CzechiaCitizenship

Citizenship by naturalisation in Czechia

Citizenship by naturalisation is the route for foreign nationals with permanent residence in the Czech Republic to obtain a Czech passport once they have integrated into local society. The decision remains at the discretion of the Ministry of the Interior: the law confers no legal right to citizenship.

Source: mv.gov.cz — Udělení státního občanství České republiky

Who can apply for citizenship by naturalisation

The applicant must hold trvalý pobyt (permanent residence) in the Czech Republic and meet one of the conditions as to the period of residence

Permanent residence of at least 5 years (citizens of countries outside the EU)

Continuous trvalý pobyt in the Czech Republic of at least 5 years as at the date of the application
Any lawful residence in the Czech Republic before the age of 18 counts towards that period

Permanent residence of at least 3 years (EU citizens)

Continuous trvalý pobyt in the Czech Republic of at least 3 years as at the date of the application
Lawful residence in the Czech Republic before the age of 18 likewise counts towards that period

Alternative route — 10 years in total

Permanent residence together with the lawful residence in the Czech Republic immediately preceding it totals at least 10 years

Grounds for relaxing the residence requirement

The applicant was born on Czech territory
The applicant was previously a citizen of the Czech Republic or of the Czech Socialist Republic, and before 1968 of the Czechoslovak Republic or the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic
At least one of the applicant's parents is a Czech citizen
The applicant was adopted by a Czech citizen after reaching the age of 18
The applicant is married to or in a registered partnership with a Czech citizen and lives with them in the same household
Permanent residence was granted on humanitarian grounds, on other grounds deserving special consideration, or the stay is in the interests of the Czech Republic
The applicant has not yet turned 18 as at the date of the application
The applicant is stateless or holds valid azylant status

What it costs

Administrative fee for accepting the application (adult applicant)	2 000 CZK
Administrative fee for accepting the application (minor or applicant with azylant status)	500 CZK
The grant of citizenship itself (for applications filed after 2 August 2021)	0 CZK
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table.	2 500 CZK

Documents to gather

The package of documents for an application, which is filed in person at the regional authority

A birth certificate
A marriage certificate or document registering a partnership, if the applicant is married or in a partnership
A document on divorce or the ending of a partnership, if the marriage or partnership has been dissolved
A death certificate for a spouse or partner, where applicable
A certificate of no criminal record or an equivalent document no more than 6 months old, or a sworn declaration if the country does not issue such a certificate
A curriculum vitae in Czech covering the stay in the Czech Republic, work, study and family life
A document showing the Czech language and Czech life examinations have been passed, or a document showing exemption from the examinations
Documents confirming residence in the Czech Republic and trips abroad
A certificate of no tax arrears, no more than 30 days old
Documents on sources of income: pension, salary, the spouse's income, funds from abroad
For those in work — a certificate of employment stating the income, and employment contracts
For students — a certificate of study and the most recent school certificate or another document on study
Foreign documents — with an apostille and a translation into Czech, save for documents issued in Slovakia

How the process runs

The procedure for applying for citizenship

1
Pass the examinations and gather the documents
Pass the Czech language examination (at least level B1 under the ALTE system or an equivalent) and the examination on knowledge of Czech life at the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies of Charles University, unless exempt; prepare the complete package of documents
2
File the application in person
The application is filed in person at the regional authority for the place of permanent residence (in Prague — at the authority of the district Prague 1–22); the authority completes the form together with the applicant
3
Wait for the application to be forwarded to the ministry
30 days
The regional authority forwards the application, together with its own opinion and a certificate from the local self-government body, to the Ministry of the Interior within 30 days
4
Await the ministry's decision
180 days
The Ministry of the Interior examines the application and takes a decision within 180 days of receiving it; the applicant may be called in for an oral interview
5
Take the oath of allegiance and receive the certificate
no later than 12 months from the date of the invitation
After a positive decision you must publicly and solemnly take the oath of allegiance before the head of the regional authority (in Prague — the district secretary). Citizenship is acquired on the day of the oath, and at that moment the «Certificate of the grant of citizenship of the Czech Republic» is issued

Timelines and rights

Validity

Citizenship is open-ended. The ministry examines the application within 180 days of receiving it

Residence

An examination in Czech at level B1 or above under the ALTE certification, and an examination on basic knowledge of the cultural, social, geographical and historical facts of the Czech Republic

Who you can bring with you

Rules for spouses and children when filing an application

Spouses or registered partners

May file a joint application for citizenship

Children under 18

A parent may include the child in their own application or file a separate application on the child's behalf as legal representative; a child of 15 or over must give written consent to being included

A child where only one parent applies

The notarised consent of the other parent is required — save where they have been deprived of parental rights, their whereabouts are unknown or they have died

Children under 15

They do not take the oath of allegiance; they acquire citizenship on the day their legal representative receives the «Certificate of the grant of citizenship of the Czech Republic»

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

Citizenship is granted at the discretion of the Ministry of the Interior; there is no legal entitlement to it. The application is filed at the regional authority for the place of permanent residence, and in Prague at the authority of the city district Prague 1–22. Once citizenship is granted, the residence card must be returned to the Ministry of the Interior

Frequently asked questions about Citizenship by naturalisation

Who can apply for Czech citizenship by naturalisation?

Applications may be filed by foreign nationals and stateless people with permanent residence (trvalý pobyt) in the Czech Republic: citizens of countries outside the EU after at least 5 years of continuous permanent residence, EU citizens after at least 3 years, or any applicant whose period of permanent residence together with preceding lawful residence totals 10 years. Granting citizenship is a power, not a duty, of the Ministry of the Interior.

How much does it cost to apply for citizenship?

The administrative fee for accepting the application is 2,000 crowns for an adult applicant and 500 crowns for a minor or an applicant with azylant status. On special grounds the authority may reduce the fee to 500 crowns for an adult and to 100 crowns for a child or an azylant. The grant of citizenship itself is free of charge for applications filed after 2 August 2021; if the application is refused, the fee paid is not returned.

How long does the application take to examine?

The regional authority forwards the application to the Ministry of the Interior within 30 days, and the ministry takes a decision within 180 days of receiving the application.

Do you have to pass the Czech language examination?

Yes, you must pass the Czech language examination (at least level B1 under the ALTE system or an equivalent document) and the examination on knowledge of Czech life — the constitutional system, culture, geography and history — at the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies of Charles University. Both examinations are waived for those who have studied for at least 3 years at a school or university taught in Czech, those who are not yet 15 or are already over 65, and people with a physical or mental impairment that makes learning the language impossible.

What happens to children when the parents apply?

Spouses may file a joint application. A parent may include a child under 18 in their own application or file a separate application on the child's behalf as legal representative; a child of 15 or over must give written consent. If only one parent applies, the notarised consent of the other is required — save where they have been deprived of parental rights, their whereabouts are unknown or they have died.

Is it true that applications from Russian citizens are not currently being examined?

Yes. Act No. 24/2025 Sb. suspended proceedings on applications from citizens of the Russian Federation for Czech citizenship filed under § 11 of Act No. 186/2013 Sb.: applications received by the ministry before 10 February 2025 are suspended from 11 February 2025, and those received later from the day after they were received. The suspension remains in force until § 2 of Act No. 65/2022 Sb. is repealed and does not affect applications from azylants or from the legal representatives of children under 15.

What happens if you do not attend the oath of allegiance in time?

After a positive decision you must take the oath of allegiance no later than 12 months from the date you receive the invitation. Citizenship is acquired on the day of the oath, and the «Certificate of the grant of citizenship of the Czech Republic» is issued at the same time. If the applicant fails to take the oath within that period, the ministry discontinues the proceedings and revokes the decision granting citizenship.

Other ways to move to Czechia

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Czechia.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.