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Acquiring Czech citizenship by grant

Permanent residence, Czech language and civics exams, a clean record — and even after meeting every condition, there is still no legal entitlement to citizenship. The Ministry of the Interior decides, but you file the application at the regional office.

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Verified 24 September 202614 cited law paragraphs

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What this depends on

You'll need to know this about your plan

  • What are you basing your application on?
  • Are you a citizen of another EU state?Only asked in some cases
  • How many years of uninterrupted permitted permanent residence do you already have in the Czech Republic?Only asked in some cases

Possible outcomes

How this can turn out

  • You meet the residence period, other conditions now matter

    After 5 years of uninterrupted permanent residence you can apply, but the ministry still decides at its discretion and you must also meet the exams, clean record and integration conditions.

    Ministry of the InteriorCZK 2,000 for an adult (CZK 500 for a minor)The ministry decides within 180 days of the application being delivered
    • I have (or will have) permanent residence in the Czech Republic
    • No
    • 5 years
    Open this result
  • 3 years of permanent residence is enough for you

    As a citizen of an EU state you get a shortened residence period (3 years instead of 5); the other conditions (exams, clean record, integration) apply the same as for anyone else.

    Ministry of the InteriorCZK 2,000 for an adultThe ministry decides within 180 days of the application being delivered
    • I have (or will have) permanent residence in the Czech Republic
    • Yes
    Open this result
  • A special procedure, without exams

    If granting citizenship would be an exceptional contribution to the Czech Republic, you don't have to meet the usual conditions (permanent residence, exams), except a clean record. You must prove it with a document from an institution, not your own statement.

    Ministry of the InteriorCZK 2,000 for an adultThe ministry decides within 180 days of the application being delivered
    • It's an exceptional contribution to the Czech Republic (science, culture, sport...)
    Open this result
  • You don't yet meet the residence period

    A standard applicant (outside the EU) needs 5 years of uninterrupted permanent residence. The law does allow counting previous authorised residence too, if it adds up to 10 years total.

    Ministry of the Interior
    • I have (or will have) permanent residence in the Czech Republic
    • No
    • 4 years
    Open this result

Where this comes from

Primary sources, not a paraphrase

§ 13Act No. 186/2013 Coll. (Czech Citizenship Act): integration as a condition§ 14 odst. 1 písm. a)Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: 5 years' permanent residence (standard applicant)§ 14 odst. 3Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: clean record§ 14 odst. 4Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: language exam§ 14 odst. 5Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: civics exam§ 17Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: the application is filed at the regional office§ 12Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: no legal entitlement to the grant, the ministry decides§ 23 odst. 1Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: 180-day deadline for a decision§ 27 odst. 5Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: state citizenship oath within 12 monthsSazebník, položka 8 bod 13 a 14Act No. 634/2004 Coll.: fee for the application§ 14 odst. 1 písm. b)Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: 3 years' permanent residence for an EU citizen§ 16Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: grant for an exceptional contribution§ 14 odst. 1Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: 5 / 3 / combined 10-year permanent residence period§ 14 odst. 2Act No. 186/2013 Coll.: actually residing on the territory, absence limits

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