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Who is citizen? Guide to Czech citizenship after 1993

(This article expired 04.09.2013.)

Who is citizen? Guide to Czech citizenship after 1993

Since 1993, Czech state citizenship is governed by ActNo. 40/1993 Coll., on acquiring and loosing Czech state citizenship, resp. in Act No. 471/2003 Coll., on acquiring and loosing Czech state citizenship - full version of Act No. 40/1993 Coll.

Since 1993, Czech citizenship is obtained by one of the following:

Birth
- if at least one parent is a Czech citizen.

Adoption
- if at least one adoptiove parent is a Czech citizen.

Proclamation of fatherhood
- if the child is born outside of marriage and the father, who proclaims his fatherhood, is a Czech citizen.

Finding
- if a child younger than 15 is found on the territory of the Czech Republic and foreign citizenship is not established.

Declaration
- see chapter on citizenship by declaration

Naturalization
- if the applicant 1) has a status of a permanent resident on the territory of the Czech Republic for five consecutive years and lives there most of the time, 2) renounces the former foreign citizenship, 3) demonstrates proficiency in Czech language (exemption applies to Slovak citizens), 4) has a clean criminal record, and 5) fulfills the requirements stipulated in law pertaining to health insurance and social security.

Czech citizenship can currently be lost by one of the following:

Declaration
- made at the Embassy (birth certificate, proof of foreign citizenship and consent of parents in case of children younger than 15 are required).

Obtaining foreign citizenship
- with the exception when the foreign citizenship is obtained automatically without manifestation of own will or by marriage.


Dual citizenship
Agreement between Czechoslovakia and the United States of America on prevention of dual citizenship was in force from November 14, 1929 until August 20, 1997. The agreement was suspended between September 17, 1938 and May 7, 1957, when one of the parties was in the state of war (i.e. from the first Czechoslovakian mobilization until establishment of diplomatic relations with Japan). The agreement prevented dual citizenship of Czech (Czechoslovakian) citizens, who became naturalized in the United States, and vice versa, of United States citizens, who became naturalized in the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia).

Agreements preventing dual citizenship with socialist countries were abolished, with the exception of some succession states of the former USSR.

Relevant information (in Czech) can also be found on the web site of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.