Just 2 months ago, the Slovakian government modified its citizenship program.The amendments were done to the Citizenship Act, and they help resolve a critical issue that has been around for decades.The modifications allow former Czechoslovak and Slovak citizens (who were stripped of citizenship in 2011) to regain their citizenship status again.The bill is also quite inclusive. It allows citizenship based on ties three generations away (great grandfathers) of former citizens.This is an excellent offer for former citizens. After all, Slovakia offers one of the world’s best passports, granting access to over 180 countries. Also, being an EU member, residents can get work authorization across the entire European Union.Plus, Slovakia is also accepting of citizens wielding a second passport. This is something that many Slovaks abroad may desire. That’ll be retaining citizenship in one country, while maintaining a tie to their country of origin.
The country has been in an upward economic development for years.For almost two decades, Slovakia has been loosening restrictions to attract more investors while transitioning to a free market system.Slovakia has seen many foreign companies establishing branches there (especially major automotive companies). Specifically, the last 3 years have seen a boom in remote working residents (or digital nomads), seeking employment options there.
So far, the requirements of the program are quite lax. There’s no requirement for Slovak language proficiency. No tests are needed to check cultural or historic familiarity. However, it’s still unknown if applicants need to be in Slovakia during the application process.Otherwise, it may be said that many eligible Slovaks might not be aware that they’re qualified.The new amendments allow applicants to claim citizenship through ties of up to 14 descendants, extending to great-grandparents.Additionally, only a single qualifying relative is needed. Applicants do not need to prove heritage purity or descent through a specific parent.
Many are following closely, especially ethnic Slovaks residing in the US.The US does host the largest Slovak diaspora in the world. It’s estimated that over 800,000 potentially qualified applicants may be living there.Other groups watching the changes include professional Slovaks (made up of university professors and immigration experts), who have organized themselves into a group called “One Slovak Family.”They have a large stake in the proposed amendments. It is a group comprised of those who support citizenship amendments and talks with the Slovak government and media.Otherwise, those most interested in the program are Slovaks living in non-EU states, and seeking the mobility of the EU. This applies especially to Slovaks living in the UK, which has recently left the EU while containing a large Slovak population.
The program is an excellent offer for applicants seeking to reconnect with their Slovakian heritage.However, the details of the program have yet to be defined. This will require a long legal analysis encompassing the past 110 years of the region.
Rebecca Gormish
Chicago, IL | Slovak Citizenship by Descent program
