SLOVAKS LIVING ABROAD
The Slovak Republic, Slovakia for short, is a small country located in the very heart of Europe. In the last two centuries hundreds of thousands of Slovaks migated mainly to the USA, but later to Canada and other countries. Many returned to Slovakia, but nost have settled permanently in their new homes abroad.
Here we tell the stories of those who have returned as well as provide information for those wishing to re-establish links with their homeland.
Who are Slovaks living abroad?
Turbulent historical developments usually lead to a significant emigration rate from the affected area. It was no different in the case of Slovakia. The economic and later political situation in Slovakia at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century contributed to waves of emigration with thousands of people choosing to change their lives and move abroad.
Those who migrated have since started families in these countries or have already come to them with their families. Generations of descendants who followed their Slovak ancestors became citizens of the states their ancestors came. However, many of these descendants did not forget their Slovak roots, took an active interest in the culture of their ancestors, and passed on their knowledge to future generations.
Amendments to the Citizenship Act
The Slovak Republic has not forgotten the descendants of Slovaks who emigrated abroad. On April 1, 2022, it amended its Citizenship Act to open a route to citizenship by descent for applicants with a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was a Czechoslovak citizen born in the territory of present-day Slovakia.
A second amendment, in force from July 15, 2026, further simplified that route: it removed the residence-permit requirement and took the Immigration Police out of descent cases altogether.
For families whose Slovak line goes back more than three generations, the other route remains open: the Slovak Living Abroad certificate. There, you can also meet the residence requirement in Slovakia through a significant contribution to the community of Slovaks living abroad — the kind of contribution organizations such as this Foundation are asked to attest to.
The guide below sets out both routes as they stand after the 2026 amendment: which one applies to whom, what each requires, and how the procedure runs.
How can Slovaks living abroad acquire Slovak citizenship?
This guide was prepared by
FALATH & PARTNERS, the Bratislava law firm that was first in Slovakia to take up citizenship by descent when the route opened in April 2022 and has since represented more than a thousand applicants through its dedicated practice at
Slovak-citizenship.com.
