A hopeful beginning
Our client’s father was born in Trutnov, Czechoslovakia, in the late 1940s. The family left the country in the 1950s—first for Israel, later for Canada. On paper, everything looked clear: a Czech-born parent, well-documented family history, and a seemingly direct path to citizenship by descent.
Because the family’s story stretched across borders and decades, we recommended starting with a careful two-step process. First, we would confirm the father’s Czech citizenship through the official certificate. Once confirmed, we could proceed with the client’s own application.
The unexpected discovery
It seemed like a straightforward plan. But the archives had a surprise waiting.
During the research, we discovered that the father had unknowingly renounced his Czechoslovak citizenship decades ago. When the family emigrated to Israel, formal renunciation was likely a condition of the emigration process at the time. The father had never been informed of this, and such records are not publicly available in advance. There was no way to confirm it beforehand.
Adjusting the path forward
Fortunately, Czech law provides a solution. Under § 31 of the Citizenship Act, individuals who lost their Czechoslovak citizenship in the past—even through formal citizenship renunciation—can now apply to reclaim it.
Once this came to light, we adjusted the approach and prepared new applications under this provision for both the father and his son.
A successful outcome
This week, the father’s certificate of (re)acquired citizenship was issued. The client’s own application is now in progress, and we expect a smooth path ahead.
What began as a simple descent case became a rediscovery of family history—and a reminder that taking time to confirm your ancestor’s status first can reveal essential details that change everything.
Takeaway: why it matters
Even with well-documented roots, older cases can hide surprises. Verifying your ancestor’s citizenship status first is often the key step that unlocks your own eligibility for Czech citizenship.
Curious about your family’s story?
We’ll be happy to explore the best path forward with you. Contact us and get a Citizenship story of your own.
