Czech Citizenship by Naturalization – Rules and Timeline

What Is Czech Citizenship by Naturalization?

Czech citizenship by naturalization is the process of becoming a full citizen of the Czech Republic after living here for a legally required number of years, meeting language and integration standards, and fulfilling residency obligations.

Once granted, you gain:

  • Permanent right to live and work in the Czech Republic.
  • EU citizenship with the right to travel, work, and live anywhere in the EU.
  • Access to Czech social benefits and full voting rights.

Who Can Apply?

Foreigners who have:

  1. Lived in the Czech Republic long enough under the required residence status.
  2. Integrated into Czech society, including knowledge of the Czech language.
  3. No serious criminal record in the Czech Republic or abroad.

Residency Requirements

The standard residency timeline is:

Residence Type

Years of Continuous Stay Required

Non-EU citizens

5 years with permanent residence (usually after 10 years total stay)

EU/EEA/Swiss citizens

3 years with permanent residence

Refugees

3 years with permanent residence

Spouses of Czech citizens

Shorter timelines possible (usually 2–3 years with permanent residence)

💡 Tip: Time spent under long-term visas counts toward the total, but only years with permanent residence count toward the naturalization requirement.

Language & Knowledge Requirements

Applicants must:

  • Pass a B1 level Czech language exam.
  • Pass a Czech life and culture exam (questions about history, geography, laws, and society).

Exemptions from language exams apply if:

  • You completed at least 3 years of Czech-language schooling in the Czech Republic.
  • You are over a certain age or have a disability preventing you from taking the exam.

Criminal Record & Good Character

You must:

  • Provide a criminal record extract from your home country and any country where you have lived in the last 10 years.
  • Be free of serious criminal offenses.
  • Demonstrate good moral character.

Step-by-Step: Applying for Czech Citizenship by Naturalization

Step 1 – Confirm Your Eligibility

Check your:

  • Length of stay
  • Permanent residence status
  • Language skills
  • Criminal record

Step 2 – Gather Documents

Typical documents include:

  • Passport and residence permit
  • Birth certificate (apostilled/legalized and officially translated)
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable)
  • Criminal record extracts
  • Proof of residence history
  • Proof of income and financial stability
  • Czech language and life exam certificates

Step 3 – Translation & Legalization

All non-Czech documents must be:

Step 4 – Submit Your Application

  • Applications are submitted at your local Regional Authority (Krajský úřad) or Prague City Hall.
  • You must attend in person to sign and verify your application.
  • Pay the application fee (generally 2,000 CZK; lower for children).

Step 5 – Wait for Decision

  • Processing time: up to 12 months.
  • The Ministry of the Interior reviews your application, conducts background checks, and evaluates integration.
  • You may be invited for an interview.

Step 6 – Citizenship Ceremony

If approved:

  • You will be invited to take an oath of allegiance to the Czech Republic.
  • You receive your citizenship certificate, enabling you to apply for a Czech passport and ID card.

Timeline Summary

Step

Duration

Language & culture exam

1–3 months prep

Document collection & translations

1–3 months

Ministry processing

Up to 12 months

Oath ceremony & passport application

1–2 months

Common Reasons for Rejection

  • Not meeting the required years of residence.
  • Failing the language or culture exam.
  • Incomplete or incorrectly translated documents.
  • Criminal convictions.
  • Insufficient proof of integration.

Benefits of Czech Citizenship

EU freedom of movement.
No need for visas or residence permits.
Right to vote and hold public office.
Strong Czech passport (visa-free access to over 180 countries).
Security of never losing your right to live in the Czech Republic.

How PragueVisas.com Can Help

We:

  • Assess eligibility before you apply.
  • Arrange translations and legalizations.
  • Prepare and organize all application documents.
  • Book and prepare you for the language & culture exams.
  • Submit the application and follow up with the Ministry.

About author

Picture of Hamilton Jerkins

Hamilton Jerkins

Related posts

Disclaimer, we do not sell or provide Visas, or residence permits.

Copyright © 2024 by Prauge Visas. All rights reserved.

Contact us using the form below:

  • Citizenship by descent
American moving to Czechia
Step 9 – Congratulations you have been Approved!

After your Czech citizenship by descent application is approved, you'll receive a certificate of citizenship and need to take the oath of allegiance within 12 months.

  1. Receive the Certificate of Citizenship:
  • You’ll receive a certificate confirming your Czech citizenship. 
  • This certificate can be picked up in person at the consular office after an appointment. 
  1. Take the Oath of Allegiance: 
  • You must take the oath of allegiance within 12 months of receiving the citizenship certificate.
  • This is a public, solemn event where you promise to be loyal to the Czech Republic and abide by its laws.
  • Children under 15 are exempt from taking the oath.
Step 8. Ready to request an interview appointment at the Czech Embassy

1. Upon receipt of your complete application packet, you can request an interview appointment at the Czech Embassy.

2. Bring your completed packet and passport.

3. At this Czech Embassy interview they will request a 2000CZK government fee for each applicant.

 Step 7 – We have received your documents.
  1. Upon receipt of your documents will make the arrangements to have the applicable documents notarized translated from their language of origin to Czech by a government authorized translator.
  2. We will create your declaration stating that you are not a Slovakian citizen.
  3. We will complete your Czech Application for Citizenship and any other family members applying.
  4. We will pay for the return international shipping for your completed document package.

Reminder: The only additional cost you will incur is the notarized translations because it is billed by page. It is $28 per page for English/Germanic languages and $54 for all other languages.

Step 6 - Shipping

Please ship all of these documents to us in Prague:

Owner: Dominik Poloch

Address: Žitomírská 744/26, Praha 10, 101 00

Czech Mobile: +420 731 935 993

dominik.poloch@praguevisas.com
 
Shipping carrier: DHL is preferred.

Step 5 – You will begin gathering your Documents for final submission.

Treatment of Documents in order of preference:

*Always keep the original documents in your possession. Do obtain replacements in this order of preference whenever possible.

** Any document supplied at application will not be returned and doesn’t apply towards future/other applications. Get extras if anticipating that another family member will apply in the future.

***Apostille is a method of certifying a document for use in another country. For countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention, it is sufficient to legalize the documents with the corresponding Apostille.

1. Obtain a duplicate of the original, it is effectively an additional original and have it apostilled, then we will have it notarized translated into Czech. If not possible, then... Go to #2

2. Have the original apostilled and then obtain a certified copy. We will have it notarized translated into Czech. If not possible, then... Go to #3

3. Obtain a certified copy of the original and have it apostilled. We will have it notarized translated into Czech.

4. Get enough copies for any/all of these documents for the additional family members to use as well.

Step 4 – Document analysis

Email us as much as this documentation as you can:

Documents required if you are applying for a line of descendant from a parent:

  1. a landscape color copy your passport
  2. a copy of your birth certificate
  3. The birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, name change certificate, death certificate of your parents when applicable
  4. Proof showing that the parents have lost their Czech or Czechoslovakian citizenship

Documents required if you are applying for a line of descent from a grandparent:

  1. a landscape color copy your passport
  2. a copy of your birth certificate
  3. The birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, name change certificate, death certificate of your parents when applicable
  4. The birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, name change certificate, death certificate of your grandparents when applicable
  5. Proof showing that the parents or the grandparents have lost their Czech or Czechoslovakian citizenship

Email to office@PragueVisas.com

We will begin your document analysis in the next few business days and send you a written response by email.

Step 3 – Becoming our client

CLICK HERE: Purchase Citizenship by Descent package for $579

FAQs:

How long does this process take?

The timeframe is reliant upon your initial document collection and the research of missing documentation. Please allow for ample opportunity for research, document preparation, and flexibility in case of unexpected challenges.

In general, the granting of the citizenship certificate takes around 3 to 6 months.

How much does it cost?

Our fees are $349 plus the actual bill for the Czech notarized translations. This depends on the language, and they charge per page. You will incur the cost of international shipping the Czech Republic. We suggest DHL. You may experience various cost of obtaining duplicate originals of documents and their respective apostilles. We offer a discounted price of $99 for each additional family member that is submitted at the same time as the original applicant. At this Czech Embassy interview they will request a 2000CZK government fee for each applicant.

What is an apostille?

An apostille is a form of authentication that simplifies the process of legalizing public documents for use in other countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. It certifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, and position of the official who executed, issued, or certified a public document, enabling it to be recognized as valid in another country.

How do I obtain missing documents in Czechia?

If you would like us to research and obtain missing documentation in the Czech Republic archives, we bill at $30.00 per hour. We do our best to minimize the hours billed, but the Czech archives are not nationalized and they are antiquated. A retainer may be requested.   

Step 2 – We have emailed your preliminary results for qualification. We have developed a step-by-step process to create a pathway for Citizenship by Descent. Here is what our services include:

1. Upon receipt of your emailed documents, we will begin our review process. We will produce a written analysis of what documents are missing, the condition of each document, and how each document must be “treated”. Treated is term that refers to Apostilling, Czech Notarized Translations by a Government authorized entity, and the type of duplication accepted.

2. We offer guidance and referrals for document discovery. Discovery is the obtaining of any missing required documents from various archives.

3. We will make a final determination of eligibility and send you our written analysis results by email.

4. You will ship us the duplicate apostilled originals for notarized translation.

5. After receipt of your duplicate originals with Apostille, we have them notarized translated by a Czech Government authorized entity here in Prague.

6. We will create and provide your declaration.

7. We will complete your Czech Application for Citizenship.

8. We will pay for the international shipping for your completed document package.

9. The only additional cost you will incur is the notarized translations because they are billed per page. It is $28 per page for English/Germanic languages and $54 for all other languages.

close menu icon

Step 1 – Curious if you eligible for Czech Citizenship by Descent?

We have a simplified process to help answer your questions. Determining actual eligibility is a complicated process, but let’s start by seeing if you pre-qualify by answering a few questions.

Identify the relative, parent or grandparent, not great grandparent that will be the person the line of descent is traced to.

Example: USA citizen Applicant> USA citizen Parent> Czech-American Grandparent (Czech Ancestor)

Applicant

Parent

GrandParent (if applicable)

This is a test popup

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 11th of February 2025

  1. Introduction
    Prague Visas s.r.o. (“Company”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) operates the website https://www.praguevisas.com (“Website”). This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your personal data in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable privacy laws.
  2. Information We Collect
    We collect the following personal information:
  • Name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • IP address
  • Browser type and version
  • Referring website
  • Date and time of visit

Additionally, we collect information through:

  • Google Ads and Facebook Pixel for tracking and analytics
  • Automated tracking tools, including a WordPress plugin that tracks visits
  1. How We Collect Data
    We collect data through:
  • Submission forms, which are intended for scheduling a meeting
  • Automated tracking, analytics tools, and cookies
  1. Purpose of Data Collection
    We use your data for:
  • Scheduling meetings
  • Reaching out to customers regarding their inquiries
  • Website analytics and marketing improvements
  1. Legal Basis for Processing
    We process your data based on:
  • Consent: When you submit a form or agree to tracking cookies
  • Legitimate interest: To enhance user experience and provide requested services

 

  1. Data Sharing & Third-Party Services
    We do not sell or share personal data with third parties. However, we use the following third-party services:
  • Google Ads (for advertising and analytics)
  • Facebook Pixel (for marketing and retargeting)
  • Microsoft 365 (for storing and processing emails)
  • PayPal (for payment processing, if applicable)

Each of these services has its own privacy policies, which we encourage you to review.

  1. Data Retention
    We retain personal data for one year unless a longer retention period is required by law. After this period, data is securely deleted.
  2. Data Security
    We take appropriate security measures, including:
  • Storing data in a secure database
  • Using Microsoft 365 for secure email storage and communications
  • Implementing access controls and encryption where applicable
  1. User Rights (GDPR Compliance)
    Under the GDPR, you have the following rights:
  • Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
  • Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): Request deletion of your data.
  • Right to Restriction of Processing: Request a restriction on how we process your data.
  • Right to Object: Object to data processing based on legitimate interest.
  • Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service.
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Opt-out of data processing at any time.

To exercise these rights, contact us at compliance@praguevisas.com.

  1. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
    We use cookies and tracking technologies for:
  • Website functionality
  • Analytics and performance measurement (Google Ads, Facebook Pixel)
  • Marketing and remarketing campaigns

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings or opt out of tracking via Google’s and Facebook’s privacy settings.

  1. Children’s Privacy
    Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.
  2. Changes to This Privacy Policy
    We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and we will notify users of significant updates where required by law.
  3. Contact Information
    For any privacy-related inquiries, please contact us at:

Prague Visas s.r.o.
Na Folimance 2155/15, Vinohrady (Praha 2), 120 00 Praha
Email: compliance@praguevisas.com