ZIP Citizenship

One of the most common questions we keep receiving in recent months is whether it makes sense to apply for Slovak citizenship by descent now or wait until the new rules take effect on 15 July 2026.

In most cases, our answer is simple: if you have not already secured a submission appointment before 15 July 2026, securing it after this date is likely to be the more practical option.

Why?

Under the current rules, citizenship-by-descent applicants must first obtain a residence permit before their citizenship application can be considered.

For applicants submitting their applications in Slovakia, this means dealing with two separate authorities: the Foreign Police, which handles the residence permit application, and the District Office, where the citizenship application is submitted.

From 15 July 2026, this requirement disappears. Eligible descendants of former Czechoslovak citizens will no longer need to obtain a residence permit before applying for Slovak citizenship.

For applicants applying through Slovak embassies and consulates abroad, the benefit may be less obvious because they already attend only a single appointment. However, their application currently includes a separate residency procedure that must be approved before the citizenship application can proceed. From 15 July 2026, this procedure will be removed, making the overall process simpler and more straightforward.

What About Appointment Availability?

Appointment availability varies considerably depending on the country and the diplomatic mission involved. In some locations, appointments may be available within a few weeks, while in others waiting times can reach several months. Waiting times of two to six months are not uncommon.

As a result, many applicants who are only now considering their options may find that obtaining an appointment before the changes take effect is simply not realistic.

Our Recommendation

If you already have an appointment scheduled, we would generally recommend keeping it. Appointment availability can vary significantly between countries and diplomatic missions, and obtaining a new appointment may result in additional delays.

For applicants who do not yet have an appointment, securing an appointment after 15 July 2026 will often be the more practical option, as the residency requirement will no longer apply and the process will involve fewer administrative steps.

If you are considering applying for Slovak citizenship by descent and would like to discuss the best timing for your application, we would be happy to help.

ZIP Citizenship provides full citizenship-by-descent assistance, including application preparation, obtaining Slovak documents in support of your application, and in-person support for clients submitting their applications in Slovakia.

Contact us at info@zip-citizenship.sk or complete our Eligibility Check to discuss your options.

Good news for descendants of former Czechoslovak citizens.

The changes approved by Parliament largely reflect the original proposal published by the Ministry of Interior earlier this year. From 15 July 2026, the citizenship-by-descent process will become significantly simpler on the administrative side and thus more accessible.

While the key requirement for applicants — the eligibility criteria —remains unchanged, the application process will be less bureaucratic and more practical, particularly for applicants living abroad.

The Slovak government recently approved proposed changes to the Slovak Citizenship Act. If everything goes smoothly in parliament, starting on July 15th 2026, the new rules will apply. This article explains the key proposed changes, which we consider to be all positive.

Thousands of Slovaks emigrated from Austro-Hungarian Empire before 1910. When do their ancestors qualify for Slovak citizenship by descent? This article provides answers. In short, legal situation in pre-1910 cases is more complex, but increasingly optimistic. Zip Citizenship encourages and helps applicants to apply even with pre-1910 cases, as some of such cases clearly had success in the past. However, unlike in post-1910 cases, there are several caveats that we always convey to our clients to avoid any surprises down the line.

Slovak authorities are currently deciding fairly quickly. The main bottleneck is the system of appointments at some Slovak embassies and the acquisition of documents at the preparatory stage.

This article explains who qualifies for citizenship based on their Slovak ancestry.