AKMV 
- Certificate of a Slovak Living Abroad
- When Is a Person with the Status of a Slovak Living Abroad Entitled to Be Granted Citizenship?
- Residence Requirement
- Proficiency in the Slovak Language
- Conditions for Granting Slovak Citizenship
- Documents Required for the Application
- Decision-Making on the Application for the Granting of Citizenship
Persons who have been granted the status of a Slovak living abroad have the opportunity to apply for Slovak citizenship through a simplified procedure, meaning without fulfilling the general 8-year residency requirement.
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We are happy to assist you with the entire process of obtaining residency, citizenship, and the certificate of a Slovak living abroad. Do not hesitate to contact us at recepcia@akmv.sk.
Certificate of a Slovak Living Abroad
The first step in applying for Slovak citizenship for this reason is to have the status of a Slovak living abroad officially recognized. You can learn more about the conditions for obtaining the certificate in our article: Procedure for Issuing the Certificate of a Slovak Living Abroad
Legal Advice on This Topic HERE: Certificate of a Slovak Living Abroad
When Is a Person with the Status of a Slovak Living Abroad Entitled to Be Granted Citizenship?
A person who holds a Certificate of a Slovak Living Abroad can apply for Slovak citizenship in the following cases:
- If they have had continuous residence in Slovakia for at least 3 years immediately preceding the submission of the application. The applicant must have been physically present in Slovakia throughout this period.
- If they have been granted residence in Slovakia and have made a significant contribution to the community of Slovaks living abroad from which they originate, in the economic, scientific, technical, cultural, social, or sports field. In this case, it is sufficient that the applicant has been granted residence, and they do not need to be physically present in Slovakia for the purpose of obtaining citizenship.
Notice
A foreign national is required to fulfill obligations under other laws, particularly the Foreigners’ Residence Act, which regulates, for example, the minimum period of stay in Slovakia (even in cases where the Citizenship Act does not impose this requirement).
Residence Requirement
The simplest way to obtain residence is to apply for a temporary residence permit for a Slovak living abroad. The Foreign Police grants this residence for a period of 5 years.
Of course, a Slovak living abroad is not excluded from applying for another type of residence. However, for the purpose of obtaining Slovak citizenship, the applicant must be granted a temporary residence permit for a Slovak living abroad, and other types of residence are not accepted.
For more details on temporary residence, see our article Slovak Living Abroad – Temporary Residence in Slovakia.
Proficiency in the Slovak Language
Proof of proficiency in the Slovak language (both spoken and written) and general knowledge of the Slovak Republic for the purpose of granting citizenship is not required if the applicant has been issued a valid certificate confirming the status of a Slovak living abroad.
Conditions for Granting Slovak Citizenship
Additional conditions for granting Slovak citizenship include:
- Fulfillment of obligations arising from legal regulations governing the residence of foreigners in Slovakia, public health insurance, social insurance, pension savings, taxes, levies, fees, employment of foreigners, and other obligations applicable to foreigners under the legal system of the Slovak Republic.
- The applicant must have a clean criminal record, must not have been issued a deportation order, and must not be subject to criminal prosecution, extradition proceedings, enforcement of a European Arrest Warrant, administrative expulsion, or revocation of asylum.
Documents Required for the Application
In addition to the general documents required for the application for the granting of citizenship, it is necessary to submit a certificate proving the status of a Slovak living abroad.
If a foreign national is applying for citizenship based on significant merits, it is advisable to attach recommendations from organizations in which the applicant is active, a recommendation from the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad, and confirmations of their achievements.
The ministry may also request additional documents necessary to verify facts and make a decision on the matter.
Decision-Making on the Application for the Granting of Citizenship
The application must be submitted in person at:
- The district office in the seat of the region,
- A diplomatic mission, or
- The consular office of the Slovak Republic.
An application for the granting of citizenship for a Slovak living abroad who has made a significant contribution to the community is assessed by the ministry after obtaining a prior opinion from the Office for Slovaks Living Abroad and is then submitted to the minister, who makes the final decision.
A decision on the application for the granting of citizenship must be made within 24 months from the date it is received by the ministry.
