AKMV 
For Slovak communities living in Serbia—from Bački Petrovac to Kovačica—a new chapter opened in 2022. If you belong to a family that has preserved its Slovak heritage for generations, you now have a unique opportunity to turn that connection into an official Slovak Republic passport.
What did the “Citizenship by Descent” reform bring?
Thanks to a breakthrough amendment to the State Citizenship Act, the process for descendants of Slovak emigrants has changed fundamentally. The most important news for Serbian citizens is that eligibility for citizenship now extends back to the third generation (great-grandparents).
When do you become eligible for European citizenship?
- You have a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was a Czechoslovak citizen born in the territory of present-day Slovakia.
- You personally have never held Slovak citizenship in the past.
Interesting facts you should know
When preparing applications, we often encounter details that can be crucial for applicants:
- The loss of a forebear’s citizenship is not an obstacle: You may be eligible even if your ancestor later lost their Slovak or Czechoslovak citizenship (e.g., through naturalization abroad). The deciding factor is that they held it at some point—even for a single day—and were born in the territory of the Slovak Republic.
- Age exception: This simplified process applies to all descendants regardless of their age, as long as they meet the lineage requirement.
- Obtaining a 5-year permanent residency: Residency is granted based on the documents you submit with your citizenship application. While ordinary foreigners must live in Slovakia continuously for 8 to 10 years to obtain citizenship, you do not have to meet this condition.
- Slovak language is not required: Unlike other forms of naturalization, applying by descent does not require a Slovak language exam or a test on Slovak history and culture.
How to start?
The foundation of a successful application is a correctly reconstructed family tree supported by documentation. The most important documents you will need are:
- Birth and marriage certificates of your ancestors, which clearly confirm their origin, place of birth, and any name changes.
- Proof of your ancestor’s Czechoslovak citizenship, such as census records, an old passport, or other documents (ideally issued by Czechoslovak authorities) containing citizenship data.
Book a video consultation
During an initial video consultation, we will review your eligibility, examine the documents you currently have, and propose the most effective strategy. You can BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT HERE.
In addition to vital records, you will need a clean criminal record check from Serbia and any countries where you have resided in the last 15 years. This document must be officially authenticated (Apostille) and translated into Slovak.
According to the law, “a person is not considered of good character if:
- They were lawfully convicted of an intentional crime and five years have not passed since the conviction was expunged.
- Their prosecution for an intentional crime was lawfully conditionally suspended and five years have not passed since the end of the probationary period.
- Their prosecution for an intentional crime was terminated by a court or prosecutor’s decision to approve a settlement and five years have not passed since that decision took effect.
Additional documents required from your side:
- CV/Resume
- Proof of personal status: Marriage certificate, final divorce decree, or spouse’s death certificate (if applicable). Foreign documents require an official translation and Apostille/Superlegalization. If the certificate was issued in Slovakia or by the Special Registry, a copy suffices if the original is presented during filing.
- Proof of source of income: It is up to the applicant to demonstrate financial security (the more evidence, the better), e.g., employer confirmation, copy of an employment contract, tax return, investment confirmation, or an affidavit. Foreign documents require an official translation into Slovak. If you are a retiree, a pension statement is sufficient.
- Proof of health insurance.
Why turn to the experts?
Although the law has simplified the process, the administration at government offices and archives remains demanding. At our law firm, AKMV, we have been dedicated to this agenda since the very first day the new legislation took effect (April 2022). We have developed proven procedures that minimize the risk of rejection and accelerate communication with authorities.
Contact us at recepcia@akmv.sk!
