Slovakia · For your nationality or ancestry
Slovakia Slovak citizenship by ancestry
Grant of Slovak citizenship to descendants of Czechoslovak citizens born in Slovakia (Act 40/1993 Section 7(2)(j), in force 1 April 2022)
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedRule changed 1 Apr 2022Change log
Key facts
Slovak citizenship by ancestry is a for your nationality or ancestry route for Slovakia. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
Time and long term
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
In person at a district office in a regional capital or at a Slovak diplomatic mission or consular office; the applicant must hold permitted residence in Slovakia.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Slovakia
What you'll need
Who can apply6
- At least one of your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents was a Czechoslovak citizen born in the territory of the Slovak Republic.
- You have never been a Slovak citizen.
- You hold permitted residence in Slovakia when you apply.
- Only the condition of eight years of continuous permanent residence is waived; proof of Slovak language and general knowledge is also not required for this category.
- The law says citizenship may be granted to such an applicant; it is a discretionary decision, not an entitlement.
- General conditions still apply: no criminal prosecution, extradition, expulsion or asylum-withdrawal proceedings pending.
Steps1
- Apply in person at a district office in a regional capital, or at a Slovak diplomatic mission or consular office.
What happens at day 183
How Slovakia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a calendar yearStaying in Slovakia at least 183 days in the calendar year, continuous or in several periods, makes the person habitually resident (unlimited liability).
- Foreign-source income
Individuals with permanent residence, a home or habitual abode in Slovakia are taxed on worldwide income; employment-type income is taxed at 19%, 25%, 30% and 35% on bands tied to the subsistence minimum.
All tax rules for Slovakia Tax records checked
Full official text
Since 1 April 2022 a person who was never a Slovak citizen and who holds permitted residence in Slovakia may be granted citizenship without the eight years of permanent residence, if at least one parent, grandparent or great-grandparent was a Czechoslovak citizen born in the territory of today's Slovakia. The law says citizenship may be granted, so the decision is discretionary. These applicants are exempt from the Slovak language test. 1 2 3
Requirements
- At least one of your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents was a Czechoslovak citizen born in the territory of the Slovak Republic. 1 2
- You have never been a Slovak citizen. 1 2
- You hold permitted residence in Slovakia when you apply. 1 3
- Only the condition of eight years of continuous permanent residence is waived; proof of Slovak language and general knowledge is also not required for this category. 1 2
- The law says citizenship may be granted to such an applicant; it is a discretionary decision, not an entitlement. 1 3
- General conditions still apply: no criminal prosecution, extradition, expulsion or asylum-withdrawal proceedings pending. 1
- Apply in person at a district office in a regional capital, or at a Slovak diplomatic mission or consular office. 3
Stay
- Citizenship is permanent once acquired; it is not a time-limited permit.
Nationality
Open to people of any nationality who hold permitted residence in Slovakia and have a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent who was a Czechoslovak citizen born in present-day Slovakia.
Work
A Slovak citizen may live and work in Slovakia and, as an EU citizen, across the EU and EEA.
Family
Each descendant applies in their own right; children are included in a parent's application under the general rules.
Fine print
A residence permit in Slovakia is needed before applying; this record does not cover how to obtain one. The fee and the document checklist were not found on the pages read.
Official sources
- Udelenie štátneho občianstva Slovenskej republiky (§ 7 zákona č. 40/1993 Z. z.) · Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky · checked 2026-10-11
- Zákon č. 72/2022 Z. z., ktorým sa mení a dopĺňa zákon č. 40/1993 Z. z. o štátnom občianstve Slovenskej republiky · Slov-Lex (Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2022-03-11
- Act No. 40/1993 Coll. on Slovak citizenship, Section 7 (granting of citizenship) · Slov-Lex (Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic) · checked 2026-10-11
Slovak citizenship by ancestry and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slovak citizenship by ancestry | – | – | – |
| CPLP residence Portugal | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Spanish nationality by descent and option Spain | – | – | – |
| Italian citizenship by descent Italy | – | – | Yes |
| Greek citizenship by descent Greece | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Slovak citizenship by ancestry?
Citizenship is permanent once acquired; it is not a time-limited permit.
Can I work on the Slovak citizenship by ancestry?
A Slovak citizen may live and work in Slovakia and, as an EU citizen, across the EU and EEA.
Can I bring my family on the Slovak citizenship by ancestry?
Each descendant applies in their own right; children are included in a parent's application under the general rules.
More in Slovakia
Nationality or ancestry visas elsewhere
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 3 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Udelenie štátneho občianstva Slovenskej republiky (§ 7 zákona č. 40/1993 Z. z.) · Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky · checked 2026-10-11
- Zákon č. 72/2022 Z. z., ktorým sa mení a dopĺňa zákon č. 40/1993 Z. z. o štátnom občianstve Slovenskej republiky · Slov-Lex (Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR) · checked 2026-10-11
- Act No. 40/1993 Coll. on Slovak citizenship, Section 7 (granting of citizenship) · Slov-Lex (Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.