Have you been living in the Czech Republic since childhood, went to school here, made lifelong friends, and consider this country your true home – yet you are still holding a foreign passport? You might be surprised to learn that getting Czech citizenship doesn’t have to involve months of stress, language exams, or proving your income.
If you belong to the so-called “second generation” of foreigners living in Czechia, the law offers a special, simplified pathway just for you: a declaration under Section 35 of the Czech Citizenship Act.
The biggest beauty of this route is that if you fulfil the criteria, the authorities must grant you citizenship. Unlike the standard naturalization process, where the authorities evaluate many different criteria and can ultimately reject your application, here you are legally entitled to citizenship if you meet the basic conditions. The whole process is also handled locally and typically takes only around two months, making it a truly streamlined option.
A Strict Three-Year Window
Because this pathway is specifically tailored for young adults, it comes with one very important condition: timing. The law opens this door on your 18th birthday and closes it the day before you turn 21. It is a strict three-year window from the age of majority. If someone misses this deadline, their only option later in life is the standard, much more demanding citizenship application.
Who is this opportunity for?
Forget about proving your parents’ income, presenting debt-free certificates, or submitting health insurance history. The conditions are straightforward:
Essentially, it is designed for young people who:
- Hold permanent residence (trvalý pobyt) in the Czech Republic.
- Have legally and factually lived in the country since at least the age of 10 (specifically spending at least two-thirds of that time here).
- Have a clean criminal record.
What surprises many people the most is that you do not need to take any exams in the Czech language or Czech culture. The state automatically assumes that since you grew up here, you know the environment and speak the language fluently.
Explore Your Options Comfortably
If dealing with Czech authorities feels overwhelming, we can prepare your paperwork, verify that your foreign documents meet all legal criteria, and guide you through the process completely stress-free.
Want to find out if you qualify for this streamlined citizenship? Get in touch with us at Czechwise: just let us know where you are from and how long you have been living in the Czech Republic, and we will take care of the rest.
