to obtain;
• prices in the Czech Republic are much higher than, for example, in Russia or Ukraine;
• an immigrant who has acquired Czech citizenship by naturalization may be officially deprived of it (acquisition on a fictitious basis or absence from the country after receiving citizenship for more than eight consecutive years);
• The labor market in the Czech Republic is quite specific; not all professions will be able to find suitable vacancies;
• wages in the Czech Republic are significantly lower than in more developed EU countries.

What will be a plus for an immigrant and what will be a minus is up to him to decide. We have examined only general trends in Czech citizenship. It is quite possible that someone seeks to become a Czech citizen for the subsequent change of citizenship to, say, German or Austrian, considering the process of obtaining a passport of the republic only as an intermediate link...

An immigrant will find many advantages in obtaining Czech citizenship

What does Czech citizenship give to Russian citizens?

The Czech Republic attracts foreign citizens with good living conditions, a high standard of living, opportunities to earn higher wages than in their home country, and the opportunity to travel around the Schengen countries without a visa. It should be noted that the Czech Republic is experiencing rapid economic development and an increase in living standards, which has a positive impact on the lives of both local residents and immigrants. That is why many citizens have a dream - to obtain citizenship of this highly developed country.

The main benefits that Russians will receive:

• the ability to travel around countries that are members of the European Union;
• expedited processing of applications for citizenship of a European country;
• the opportunity to get a good education at the best Czech or European universities;
• the opportunity to receive a soft loan to pay for higher education;
• a diploma of education in the Czech Republic is highly valued and recognized in other countries;
• the opportunity to become a property owner;
• social security;
• having the right to vote and the ability to influence the political and economic situation in the country;
• Czech citizens can open an account in any European country;
• the ability to get a loan at a low interest rate in any European country;
• employees with Czech citizenship have a privilege in obtaining the desired position;
• registering your own business is much easier than for foreign citizens;
• The procedure for obtaining an American visa is simplified, and the likelihood of receiving a positive response increases.

What are the preparatory stages when acquiring Czech citizenship?

The actual filing of an application for Czech citizenship is preceded by a rather complex and lengthy procedure. With naturalization, an immigrant must meet many requirements and go through several immigration steps. The first of these will be legal entry into the country on the basis of an entry permit - a visa. To do this, you will need a Schengen or national long-term visa, classified as category D. A Schengen visa implies the possibility of a short-term visit to the Czech Republic. The need for a visa exists for both Russians and Ukrainians who do not have biometric passports. For subsequent immigration, the type of visa permit obtained must be similar to the purpose of the visit.

The general rule of the European Union states that in the case where a citizen of a third country plans to stay in the territory of a member state of the European Union for more than three months, he will need to obtain a residence permit. In the Czech Republic there is a temporary residence permit and a permanent residence permit (PR). The validity of a temporary residence permit for the vast majority of applicants is one year, after which it will need to be renewed annually. Holders of the European Union Blue Card can apply for a residence permit for two years at once when working in the Czech Republic and subsequently renew it for the same period. You can extend your immigration status only if there are sufficient grounds for this.

After five years with a residence permit, you can apply for permanent residence. This will be a permanent residence permit, which will be issued on an indefinite basis. The permanent residence document itself will require periodic renewal every five years.

Having spent five years in the Czech Republic as a permanent resident of this country, a foreigner can begin to obtain citizenship. You can submit an application only after five years of permanent residence, but provided that the last year was spent almost entirely in the Czech Republic. You are allowed to be absent from the country for a maximum of three months during this period. In total, the residency requirement in the republic is 10 years, the first half of which is spent with a residence permit, and the second with permanent residence. There are several categories of applicants who can obtain citizenship in an accelerated manner, but we will talk about them below.

Video: the pros and cons of living in the Czech Republic

Citizenship of the Czech Republic, or life in a country of contrasts

One of the closest and friendliest countries for Russians turns out to be far from the most accessible. And God bless her - a Schengen visa for an ordinary tourist trip. The registration procedure is not that scary or complicated. We are talking about how to obtain citizenship in the Czech Republic. The country is very attractive for living, but it is quite stingy when it comes to presenting your passports. But changes in the current migration legislation promise to turn the situation for the better in 2021.

Despite the fact that recent changes in the legislation of the republic were supposed to make this procedure more transparent, it cannot be called completely successful. Loopholes still remain for the Chekhovs who carefully preserve the purity of the nation. However, bureaucratic barriers to obtaining the coveted passport have been reduced.

Sample of Czech passport

What changed in Czech legislation in 2014

In 2014, Czech legislators made some changes to the Citizenship Law, approved by President Milos Zeman. The main message of this regulatory act was that the Czech state is not obliged to issue citizenship only on the basis that its applicants comply with all the necessary requirements. Thus, the law established the right to deny citizenship to foreigners if the Czech state considers this appropriate for any reason. Of course, such an innovation was negatively perceived by immigrants. But the second innovation was a balm for their wounds. Since the beginning of 2014, the Czech Republic has officially allowed dual citizenship, so when acquiring Czech citizenship, Russians or Ukrainians do not have to necessarily renounce their citizenship of the Russian Federation or Ukraine.

More detailed information regarding the location and contacts of Czech diplomatic missions in the CIS countries can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of this country.

Theoretically, you can get a job where knowledge of Czech is not required, but to fully resolve issues you need Czech. Don’t forget that the Czech Republic is still not Western Europe; people here will understand you in English in many places, but basically everyone speaks only Czech. I strongly doubt the effectiveness of many Czech language courses held in Prague, but no one has yet canceled self-study. For me, the best Czech language textbook was Česky krok za krokem 2, after which I immediately started speaking the language. I also advise everyone to watch Czech TV if possible, especially news, as well as films in cinemas in Czech.

Ksenia Alekseeva

https://inostranno.ru/2015/01/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-life-in-czech/

Multiple citizenship

Due to the fact that the new citizenship law abolished the mandatory renunciation of previous citizenship, as well as the automatic renunciation of Czech citizenship in the case of voluntary acquisition of a third-country passport, many perceived this as an opportunity to acquire dual citizenship status.

This actually opens up the possibility of multiple, but not dual, citizenship. Thus, dual citizenship is possible only if two countries mutually recognize persons holding their passports at the same time as their own citizens on the basis of an international treaty.

Simply put, Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians and other foreigners have the right to retain their past citizenship (unless the legislation of their homeland provides otherwise) when receiving a Czech passport. However, both the authorities of the Czech Republic and the authorities of the country of origin will consider such bipatrids exclusively as their citizens.

What are the main methods you can use to obtain Czech citizenship?

Judging by everything that has been said above, a one hundred percent guarantee of obtaining Czech citizenship exists only by birthright. In other cases, with natural naturalization, applicants for a Czech passport can count on becoming a citizen of the republic only with a high degree of probability. In practice, the possibility of refusing Czech citizenship existed before; only in 2014 it was enshrined in law.

So, Czech citizenship can be obtained:

• at birth;
• with naturalization.

Czech citizenship and social adaptation

These are not separate rules and regulations, but a whole set of requirements that may seem simple only from the outside. We do not provide an exhaustive list of each item with detailed explanations, since it is quite difficult to understand the legal intricacies on your own. Knowing about their existence is one thing, but being able to put them into practice is quite another.

Where and how can you confirm your language knowledge (at an interview, there are some exceptions related to age, health conditions and length of study):

• Charles University, Institute of Language and Professional Training.
• Any language courses that have state accreditation.
• A diploma from a Czech university (provided that the studies were conducted in Czech).
• Certificate of language proficiency (class B1 and above). It must be issued by an organization certified by ALTE (The Association of Language Testers of Europe).

What knowledge should you demonstrate during the Czech orientation test (the conditions are the same as for the language test):

• Fundamentals of the constitutional system.
• Cultural and social realities.
• Facts about the culture, geography and history of the Czech Republic.

Information confirming the existence of legal sources of income (relevant for adult applicants, ask our experts for a list of required documents):

• Amounts and available sources:
• Tax deductions.
• Funds coming from abroad.

We would like to point out that you will not be given Czech citizenship if you receive any social payments.

Possible exceptions:

• Pregnancy, childbirth, baby care.
• Caring for the disabled.
• Vocational and/or specialized training.
• Health status.

Obtaining Czech citizenship by birth

A child who was born on Czech territory, and his parents or one of them was a Czech citizen, is automatically assigned citizenship of this country. In the same way, children who were found within the Czech borders, but their parents could not be identified, can apply for it. They fall under state guardianship and, accordingly, become Czech citizens, but only if their real parents are not declared before they reach the age of five. In this case, the possibility of Czech citizenship will be considered through the prism of the citizenship of the parents.

The Czech authorities will also grant citizenship of their country to the children of persons who do not have any citizenship at all (stateless persons). Children adopted by Czech families will also automatically receive Czech citizenship.

There is an opinion among immigrants that you can come to the Czech Republic, give birth to a child there, and he will subsequently automatically become a subject of this developed European state. It is not surprising that mothers from third countries try to take advantage of the Czech healthcare system, which is recognized as one of the best in Europe. But in practice, the law does not give any advantages to children born within the Czech borders if their parents are not holders of Czech passports. “Right of soil” is not enshrined in Czech citizenship legislation.

Prerequisites

The issue of second citizenship in the Czech Republic is extremely acute, because During the years of Soviet power and after the collapse of Czechoslovakia, an impressive number of its citizens left the country; at the moment, a quarter of Czechs live outside the Czech Republic (3 out of 12 million). For example, the coming to power of the Communists forced Madeleine Albright's parents to move to the United States and she subsequently became Foreign Minister in the government of Bill Clinton. Her father was an employee of the Czechoslovak Foreign Ministry, and during World War II he served as an adviser to President Edvard Benes while stationed in London. After the end of the war, he and his family returned to Czechoslovakia, then served as ambassador to Yugoslavia, but due to his anti-communist sentiments, with the Soviet Union forcing the communists to come to power in 1948, he was forced to emigrate to the USA. He was sentenced to death by the communists, but he obviously wasn’t very worried about this in exile and therefore worked at the university in Denver as a professor of political science; among his students one can single out Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State in the government of George W. Bush. In general, Czech traces are not difficult to notice in the USA, because Famous Czech Americans include the last astronaut to walk on the moon, Eugene Cernan, McDonald's owner Ray Kroc, director Milos Forman, the first American saint John Nepomuk Neumann, and others.

At all times, the Czechs had an extremely positive attitude towards emigration, and if a person wants to go abroad, even for a long time, then no one will ever shout after him “Traitor!”, no one will accuse him of the so-called. "sausage emigration" Each person traveling outside the country carries a piece of his native culture and language, expands contacts of the world community with his people, acquaints them with his language and customs. The second important fact from the words of the Czechs living in the Czech Republic is that thanks to living abroad, representatives of the people acquire new knowledge, absorb innovations, adopt the best examples, and if in the future it is the will of the representative of the people, he will return with this useful knowledge to his homeland and improve her life.

The previous law “On Citizenship” did not allow Czechs who went abroad to retain their citizenship. They were forced to renounce it in order to obtain voluntary citizenship in the countries where they moved. The only exceptions were cases of forced acquisition of citizenship, for example, when marrying a US citizen. It should be noted that the Czechs did not leave abroad because of a good life; Czechoslovakia bordered the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria, so people were well aware of the differences between the Soviet regime and the Western regime that was familiar to the Czechs.

Naturalization

If you are unlucky enough to be born in the Czech Republic, then in this case there are several ways to become a holder of Czech citizenship through naturalization. Let's take a closer look at them.

Video: life in the Czech Republic and obtaining Czech citizenship

Citizenship and marriage

Obtaining Czech citizenship by marrying a citizen of this country is one of the most effective methods of acquiring Czech citizenship.

If the marriage took place in one of the third countries outside the European Union, then it must be legalized according to Czech laws. Legalization of a document costs around 50 euros, and the procedure itself takes from three days to a week. The first step of a foreign spouse on the path to obtaining a Czech passport will be obtaining a residence permit. In the Czech Republic, a foreign spouse can immediately become a permanent resident of the country. You must live in this status for three years, after which you have the right to apply for citizenship. A characteristic feature in this case will be that the status of permanent residence of a foreign spouse is not issued on an indefinite basis. If the marriage is dissolved, then, accordingly, he loses the right of permanent residence in the Czech Republic.

Ridiculous marriage unions will definitely be under the vigilant control of the Czech migration service, which is well aware that immigrants from the CIS countries have a bad habit of entering into fictitious marriages with Czech citizens and thus obtaining citizenship of their country. Therefore, before obtaining citizenship, you can expect frequent visits from migration officers, secret surveys of neighbors by employees of this service, and the possibility of using other indirect methods of collecting information about a new family in which one of the spouses is still a citizen of a third country. If a child is born in a marriage, then, naturally, all suspicions that such a union is fictitious disappear. Obtaining Czech citizenship by fraudulent means is a criminal offense.

Czech laws only recognize marriages that are officially registered.

Czech laws only recognize marriages that are officially registered

Obtaining Czech citizenship by nationals of any country of the European Union occurs according to an accelerated procedure. They can immediately obtain a permanent residence permit, which requires them to live in the Czech Republic for only three years. This category also includes Swiss citizens, subjects of the Kingdom of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Family bonds

Living in the Czech Republic of close relatives represents an excellent chance for immigration to this country and the possibility of naturalization in it.

To do this, you will need to ask your Czech relatives to issue an invitation to move. Inviting persons must have an immigration status of at least permanent residents of the republic, and also have sufficient funds to provide assistance to the invited relatives. It is likely that at the initial stage of living in the Czech Republic, relatives will need housing and material support, for which they can only apply to the relatives who invited them. The latter should also facilitate the integration of foreigners into Czech society as much as possible. All this will need to be formalized in the form of a written guarantee when drawing up an invitation at the Czech immigration service, where you should pay a visit along with documents about closely related ties with the invited Russians or Ukrainians, as well as provide their personal data.

Within a three-month period from the moment of arrival in the Czech Republic, foreign relatives must obtain a temporary residence permit. This is followed by the standard naturalization procedure, which for most immigrants, as already mentioned, is 10 years.

Family Reunification Program - a confident path to Czech citizenship

Citizenship for repatriates

Czech laws provide for a simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship for ethnic Czechs living outside their historical homeland. If a Russian and a Ukrainian have documentary evidence that they have Czech blood flowing in them, then they can contact the diplomatic mission of the republic in their country and request the opportunity to participate in the immigration program for repatriates. Documentary evidence can be any paper that confirms that the applicants’ parents, their paternal or maternal grandparents were once citizens of Czechoslovakia.

If, after checking the provided information and documents by the Czech authorities, a positive conclusion is made about the applicant’s possibility of participating in the relevant immigration program, then he will be issued a certificate of Czech roots. Having already arrived in the Czech Republic, the certificate holder can apply for permanent residence to the migration service. In this status, he will only need to live in the Czech Republic for two years, but during this time he must sufficiently learn the state language and confirm this during the appropriate testing, as well as pass a test for integration into Czech society. If you successfully pass the test, you can apply for Czech citizenship two years after arrival.

Immigrants are often irritated by the selective attitude of the Czech authorities when issuing citizenship to foreigners. My friends visited the Czech Republic, living there for five years, but they did not even apply for citizenship of this country. But they were able to communicate with their fellow immigrants who had already received Czech passports, as well as those who were just on their way. In particular, among immigrants from the CIS, everyone is hearing about the case when the famous restaurateur Shaokang Hu, who has been running his business in the Czech Republic for 18 years, regularly pays taxes, and provides jobs for Czechs and labor migrants, was denied citizenship. He remained a Chinese subject, having only the status of a permanent resident of the Czech Republic. But tennis player Ivan Lindl, who was once deprived of citizenship by the Czech communists due to his immigration to the United States, was granted citizenship in just a year. Unfortunately, Czech citizenship for the majority of foreigners living in the republic will remain an unattainable dream in the future. According to Eurostat, which monitors the difficulty of obtaining citizenship in all EU countries, Czech citizenship is the most difficult to obtain. It is easier to obtain a passport from Germany, France or the Netherlands. Even in Estonia, which is very reluctant to give out its passports to foreigners, it is much easier to obtain citizenship than in the Czech Republic. According to this indicator, the Czech Republic on the European continent was only ahead of Switzerland, which, by the way, is not part of the European Union. Therefore, information on the difficulty of obtaining citizenship in the Swiss Confederation was not provided by Eurostat. The subjective attitude of the Czech authorities is largely determined by how useful a potential new citizen can be to the Czech Republic. If this is a famous scientist, writer, teacher of a higher educational institution with a scientific degree, then he has a high chance of becoming the owner of a Czech passport. If we are talking about a construction worker or an ordinary system administrator, then often neither compliance with the residency requirement nor other conditions will provide the opportunity to become a Czech citizen. Perhaps it is the rigidity of Czech immigration and citizenship laws that makes the Czech Republic far from the most attractive country for immigration, if you look at this process from the point of view of Russians or Ukrainians.

Restoration of citizenship

For foreigners who were once Czech subjects and have lost their Czech citizenship, it is possible to regain Czech citizenship if it has not been revoked by a decision of the government of the Czech Republic. In this case, it will be necessary to prove that the applicant previously held a Czech passport. Similar conditions for immigration and obtaining Czech citizenship are designed for those who, for whatever reason, have left Czech citizenship. For example, this could be marriage to a foreign citizen, adoption by a foreign family, and so on.

Upon restoration of citizenship, the applicant must contact the Czech Immigration Service and submit a corresponding application with a request to restore him to the rights of a Czech citizen. If the authorities satisfy the application, then the person restoring citizenship will immediately be issued a permanent residence permit, which requires living in the Czech Republic for only a year. After its expiration, you have the opportunity to apply for citizenship. Persons restoring Czech citizenship do not need to undergo testing for knowledge of the Czech language and integration into society.

Obtaining a Czech passport is not an easy task

Citizenship and refugee status

Becoming a refugee in the Czech Republic is not easy, but it is still possible. Substantial evidence will be required that in the country from which the migrant was forced to flee, he and his family are in danger of life, health or freedom. We can talk about political persecution, persecution for religion or belonging to any social group, or armed conflict in the migrant’s homeland. The issue of issuing refugee status will be considered for six months. If the authorities make a positive decision, the forced migrant is given refugee status for five years. It does not require periodic renewal, and also provides its owner with many social benefits.

After five years, an assessment of the situation in the refugee's home country must be carried out by immigration authorities. Based on its results, a decision is made on whether the refugee will be recommended to return to his homeland or not. In the latter case, he is assigned the status of a permanent resident of the Czech Republic, in which he must live for at least five years before requesting citizenship.

An immigrant here is automatically perceived as an enemy who has come to take something away - a job, for example - or harm in some other way, that is, you are by definition bad in advance. The local population does not like visitors, especially people from the former CIS are not held in high esteem. The reaction to the Russian or Ukrainian language can be extremely harsh: they may ignore the request or simply be rude. Money softens aggression: a wealthy person can live in Prague for a long time without feeling a negative attitude.

Anna Kudelya

https://www.obozrevatel.com/travel/news/52436-ispoved-emigranta-kak-zhivetsya-ukrainke-v-chehii.htm

Is it possible to become a citizen when purchasing real estate?

If Russian or Ukrainian migrants purchase real estate in the Czech Republic, then its ownership in no way affects the acquisition of citizenship. More precisely, this influence can only be indirect.

When applying for immigration status, it is necessary to prove that the immigrant has a place to live in the Czech Republic. You can show a long-term rental agreement, but providing documents that the status applicant is the owner of the property will be a definite advantage for him and will greatly facilitate the issuance of a temporary or permanent residence permit. Also, real estate ownership will be a very positive factor when the Czech authorities decide to grant citizenship to its owner.

If Russian or Ukrainian migrants purchase real estate in the Czech Republic, then its ownership in no way affects the acquisition of citizenship

Investments in the economy

The Czech economy has shown stable growth rates over recent years. For example, in 2021 this figure was 3.7%, and, according to forecasts of the International Monetary Fund, in 2018 its growth will be 4.6%. In many ways, such high figures were achieved thanks to the pragmatic policy of the Czech government to attract foreign investment. To a large extent, this is facilitated by the immigration program designed for foreign investors.

Czech immigration laws provide for several special programs. The minimum threshold for participation in the relevant immigration program is from 500 thousand euros. Foreign investors who are ready to invest such funds must contact the country's Ministry of Economic Development and submit applications for investment. Over the course of three months, they will be reviewed by Ministry officials, assessing the possible benefits for the economic development of the country, as well as the expected efficiency of capital in the economy. If their findings are positive, then, based on the conclusion issued by the Ministry, investors will be able to first obtain investor visas, and subsequently receive a residence permit for a period of one year, which can be subsequently extended several times for two years. Subsequently, the possibility of obtaining permanent residence and citizenship is open to foreign investors.

If capital owners are ready to invest at least 2 million euros in the Czech economy, then they have the right to immediately request a permanent residence permit. After five years, they have the opportunity to obtain citizenship.

Foreign investors who have shown particular “generosity” and are willing to place €10 million or more can immediately apply for citizenship of the Czech Republic.

The conditions for obtaining citizenship are directly tied to the size of the investment. If a foreign owner of capital applies for an accelerated naturalization procedure, he must apply directly to the Czech government with a corresponding application. And only on the basis of his decision, investors are issued either permanent residence or citizenship. Along with the main applicants, members of their families also have the right to obtain a residence permit, permanent residence or citizenship.

A Russian driver's license can be exchanged for a Czech one just like that, without retakes. Moreover, for a period of 10 years from the date of receipt of Czech rights.

Gregory

https://zdravim.com/2010/03/09/plyusy-i-minusy-zhizni-v-chekhii/

Special Merits

Czech citizenship for special merits can be issued by the President of the Czech Republic. This provision appeared in immigration legislation only in 2013. Possible candidates could be world-famous scientists, athletes who have achieved success in international competitions under the flag of the Czech Republic, artists... In this case, there are no additional requirements, such as passing language or immigration testing, and so on.

The Czech Republic no longer requires renunciation of previous citizenship, but this does not mean that later you will not have problems in the country where you originally had citizenship. Ukraine, for example, prohibits (does not allow) a citizen of Ukraine to have another citizenship and considers him only its citizen. Allegedly, there have already been precedents when Ukrainian citizens tried to cross the state border with passports of Poland or Hungary. They were accused of violating the constitution and passport regime. So, the fears are not so unjustified and it is worth considering whether you need to visit the country or not. If necessary, you should think about renewing your passport immediately before obtaining citizenship or during the proceedings. Thus, you will have about 10 years left to deal with unresolved issues in your “former” homeland.

wlad_1978

https://pora-valit.livejournal.com/3278124.html

Conditions and grounds for obtaining a Czech passport

The grounds and conditions for obtaining Czech citizenship are determined by the provisions (ZÁKON o státním občanství České republiky, hereinafter referred to as Law No. 186/2013).

In accordance with §3 of Law No. 186/2013, legal status can be acquired in the following ways:

1. as a result of birth from at least one Czech parent;
2. as a result of establishing paternity of a Czech citizen;
3. as a result of adoption by Czech citizens or at least one of them;
4. as a result of detection on the territory of the Czech Republic;
5. as a result of naturalization and granting of citizenship;
6. by restoring lost Czech or Czechoslovak citizenship;
7. as a result of the establishment of guardianship, trusteeship or other substitute form of family education.

The most obvious way for foreigners to acquire Czech citizenship is naturalization. This is a long-term process, and its obligatory condition is long-term residence in the country. Therefore, local migration legislation provides for a number of preferential programs for foreigners that provide grounds for preferential registration of a residence permit. We propose to dwell in more detail on the main grounds for obtaining citizenship and preferential conditions for legal migration.

Naturalization and granting of citizenship

Any foreigner or stateless person who has permanent residence on the territory of the republic has the right to apply for citizenship if he meets the conditions established by law.
Paragraph 13 of Law No. 186/2013 allows this if the foreigner is integrated into Czech society in terms of family relations, work activity and social ties. At the same time, he must have a permanent place of residence in the Czech Republic:

• for at least five years;
• for at least three years if he is a citizen of another EU country;
• for at least ten years, together with previous permanent residence, the basis for legal residence in the Czech Republic (residence permit);

Children of Ukrainian citizens or any other foreigners who have not reached the age of majority can gain the specified length of residence on any basis, and not just permanent residence. The total duration of actual residence in the country must be at least half of the period indicated above, and individual periods of absence must be no more than 2 months in a row or 6 months if they are due to difficult circumstances (study, illness, business trips, etc.).

Other mandatory conditions, according to § 14 of Law No. 186/2013, include:

• Mandatory knowledge of the Czech language, confirmed by a state exam. This requirement does not apply to foreigners who have studied at least 3 years in middle or high school with compulsory language teaching, to children under 15 years of age, pensioners, over 65 years of age, as well as persons who, due to physical disabilities, cannot learn the language.
• Demonstration of basic knowledge of the fundamentals of the constitutional and legal system of the Czech Republic, cultural, historical, social and geographical features. Students of Czech schools, children under 15 years of age, pensioners and disabled people are exempt from this condition.
• Absence during the 3 years preceding the application of serious violations of migration, labor and tax laws, violated obligations for social security and health insurance, as well as for the maintenance of children who have permanent residence in the Czech Republic.
• Demonstration of sufficient income from legal sources for the last 3 years prior to the date of application.
• No need for significant social assistance without valid reasons from the state during the 3 years preceding the application. We are talking about cases when a foreigner lives solely on social benefits, which does not apply to cases of disability, training, pregnancy, childbirth, caring for a child or a close relative in need of such care.

However, § 15 of Law No. 186/2013 provides for exceptions that will allow you to become a Czech citizen without meeting certain conditions. For example, without observing a mandatory period of residence (3, 5 or 10 years), holders of permanent residence can obtain citizenship provided that they were born in the Czech Republic, were citizens of Czechoslovakia or the Czech Socialist Republic, and received the right to reside in the country for humanitarian reasons.

For one reason or another, other mandatory conditions may also be waived. For example, if the applicant has eliminated the harm he caused, he will be able to obtain a passport even if during the previous three years he has seriously violated migration, labor and other legislation or the obligations imposed on him.

In addition, § 16 of the law allows foreigners to be admitted to Czech citizenship without meeting most conditions, if he has permanent residence and has made a significant contribution to the scientific, educational, cultural and other life of the republic.

Right to citizenship at birth and other grounds for children

Paragraph 4 of Law No. 186/2013 gives the right to citizenship by birth to every child whose at least one parent at the time of his birth is Czech according to his passport, regardless of his place of birth.

In addition, a child born in the Czech Republic to stateless persons or foreigners also becomes a Czech citizen, if otherwise he would become stateless; provided that at least one of the parents has the right to remain in the republic for a period exceeding 90 days.

However, as mentioned above, there are other grounds for acquiring citizenship for children. In particular, the child becomes a citizen of the Czech Republic:

• on the day of the final court decision establishing paternity of a Czech citizen or the day of filing a voluntary declaration of paternity if the child’s mother is a foreigner (§ 6, 7 of Law 186/2013);
• as a result of adoption, if at least one of the adoptive parents of a foreign child is Czech, including in cases where the adoption takes place outside the Czech Republic, provided that Czech law recognizes such adoption (§ 8, 9 of the law);
• as a result of the presence of a child under 3 years of age in the territory of the Chechen Republic (for example, a foundling), if state authorities are unable to identify his identity.

Czech citizenship by marriage

For foreigners and stateless persons who are married or in a registered civil partnership (registrovaný partner) with Czech citizens, preferential conditions are provided for acquiring citizenship. In accordance with § 15 of the law, such persons, if they have a permit for permanent residence in the Czech Republic, have the right to become citizens without complying with the requirement for a mandatory period of residence (3, 5, 10 years). The main thing is that the foreigner lives at the same address with such a spouse or civil partner, lives together and has a permanent place of residence in the Czech Republic.

When living together, but living separately with a Czech spouse or partner, a foreigner has the right to apply for the cancellation of the condition of mandatory actual residence in the Czech Republic for at least half of the declared period.

Moreover, marriage or civil partnership with a Czech is the basis for a foreigner to obtain a long-term residence permit. On its basis, you can obtain permanent residence, and after that, become a citizen of the Czech Republic.

Business Immigration Program

Recently, Czech legislation has been supplemented with new regulations providing for the issuance of long-term residence permits for investors. Thus, it gives the right to a long-term residence permit to foreigners who:

• are entrepreneurs;
• intend to implement investments that are expressed in significant capital investments and job creation in the amount determined by the government;
• ready to implement reliable and feasible investments for the benefit of the state, region and municipality (confirmed by a business plan)
• are ready to invest at least CZK 75 million and create at least 20 jobs.

Foreign partners of Czech investors and members of the statutory bodies of Czech companies are also entitled to a residence permit for investors. Ordinary businessmen have the opportunity to obtain a residence permit for commercial purposes.

But when purchasing real estate, despite the massive dissemination of such information, a Czech residence permit is not issued. Until 2009, on the contrary, a foreigner needed a residence permit to purchase real estate.

Reunification of foreign families

Paragraph 42a of Law No. 326/1999 provides for the possibility of issuing a long-term residence permit for foreigners for the purpose of reunification with a family or person residing in the Czech Republic. This right belongs to:

• spouse and child of a foreigner residing in the Czech Republic on the basis of a long-term residence permit;
• adopted or warded children of foreigners living in the Czech Republic with a residence permit;
• parent of a minor foreigner who has been granted asylum;
• another relative of a minor refugee if he has no parents;
• a pensioner over 65 years of age or another person, regardless of age, if due to health conditions he is not able to take care of himself on his own and he has family members in the Czech Republic.

The right to reunification arises if a family member lives in the Czech Republic on the basis of a residence permit/permanent residence permit for at least 15 months.

The application is submitted at the embassy at the foreigner’s place of residence, where, if the result is positive, he is issued a short-term visa, with which he enters the Czech Republic and obtains a residence permit.

Residence permit under the “Blue Card”

“Blue card” is a type of residence permit designed for highly qualified specialists. Thanks to such a card, foreigners have the right not only to live, but also to work in the Czech Republic without obtaining additional permission.

By high qualification, the law understands labor activity, the performance of which requires completed higher or higher specialized education, the duration of which is at least three years.

Job vacancies for which Blue Card holders can work can be found. The right to submit such an application is deprived of:

• foreigners who have applied for a residence permit for the purposes of scientific research;
• family members of EU citizens permanently residing in the EU;
• residents of other EU countries living there on the basis of a residence permit for the purpose of employment and doing business;
• holders of a Czech residence permit for the purpose of seasonal work;
• holders of refugee status or asylum seekers, or applicants for a residence permit on these grounds, and so on.

The application is submitted to the Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs and is considered within three months. The validity period of the Blue Card is 3 months longer than the validity of the employment contract, but not more than 2 years.

Permanent residence for asylum seekers

Paragraph 66 of Law No. 326/1999 gives the right to asylum seekers in the Czech Republic to obtain a permanent residence permit. In general cases, this is possible after 5 years of residence based on refugee status.

But if the asylum seeker is the spouse of a Czech (provided that the Czech citizen married the refugee before his entry as an asylum seeker), is a refugee child or a child dependent on the care of the asylum seeker, then he has the right to apply for permanent residence without compliance with the specified period of preliminary residence.

In general, the status of an asylum seeker (manželem azylanta) gives the right to reside in the Czech Republic for 5 years, which are also included in the length of time required to obtain citizenship. One of the reasons for granting asylum and international protection is political persecution and infringement of political rights and freedoms.

Requirements for candidates for Czech citizenship

A candidate for citizenship must:

• be law-abiding and have no problems with Czech legislation, and also not violate the laws of other EU countries, and not have an outstanding criminal record in their homeland;
• not be a carrier of a disease that poses a social danger;
• have sufficient funds to live in the Czech Republic or have a confirmed legal source of income of a sufficient level;
• comply with all conditions for obtaining citizenship in relation to the residency requirement;
• not pose a danger to the Czech state.

Also, a candidate for citizenship cannot be a civil servant of another state, serve in a foreign army or other foreign law enforcement agencies.

Video: salaries and costs in the Czech Republic

The process of obtaining permanent residence in the Czech Republic in 2021

Permanent residence (permanent residence) in the Czech Republic provides a list of privileges for foreigners. Let's figure out who can claim such a tempting status.

About the benefits of permanent residence

Note that permanent residence gives many rights. A foreigner has the opportunity to receive benefits and pension payments, and gain employment on an equal basis with citizens. Children of parents with permanent residence can count on medical care through insurance. But holders of permanent residence status do not have the right to vote.

Let us remind you that permanent residence is only being updated. People who are facing criminal charges and people with large debts can lose their permit.

Who has all the rights

To obtain permission you need to prove your roots. This is possible if you live in a marriage with a Czech for 2 years and take a child of this nationality. It is also necessary to prove that staying in the republic corresponds to state interests. Single parents of a Czech citizen over the age of 65 and minor children of persons with permanent residence are also entitled to special status. But the most common reason is to live in the Czech Republic for 5 years. If a foreigner stays in the republic for study, 1 year goes by 6 months.

Documents and where to submit them

Foreign citizens should personally submit a package of documentation to the Ministry of Internal Affairs - migration department. It is recommended that you pre-register to apply online. On Monday and Wednesday, branches are open from 8:00 to 17:00, on Thursday and Tuesday from 8:00 to 15:00, and on Friday from 8:00 to 12:00 by appointment.

About cost, documentation

To obtain permanent residence in the Czech Republic, persons under 15 years of age will need to pay 1,000 CZK, for others the amount will be 2,500 CZK. Applicants must prepare documents according to the list. Among the most important are:

• application form, international passport, two photos 35x45;
• residence permit card;
• confirmation of the basis for obtaining permission;
• confirmation of provision of housing for at least 10 years or an unlimited period.

You will also need to provide documentary proof of financial support and knowledge of the Czech language. In addition to the card and ID, documents must be no older than 6 months.

Nuances of the question of language

The package is complemented by a certificate of passing the A1 exam. It may not be given to persons under 15 or over 65 years of age and those who suffer from diseases that impair communication skills. University graduates who study in Czech are also exempt from the exam. This also applies to those who have spent at least a year studying in a Czech secondary or primary school or higher education institution over the past 20 years. All this data must be documented, otherwise the exam cannot be avoided.

The rest will need to visit one of the centers by making an online reservation in advance. There are three similar institutions in Prague. The first attempt is free. This means that the special coupon received at the department is provided to the center five days before the test. Retakes cost 1,500 each.

From the beginning of next year, the exam is expected to meet level A2. Reading, writing, and listening speech recognition abilities are now being tested. Here it is important to score at least 60% to move to a higher level. The problem with the exam is the lack of registration a couple of months in advance. I'm not happy with the delivery process either. From the moment of registration you have to spend several hours. But usually tasks take only 25 minutes for the reading part, up to 40 for the listening part, and 15 for the writing part. Oral communication takes no more than 10 minutes.

The certificate is issued on the day of passing the test. But this rule may change as 2021 approaches. The procedure may be subject to special control.

Terms of consideration

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Czech Republic reviews the application and makes a decision within 60 days from the date of its submission. But if questions arise, the applicant may be required to provide additional documentation and temporarily “freeze” the countdown. Foreigners can contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs to get acquainted with the progress of consideration of the application.

If the authorized bodies make a positive decision, they contact the foreigner by telephone and invite him to submit biometric indicators.

If permission is denied

In case of refusal, the person will receive a notification by mail. Within 15 days from this moment he can file an appeal.

Permanent residence is not extended, but is exchanged for a new one. Adults receive a card for 10 years, and children for five years. Departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are responsible for the renewal of documentation. You can sign up for an exchange 3 months before the deadline. The fee is payable in stamps in the amount of CZK 2,500 for an adult and CZK 1,000 for a child. Let us remind you that since the middle of last year the address has not been written on the cards.

Permanent residence is not extended, but is exchanged for a new one.

By birth

In accordance with the legislation of this country, citizenship is awarded in the following situations:

• for children whose mother or father are citizens of the Czech Republic;
• minors born in the country from foreigners with a residence permit;
• children who were born out of wedlock, but the paternity of a Czech citizen was established.

In the latter case, you will need to obtain an appropriate court order and a medical examination decision.

In addition, there should be no evidence of previous granting of citizenship of another state to a young applicant for civil status.

current position

In the 1990s, the country moved from a planned economy to a full-fledged market economy with minimal economic losses, and contacts with key historical partners were restored along the western and southern border. Outstanding economic performance allowed the country to join the EU without delay at the beginning of the 21st century, and subsequently, in the wake of EU investments, the country became on par with the most economically successful regions of the EU.

At the moment, the Czech Republic is an extremely comfortable country to live in, and therefore a huge number of Czechs who emigrated at one time are returning. I myself know at least a dozen or two professors who returned to the Czech Republic from universities in the USA, Germany or Great Britain, where they defended their dissertations and lived and worked for several decades. They do not have the aftertaste of hatred from their compatriots on their lips; they love their country and are happy to develop it. Accordingly, I don’t see any desire of young Czech engineers to go live abroad. Going for a year or two to participate in an interesting project in order to gain new knowledge and contact with a new culture - yes. But it never occurs to any of the people I know to move to another country. Even now, a doctoral student I know well has gone to the UK for a year, but he will unconditionally return, it’s just that an interesting project has turned up in the UK.

Let's return to the returnees. Czechs returning to the country are faced with the fact that in the Czech Republic they cannot restore citizenship in a short time. At best, they can count on quickly obtaining permanent residence, but they must wait for citizenship in the general manner. It is not always possible to wait for it, because... Often people do not break their previous contacts with, for example, the USA and the Czech Republic spend only a third or a quarter of the time of the year, these are the realities of life for highly qualified specialists. Not to mention the fact that a person will renounce US citizenship only if he is not himself. It was impossible to obtain Czech citizenship without losing the previous one.

In connection with the above issues, the Czech authorities decided to take a step towards Czechs living abroad and simplify the process of obtaining citizenship. First of all, to allow the return of Czech citizenship without having to renounce the previous one. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that now many Czech citizens living abroad will finally be able to obtain citizenship of their host countries without having to renounce their native one. In this way, the Czech Republic will essentially maintain contacts with leaving Czech citizens and at the same time accommodate those wishing to return.

Going for a year or two to participate in an interesting project in order to gain new knowledge and contact with a new culture, yes.

Family Reunification Program

If a migrant has been in the Czech Republic for 5 years in a row (legally!), he can bring his closest relatives with him. To do this, you need to prove to the embassy your family ties.

Children, parents, brothers and sisters, and sometimes immediate relatives up to the second generation have the right to move. If a child was born to a Czech father without marriage, he needs to take a DNA test for citizenship.

Having a higher education, a permanent place of work in the state, and having your own savings are welcome.

Package of documents for citizenship

An applicant for Czech citizenship should pay the utmost attention to the selection and preparation of documents included in the basic package when obtaining citizenship. It will include:

• valid and expired passports, as well as their photocopies;
• birth certificate;
• document on marital status (if necessary);
• four color photographs in passport format. They should not have any flaws visible to the naked eye, as well as various frames or corners. The proportions of the applicant's face in the photo must be carefully observed;
• autobiography, which is personally handwritten and signed by the applicant;
• documentary evidence of legal stay in the Czech Republic;
• certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Czech Republic;
• a certificate stating that the applicant does not have an outstanding criminal record in his home country;
• confirmation issued by the Czech tax authority that the applicant has no outstanding payments to the state budget;
• confirmation of solvency;
• a long-term lease agreement or a document confirming the ownership of housing in the Czech Republic;
• a certificate of good health, for which you need to apply to the state clinic of the republic;
• confirmation of payment for all administrative services for obtaining citizenship.

The applicant must, before submitting, translate all documentation into Czech, with the exception of those issued in any EU state. An apostille is placed on the translations, certifying their authenticity.

Minors will receive citizenship along with their parents. If either the father or mother is absent, then you will have to take from him (her) a document confirming agreement that the child will take Czech citizenship. The paper is certified by a notary and translated into Czech. Lack of consent from the other parent can only be argued with the help of supporting documents, for example, a death certificate or a court declaration of incapacity. Minor applicants who are already 15 years old are required to confirm in writing their voluntary acquisition of Czech citizenship.

Passport photographs should be taken by qualified photographers

How can a Russian get to the Czech Republic?

To do this, you need to apply for a Schengen visa. In any case, the very first one will be a simple urgent visa, valid for 3 months. To do this, you must submit a standard list of documents, and indicate tourism as the purpose of visiting the country.

During the validity of the tourist visa and stay in the country, you can prepare the platform for further actions. Another option is to buy real estate. It will still be useful to you if you plan to live permanently in the Czech Republic. Own housing will provide the basis for obtaining a special Czech visa, which will increase the period of stay in the country to 6 months a year.

National Czech visa

Also, a long-term visa to the Czech Republic can be issued under other circumstances and purposes of travel. For example, students, businessmen, investors, and foreign employees of local companies have the right to stay in the country for a year.

However, in this case, official confirmation of your plans is required, that is, an invitation from an educational institution, employer or business partners.

Important aspects of obtaining citizenship

To apply for Czech citizenship, you must contact a special unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - the Special Department for Migration Policy. There are such departments at every police station in the administrative centers of the country.

The consideration of the application takes place over a three-month period. During this period, the applicant will be invited for an interview. During the interview, the facts of the applicant’s biography that are of interest to migration specialists will be clarified. He will also need to describe in writing his plans in relation to the second citizenship (withdraw from it or retain it).

When obtaining citizenship, you will need to calculate possible costs. They will consist of 10 thousand crowns of stamp duty (370.3 euros), as well as payment for translations and certification of documents (approximately 8 thousand crowns), payment for testing (2 thousand crowns for each test).

The currency of the Czech Republic is the crown. It has been stable over the last decade, and the exchange rate against the euro will be: 27 crowns per euro.

Before applying for citizenship, the applicant must obtain certificates of successful testing of knowledge of the Czech language and integration into the society of this country. The tests consist of oral and written parts. The oral part takes the form of an interview, and the written part contains one hundred questions, 60% of which must be answered correctly.

The Czech crown exchange rate has been stable for more than ten years

The completed passport is sent by the migration service to the municipality at the place of permanent residence of the new Czech citizen. Receiving it is a solemn event. Before you take the Declaration of Citizenship of the Czech Republic and your passport from the hands of the responsible secretary of the municipality, you must swear allegiance to its Constitution.

Russians or Ukrainians who have received Czech passports, which are their second, must notify the migration services of their countries about this.

Registration of permanent residence

The next step after long-term residence in the country is obtaining a permanent residence permit.

Permanent residence is granted after 5 years of legal and continuous residence in the Czech Republic.

Not after 3 years, not after 5 years of residence on the basis of a residence permit, but after 5 years from the date of registration of a long-term visa. During these 5 years, you must not be absent from the Czech Republic (in fact, from Schengen) for more than 2 months a year or 10 months in total. There are of course exceptions, but it’s better not to count on them.

Then you need to bring the following documents to your local police station:

• a completed application form, which will also serve as an application for permanent residence;
• a valid foreign passport, its copy and standard photographs;
• papers confirming your right to stay in the country and the purpose of your trip;
• confirmation of your financial solvency and housing availability;
• a certificate of absence of problems with the law both in your country and in the Czech Republic;
• health insurance;
• exam results on knowledge of the Czech language and everyday life.

And if all the documents are drawn up in accordance with the requirements of the new current legislation, then within three months you will receive a positive answer, and you will receive the coveted permanent residence permit. However, along with new rights, you will also have new restrictions.

Sample of permanent residence in the Czech Republic

You will need to comply with Czech legislation no less carefully than before obtaining permanent residence, since for any serious offense you can be deprived of this right.

What is dual and second citizenship?

Dual citizenship is the acquisition by a person of a second citizenship with the consent of the state of which he is already a citizen.
However, it can only be obtained by citizens of those countries between which an agreement on dual citizenship has been concluded, that is, on the mutual recognition of both legal statuses. In this case, both states recognize for their citizens the presence of both citizenships of the countries as equivalent, preserving for them the civil rights of both states.

Dual citizenship means that a citizen has passports of two countries. People who are citizens of not one state, but several, are called binationals.

A person with dual citizenship can pay taxes in only one country - for example, in the one in which he currently resides or has an official job. Such a person is exempt from paying taxes in another state.

In addition, you can also serve in the army only in one of the states. Typically, military service is carried out in the region where a person currently lives, or in the territory in which he was born.

The article “Which countries allow dual citizenship: current list for 2021” will tell you in detail about the rights and responsibilities of binationals.

It is important to understand the difference between the terms “dual citizenship” and “second citizenship”. A person acquires a second citizenship without the knowledge of the state of which he was originally a citizen, therefore his status as a citizen of another country is not recognized on the territory of his native state.

Exams

A candidate for citizenship must demonstrate good knowledge of the state language, history and basic social studies. Therefore, mandatory exams are established.

The condition is considered fulfilled if the foreigner has studied at a local school where they teach in Czech for at least 3 years. There is no need to take the exam if the applicant is under 15 or over 65 years of age.

Persons with mental or physical disabilities are exempt from the exam.

Conditions of registration

But if you decide to get a Czech passport, get ready for the fact that it will not be entirely easy. The applicant must fulfill many mandatory conditions to obtain a residence permit, and then residency.

The conditions for obtaining a residence permit may be the following:

Purchasing real estate does not guarantee Czech residency, but the procedure for acquiring citizenship will be simpler. Since the attitude towards foreigners if they have their own home is much more friendly.

Refusal to grant citizenship

In accordance with the current legislation of the Czech Republic, the application may be refused. This occurs in the following situations:

1. The candidate does not meet the established requirements.
2. Incomplete set of papers or errors in the application.
3. Granting citizenship to a candidate threatens Czech security.
4. Falsified documents or false information were provided.

If necessary, the refusal can be challenged through the Ministry of Internal Affairs within 15 days from the date of receipt of the response (through a civil court this can be done within 2 months). Resubmission of the application is possible only after 2 years; it will require more careful preparation and elimination of the reason for the refusal.

Important! If a negative decision is made for security reasons, then it is impossible to challenge the decision.

Where to apply, how much to pay and how long to wait

The application and basic package of documents are submitted to the municipality at the applicant’s place of residence. Next, the documents will be transferred to the Foreigners Police, which will conduct a thorough check of the accuracy of the information and the authenticity of the documents within one month.

At the last stage, the documents and petition will go directly to the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Ministry will consider the application within three months. In 90% of cases, the applicant will be called for an interview within this period. At the oral interview, the applicant will have to tell his biography, explain the purpose of obtaining Czech citizenship, etc.

The state fee for granting Czech citizenship will be 10 thousand Czech crowns. One euro is equal to 27 Czech crowns.

Minors who have not reached the age of eighteen are granted citizenship along with their parents. Spouses may submit one joint application to grant citizenship to their child.

In the absence of one of them, the second should document the objective impossibility of his presence. The cause may be death, deprivation of parental rights, long-term imprisonment, etc.

Source: https://imigrant.online/chehiya/kak-poluchit-cheshskoe-grazhdanstvo.html

Dual citizenship – why?

The Czech Republic is a member of the EU and is considered one of the most stable and economically developed countries in Europe. Living here, you can experience many of the advantages of this country:

• developed economy;
• housing at affordable prices;
• unemployment is low;
• receiving quality medical services;
• acquisition of education according to the European standard.

Although the Czech Republic may be inferior to some other European countries in terms of development, in any case there is a fairly high standard of living here.

Despite all these advantages, one can understand those who have doubts and are not ready to immediately renounce citizenship of their country. Like everywhere else, the Czech Republic has not only its advantages, but also its disadvantages. Therefore, it is quite natural to raise the question of the possibility of obtaining a second citizenship in the Czech Republic.

Since 2014, significant changes have appeared in the migration legislation of the Czech Republic - the mandatory condition of renunciation of “native” citizenship has been excluded. Many migrants liked such changes and eliminated many delays when renouncing citizenship of their native country.

What does having a passport of a given country give?

Positive aspects of obtaining Czech resident status are:

• Possibility of visa-free travel to most countries of the world;
• Respect for civil freedoms and rights;
• Opportunity to obtain a decent job;
• Receiving social security and benefits;
• Introduction of business in the Czech Republic and outside the country;
• A chance to participate in the life of the country and the opportunity to take part in elections.

Obtaining Czech citizenship, despite the standard procedure, is quite problematic. The country ranks one of the last in terms of the number of granting citizenship status among countries in the world.

At the same time, the number of people wishing to immigrate to the Czech Republic is growing every year. The process of obtaining citizenship is quite lengthy and consists of several stages.

In recent years, the Czech government has slightly simplified the process of obtaining resident status by passing a law allowing dual citizenship.

Citizenship through marriage to a Czech citizen

This method is used by many citizens of Russia and Ukraine. This method of immigration to the Czech Republic and obtaining its citizenship is in great demand. The Czech authorities are very sensitive to the institution of family. The country's legislation only recognizes official marriage. To obtain Czech citizenship, the applicant (applicant) must have lived in an official marriage with a Czech citizen for at least three years.

Some particularly enterprising immigrants enter into sham marriages to achieve this goal. Czech immigration authorities closely monitor foreigners who intend to become citizens of their country through marriage. In any case, the spouses will have to prove to the immigration authorities that the marriage is not fictitious or formal, and that the couple lives together, owns common property and runs a household together.

A significant disadvantage of this route to obtaining citizenship is the possibility of divorce during the specified period. In this case, the candidate is left with nothing, and only the path of naturalization can be open to him. If the Czech authorities recognize the marriage as formal or, much worse, fictitious, then there is practically no chance of obtaining citizenship.

In the case where the marriage is recognized as fictitious (in practice, this is quite difficult, since the accusation can only be based on an admission of guilt), the person who used this method faces arrest, followed by deportation and a ban on entry into the Czech Republic forever. In the worst case, the police may accuse the person of obtaining Czech citizenship by fraudulent means. This is fraught with a stay in a correctional facility.

It should be noted that Czech legislation recognizes same-sex marriage. This legal norm is typical for almost all EU countries.

Additional Information

When submitting an application for citizenship, you must pass an exam on your knowledge of the Czech language and level of integration into the country's society. The exam is taken at the municipality of the applicant’s place of residence. The Czech language is related to Russian and Ukrainian, belonging to the group of Slavic languages.

The exam itself takes place in written and oral form. The examinee must answer a number of questions correctly; the number of positive answers must exceed 60%. An oral examination is carried out to find out how well a candidate for a Czech passport speaks the language of this country. It is mandatory to know the national anthem by heart and be able to describe the flag and coat of arms of the Czech state.

The test for integration into Czech society is also carried out in Czech. It includes testing a foreigner’s knowledge of the basics of the country’s Constitution, its main traditions, public holidays and the names of the main persons of the Republic. The exam is conducted by specialists from the country's immigration service, who also render their verdict regarding the applicant's readiness to obtain Czech citizenship. Only after their positive decision does it become possible to submit an application for citizenship.

Today many citizens of Russia and Ukraine want to obtain a Czech passport. The possibility of a second citizenship doubled the desire to acquire it. In order to go through the difficult and lengthy process of acquiring Czech citizenship, you must first study the legislative framework and choose the most suitable option for obtaining citizenship.

Latest changes in Czech immigration legislation

Issues of legalization of foreigners in the Czech Republic, including citizenship, are regulated by the laws “Zákon o státním občanství České republiky”, “Zákon o pobytu cizinců na území České republiky”. Amendments and changes are periodically made to the “Zákon o státním občanství České republiky”. The latest dates back to 2021.

Important points added in the latest edition:

• the citizenship exam began to consist of a written and oral part;
• dual citizenship allowed;
• the procedure for obtaining a passport for persons with Czech roots has been significantly simplified;
• connecting a DNA test to establish paternity.

The issue of those born in Czechoslovakia was studied with special attention.

How to become a citizen of the Czech Republic if you have permanent residence?

So, the Russian received permanent residence in the Czech Republic. How can he now obtain citizenship of this country?

To do this, he must write an application to the country’s migration agency and provide all of the above documents there. After reviewing the application, the passport applicant will be sent to take a language exam.

If all the information provided is reliable, then, after a certain period of time, he will be notified that the passport is ready, and he can come to pick it up to go through the final formalities (taking the oath, signing documents, etc.). If the migration services have any doubts, the applicant will be called for an interview and will probably be asked for additional certificates and certificates.