In recent years, many descendants of Czech and Czechoslovak citizens have discovered their roots — only to find that the current law does not allow them to obtain citizenship, even when their ancestry is clear. The upcoming amendment to the Czech Citizenship Act could finally change that.
Acquiring citizenship based on descent is one of the most common ways to obtain Czech citizenship through your ancestors. Yet this system has never been perfect – for decades, it has contained certain discriminatory elements. The proposed Czech Citizenship Amendment seeks to reduce these inequalities and broaden access to citizenship for a wider group of descendants.
How does the amendment expand eligibility?
The amendment is highly anticipated, mainly because it would significantly expand eligibility for Czech citizenship by descent.
- Up to the fourth generation: Eligibility would extend to great-grandchildren of former citizens of Czechoslovakia or the Czech Republic.
- Children born abroad between 1949 and 1969: The amendment would also cover descendants of Czech parents born outside of Czechoslovakia between October 1, 1949, and May 7, 1969.
These changes are expected to make it possible for many families who were previously excluded to reconnect with their Czech citizenship.
When will the Czech Citizenship amendment be approved?
At this stage, it is not yet certain when – or even if – the amendment will be passed. The Czech parliamentary elections scheduled for early October 2025 add uncertainty, as a newly elected government is not obliged to continue with a bill introduced by its predecessor.
While not perfect, the amendment is generally regarded as a positive and necessary step toward fairer citizenship laws.
What happens next?
We are closely monitoring the progress of this amendment.
As soon as it becomes clear that the door to Czech citizenship may open for you, you’ll be the first to know.
