Slovak citizenship for Russians: how to obtain - current programs, stages of the procedure and necessary documents

What is Slovak citizenship (SR)?

Citizenship is a stable legal connection between an individual and the state of the Slovak Republic, the content of which is mutual rights and obligations in accordance with the legal norms of the Slovak Republic. From the moment of acquiring Slovak citizenship, the holder is no longer subject to laws regulating the stay of foreigners in Slovakia. For example, you no longer have to renew your residence permit.

There are several grounds for obtaining Slovak citizenship:

● Birth

● Adoption

● Naturalization

Methods of immigration to Slovakia

The country has several ways to immigrate legally. They are designed for different categories of foreigners:

Refugees. Asylum is available to persons persecuted on political, religious or racial grounds.
Marriage. Candidates considered are those who are married to a citizen or foreigner who has received a residence permit.
Business. The conditions for obtaining a residence permit are simple. You only need to confirm the availability of rented or own housing, register a business, and provide proof of availability of funds.
Employment. Available to qualified professionals in the automotive, energy, mechanical engineering, electronics and telecommunications industries. Employment permit required.
Education. A temporary residence permit is granted for the entire period of study. It can be obtained not only by university students, but also by schoolchildren. Students are allowed to work or engage in entrepreneurial activities in their free time.
Family reunification. The holder of a residence permit can bring his or her spouse, minor children and parents over 65 years of age to Slovakia.

There are special programs for pensioners in almost all European countries. There is no such program in Slovakia. Pensioners can move on a general basis if they have a sufficient pension and additional income. The fact of purchasing real estate does not allow you to apply for a residence permit. But this is a significant advantage when obtaining a residence permit for other reasons.

Acquiring Slovak citizenship by birth

Perhaps this is the most common way to obtain Slovak citizenship; a child acquires citizenship by birth if:

●At least one of the parents is a citizen of the Slovak Republic;

●A child was born on the territory of the Slovak Republic and his/her parents do not have any citizenship;

●The child was born on the territory of the Slovak Republic, the parents are foreigners and the child does not acquire their nationality at birth.

If a child is born to a citizen of Slovakia and a citizen of another country, he/she acquires Slovak citizenship. Even if in the future it turns out that the citizen of Slovakia is not his natural parent, the child retains citizenship of the Slovak Republic.

Thus, foreigners who want their child to become a citizen of Slovakia can, for example, obtain a temporary residence permit in Slovakia, renounce the citizenship of their country and give birth to the child in Slovakia. Children in this case automatically receive citizenship of the Slovak Republic.

Grounds for obtaining Slovak citizenship

Naturalization

Having lived in Slovakia for more than 8 years, you can apply for citizenship. To do this, you will have to prove your integration (naturalization) into Slovak society. An education diploma, an employment contract, and a successfully operating company will do.

Family reunion and marriage

Spouses of subjects of the Slovak Republic can apply for citizenship after five years of marriage. At the same time, you need to live in the country, under one roof and run a joint household.

Minors, unmarried children or disabled children who require care can also be reunited with their family.

By birth

Children have the right to automatically obtain citizenship if at least one of their parents is a citizen of Slovakia. In this case, the place of birth (republic or abroad) does not matter.

Children born in Slovakia also become citizens if:

their parents are stateless;
the parents are foreigners, but at birth the child did not receive the citizenship of either of them.

Adopted children and minors found on the territory of Slovakia and whose parents have not been identified can also apply for citizenship.

Business in Slovakia

The republic has fairly favorable conditions for those wishing to do business in Slovakia. When applying for a business residence permit, you will need to provide a business plan and proof of funds to start it. If the plan is recognized as real and conducive to the development of the republic, a residence permit is issued for 2 years. Family members are also allowed to come with the businessman.

Buying real estate in Slovakia, does this affect obtaining citizenship?

You cannot become a Slovak citizen simply by purchasing real estate. However, having your own home will be a plus when you receive it, as it proves your intention to stay for a long time and integrate into Slovak society.

Acquiring Slovak citizenship by granting (naturalization)

This method of acquiring citizenship is different from the first two, since in this case you acquire citizenship at will. A person wishing to acquire citizenship must submit an application, and public authorities must make a decision, having the power to grant or revoke citizenship.

A foreigner who has had continuous permanent residence in Slovakia for at least eight years before submitting the application has the right to apply for citizenship of the Slovak Republic. A prerequisite is the absence of a criminal record, a decision on deportation, or a criminal case. You also need to pass an exam, oral and written, in the Slovak language. In addition, it is necessary to fulfill the duties of a foreigner in accordance with the legal order of the Slovak Republic

If the eight-year period has not expired, an application for citizenship can be submitted by a foreigner who has temporary or permanent residence in Slovakia and:

●married to a citizen of the Slovak Republic and has been in this marriage for at least 5 years;

●made a significant contribution to the benefit of the Slovak Republic in the economic, scientific-technical, cultural, social and sports fields, or in other interests of the Slovak Republic;

●he is a minor child, has had continuous permanent residence in the Slovak Republic for at least two years immediately before submitting the application, and his legal representative or guardian is a citizen of the Slovak Republic or a Slovak legal entity;

●This is a Slovak living abroad who has had permanent residence in Slovakia for at least three years immediately preceding the submission of the application;

●Has permanent residence for at least three years before reaching the age of 18;

●Resides in Slovakia for at least 10 years continuously and has already received permanent residence;

●Has no citizenship and no permanent residence permit in Slovakia for at least three years immediately preceding the submission of the application;

●Has been an asylum seeker for at least four years immediately preceding the submission of the application;

The fastest way to obtain citizenship is on the basis of a significant contribution to the Slovak Republic, but it is used very rarely, especially in relation to prominent athletes or very large investors.

Slovaks living abroad can obtain Slovak citizenship relatively quickly. First, they need to obtain the status of a Slovak abroad, which is often the most difficult step. Then based on this status you can obtain a temporary residence permit in Slovakia, which is easier, and after you have resided temporarily for three years you can apply for citizenship.

Foreigners who are not Slovaks living abroad and want to obtain citizenship in a short time, like Slovaks living abroad, have the right to acquire citizenship within three years. They must first obtain a temporary residence permit for any purpose, the most commonly used being temporary residence for the purpose of business activities. Then you need to renounce your citizenship, and within three years after receiving a residence permit you can apply for citizenship of the Slovak Republic.

All others, as a rule, receive citizenship 10 years after receiving a temporary residence permit in Slovakia, and have already received a permanent residence permit.

The issuance of citizenship of the Slovak Republic is carried out by the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic in a permitting manner, in addition, the ministry examines applications for citizenship and transfers the case to the minister, and only the Minister of the Interior, according to the law, makes a decision personally.

During the consideration of the application, a committee of three people conducts an interview with the applicant, which includes the following stages:

The interview itself, which contains questions regarding the applicant’s personality, his family, history, geography and socio-political development of Slovakia.

Reading aloud a newspaper article of at least 500 words, which the applicant will receive immediately prior to the reading.

A brief description in the article that the applicant has read, and he is given 30 minutes to do this.

The period for making a decision is 24 months, and this period may be extended. In practice, decisions are made in the first half of the term. A mandatory condition for acquiring citizenship of the Slovak Republic is taking an oath.

Refusal of citizenship does not in any way affect the validity of temporary residence or permanent residence, and you can reapply for citizenship 2 years after refusal.

How to obtain Slovak citizenship

Slovak citizenship can be acquired on the following grounds:

by birth,
by origin,
for admission to citizenship (naturalization),
upon marriage to a citizen of the country,
on special grounds.

Obtaining citizenship by birth

A child receives citizenship of Slovakia if:

Was born on its territory by stateless parents or parents with unknown citizenship.
Both parents or at least one of them have Slovak citizenship. It doesn't matter where the child was born.
The child was adopted by a citizen of Slovakia. Valid only for minor children. By the time the application is submitted, the child must have continuously lived in the country for 3 years under a residence permit.

Origin

A person can obtain citizenship if he:

A foreign Slovak who has lived in the country for at least 3 years on the basis of permanent residence. This is considered to be a person of Slovak nationality or a person who has Slovak relatives in a direct line up to the 3rd generation, that is, up to great-grandparents.
Previously had citizenship of the country and has been living in it continuously for 2 years.
He was born in the Republic and has been living in the country continuously for 3 years on the basis of permanent residence.

Naturalization

To obtain citizenship on this basis, the following conditions must be met:

Live in Slovakia continuously for 8 years with a residence permit (continuously means leaving the country for no more than 180 days in one trip). The candidate must not have a criminal record, and must also show the commission a sufficient level of language proficiency and knowledge of the culture and history of the state.
Be a refugee and live in the country for 4 years.

Marriage with a resident of Slovakia

Automotive products in Slovakia in 2015 amounted to 35% of all exported goods in the country

Spouses of Slovak citizens have the right to apply for citizenship 5 years after marriage.

Special grounds

Candidates who:

They are outstanding figures in sports, culture, science or other fields. In order for an applicant to be beneficial to Slovakia, his merits must be recognized at the international level (for example, a winner of an international competition or competition).
They have served Slovakia, for example, they have invested large sums (more than 1 million €) in priority areas for the country, creating jobs.

Video: all Slovak video bloggers in one video

What is the price of Slovak citizenship?

You are required to pay for this service when you pick up your citizenship certificate in person at your local county office. The fee is 700 euros.

Children under 15 years old pay 100 euros, young people aged 15 to 18 years old - 150 euros.

People are exempt from the fee: asylum seekers, migrants from Chernobyl (Ukraine), foreigners over 65 years of age, disabled people, citizens who lost their Slovak citizenship after January 1, 1993.

We hope you found this article helpful. If you have questions about moving to Slovakia with subsequent legalization, obtaining a residence permit and possibly citizenship in Slovakia, call our company, our specialists will be happy to advise you.

Registration procedure

The application is submitted in person on the territory of Slovakia to the district police department at the place of residence or to the Slovak consulate in your country. Then the documents go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and then - for consideration by the Minister of Internal Affairs; according to the law, it is he who must make a decision.

How much does it cost to become a citizen of Slovakia

You will also need to pay an administrative fee of 20 € for those who had one of their parents who was Czechoslovak or Slovak at the time of birth; for all other candidates the fee will be 700 €. Refugees and displaced persons from Chernobyl are exempt from this fee. The fee is paid after receiving the citizenship certificate.

What do you need besides documents?

Before consideration of the application, the candidate must undergo an interview with a committee of 3 people. It consists of the following parts:

the interview itself about the applicant and his life, his family and biography;
questions about the history of Slovakia, its geography and socio-political structure;
testing knowledge of the Slovak language. Most often, the candidate is given an excerpt from a newspaper article and 30 minutes to prepare, and then he reads the text aloud and retells its contents.

Timeframe for making a decision

After accepting citizenship you will need to obtain a passport

Officially, the decision period is 2 years, but in fact, most often the answer comes within a year. Upon receiving a positive decision, you must:

pay an administrative fee,
take the oath of citizenship of Slovakia,
personally pick up the decision on granting citizenship.

These actions must be completed within 6 months of receiving written notice.

If unsuccessful, you are allowed to re-apply only after 2 years.

It is quite rare for emigrants from the Russian Federation and Ukraine to obtain Slovak citizenship, although the decisions are usually positive. The main reason is the need to renounce your first citizenship. Many people still have relatives in their homeland who need to be visited, and doing this with a Slovak passport is less convenient. In addition, currently not many emigrants have lived in the Slovak Republic for the period necessary to obtain citizenship.

There are people on the forum who have received a decision on citizenship, but they do not implement it because they are stopped by the need to renounce their Russian citizenship. The reasons are different: some have close relatives and need to be able to visit them, others have assets that they are not yet ready to sell. Anything can happen.
Vanek
https://forum.slovnik.org/

Purchasing real estate as a basis for obtaining citizenship

Any foreigner can purchase residential or commercial real estate, however, this will not be the basis for obtaining citizenship, permanent residence or residence permit. The exception is forestry and agricultural land - their purchase by foreigners and persons without permanent residence in the country is impossible.

The average price per square meter of housing in Slovakia at the end of 2015 was 1,230 € per sq. m. m. The cost of real estate varies greatly depending on the location of the property. Thus, a square meter of space in Bratislava costs from 1650 € to 3000 € (in the historical district of the city). Buying real estate in the capital is more often considered an investment, since housing prices are rising at the highest rates here - 10–15% per year versus 1.5% in the country.

The cheapest price per square meter is in the Nitra and Trenčany regions - 550–650 €. An ordinary apartment of 80 sq. m. in the Nitra region can be found for 40 thousand €, and a small apartment in Bratislava with an area of 50 sq. m. m. will cost about 80 thousand €.

The cheapest real estate is in the Nitra and Trencian regions, which are located 100–120 km from the capital

useful links

Ministry of Internal Affairs of Slovakia.
Forms and forms.
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia.
Ministry of Justice of Slovakia.

Nowadays, many people want to have an “alternate airfield” in Europe, since life in the countries of the former USSR is unstable and full of surprises. Citizenship of a European state is perceived as a kind of guarantee of a stable and comfortable life. Clean air, quality food, safety and an internationally recognized education are the best things you can give your children. And in Slovakia you can find all this in abundance.

Author: Yulia Kazionova
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Dual citizenship in Slovakia

All Russians who want to move to Slovakia and become citizens of this country should know that in 1981, Slovakia and Russia signed an agreement that officially prohibited dual citizenship between these two states (then republics of the USSR). Therefore, regardless of the reason for moving and changing your passport, it will not be possible to retain both citizenships.

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Reasons for refusal of Slovak citizenship

Migration authorities in Slovakia rarely refuse to issue residence permits to Russians and Ukrainians, and, after a certain period of time, citizenship. But they can still refuse if the applicant:

provided false information in documents;
violated laws at home, in the SR or the EU;
did not submit all the necessary documents;
raises doubts about the existence or legality of his income.

If the verdict is negative, re-application for Slovak citizenship is possible only after 2 years. The refusal can be challenged in court no later than 2 months from the date of issuance of the negative decision.

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As a result of marriage

If you marry a citizen of a country, this will help you obtain citizenship and live legally in Slovakia. However, the country's authorities carefully screen out emigrants and pay special attention to potentially fictitious marriages. In order to obtain Slovak citizenship, you must provide evidence of your union with your spouse.

This may require joint photographs and property.

An important requirement is the duration of the marriage, which must be at least three years before filing the application. Both spouses are required to undergo interviews, where they are asked questions designed to reveal the formality or truth of the newlyweds’ relationship. If any are found, the emigrant is deported to his home country.

Main ways to obtain citizenship

Citizenship by investment programs are not legalized in the Slovak Republic, so most migrants choose naturalization. Thus, for ordinary foreigners, the entire road from a residence permit to Slovak citizenship, through permanent residence, takes from 10 years (usually 5 + 5 years in both statuses). Despite all the difficulties of acquiring a Slovak passport, having a legal basis, you can achieve your cherished goal. You can enter the Slovak Republic on the basis of study, employment, marriage, family reunification or business. To cross the border, you must apply for a Schengen or national long-stay visa - the request is submitted to the Slovak embassy or consulate in the migrant’s homeland. Upon arrival from the SR, a temporary residence permit is issued. Read more about moving methods in the lower blocks.

Entrepreneurship

A residence permit based on business activities is a popular method of immigration to the Slovak Republic. In most cases, such permission is obtained by a private entrepreneur or the general director of an LLC. The obligatory document for submitting a request for a residence permit in this case is a business plan, while the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic considers the benefits of business for the republic, there is a list of priority areas of the economy. In addition, the immigrant is required to confirm the financial support of his business through the amount in the entrepreneur’s account; here the following options are possible:

for emergency situations - 20 subsistence minimums, which in 2021 amounted to 20 x 214.83 = 4,296.6 €;
for LLC – 100 minimum or 21,483 €.

The initial residence permit through entrepreneurship is valid for up to 3 years, but in practice the migration police usually issues a permit for 1.5 years. The residence permit can be extended for another 3 years, subject to the profitability of the enterprise throughout the previous period. After 5 years of continuous stay in the country with a residence permit of an entrepreneur, documents are submitted for long-term permanent residence - the next step to Slovak citizenship.

Education

Slovak education is an excellent option for obtaining a European diploma at an affordable cost. A foreigner can test his chances of studying for free in the Slovak language; for this he can complete a one-year preparatory program for only 250 €. Tuition fees at Slovak universities start from 500 € per year and can reach 3 thousand €. It is cheaper to study under national programs; an “English” master’s degree will cost from 5 thousand € per year. A document confirming enrollment in a SR educational institution is a direct basis for obtaining a residence permit. A student residence permit is valid from 1 to 6 years, according to the level of study (master, bachelor, etc.). Most often, a residence permit is issued for 3 years with further extension after successfully passing semester exams. However, we should not forget that only 50% of the term is included in the “experience” of continuous stay with this method. A Russian with a study residence permit can engage in business or work (no more than 10 hours per week), and after graduation, continue to work, paving the way to Slovak citizenship.

Employment

A Ukrainian or Russian can find a job in the Slovak Republic, and on this basis receive a temporary residence permit. Today there are three legal work options for foreigners in the state:

Confirmation of a foreigner’s ability to fill a vacancy (regarding migrants without a residence permit).
Work permit (for foreign nationals with a residence permit, but on other grounds).
Without any confirmation (with a residence permit for family reunification after 12 months, for graduates of Slovak universities, for family members of a foreigner with a Blue Card).

A temporary residence permit is issued for 2 years. The package of documents, in addition to the application, includes an employment contract or an application from the employer to hire a foreigner. Having a working residence permit, a Russian or Ukrainian can undergo training in Slovakia. If you maintain your job, your residence permit can be extended, and after 5 years you can apply for long-term permanent residence in Slovakia.