If you’re eligible for Slovak citizenship by descent, it might seem like a good idea to apply as soon as possible. But you need to be more strategic —especially if you plan to apply for another citizenship as well.
Slovak law does not limit your ability to keep other citizenships that you have acquired before Slovak citizenship. However, once you gain Slovak citizenship, Slovak law can limit your ability to acquire further citizenship if you do not want to lose it.
You Should Apply for Other Citizenships First — Before Slovak Citizenship by Descent
Lucia Husovcova
Under Slovak law, acquiring another citizenship *after* becoming a Slovak citizen can lead to an automatic loss of your Slovak citizenship.
As noted above, this rule does not apply to prior citizenships. If you already hold another citizenship before acquiring Slovak citizenship, you’re safe. But if you become a Slovak citizen first, and then acquire a new foreign citizenship voluntarily (by naturalisation, for example), you risk losing your Slovak passport.
This means that under Slovak law, you can have multiple citizenships; however, after obtaining Slovak citizenship, gaining further citizenships risks losing Slovak citizenship.
How to protect your Slovak citizenship
To avoid this problem, the best strategy is to apply for any other citizenships first, and only then apply for Slovak citizenship by descent.
For example: suppose you are a US citizen and have ancestors from Ukraine and Slovakia, and want to gain Slovak and Ukrainian citizenship.
❌ Problematic path: Slovak citizenship by descent (first) → Ukrainian citizenship by descent (second) → Slovak citizenship may be lost
If you lose Slovak citizenship in this way, you might be able to regain it. But it means extra complications.
Note, the above only speaks to the possibility of double citizenship according to Slovak law. If you hold several citizenships, always check if your existing citizenship allows you to hold more citizenships at the same time.
Exemptions
The loss of Slovak citizenship after acquiring subsequent citizenship is not automatic (§ 9(16) of the Citizenship Act, see exemptions in § 9(17) and §9(18)). However, it usually requires a proof of 5 years of residence in the country whose citizenship was acquired after Slovak citizenship.
Again, none of this applies to citizenships that were acquired prior to Slovak citizenship by descent.
Conclusion
If you’re pursuing multiple citizenships, plan the order of applications carefully. Starting with other countries and finishing with Slovakia is the safest way to preserve your Slovak citizenship long-term.
Have questions or need help with your application? Contact us and we’ll guide you through every step.