For decades, the Vietnamese community has been one of the most successful and well-integrated immigrant communities in the Czech Republic. Many Vietnamese families first started arriving the 1990s after the split of Czechoslovakia. By 2024, the Vietnamese population had grown to nearly 70,000 people, making it one of the country’s largest national minorities.
Thousands of their children were born or raised in the Czech Republic. They attended Czech public schools, speak fluent Czech, have Czech friends, and often know no other home. Despite this, many young Vietnamese adults are surprised to learn that they may already qualify for Czech citizenship through a much simpler legal procedure than standard naturalization.
At Top Visa Consulting, we regularly help young adults and their families discover this little-known opportunity and guide them through the entire application process.
A Special Route to Czech Citizenship under Section 35
Since 1 January 2014, the Czech Citizenship Act has contained a special provision that allows certain foreign nationals who grew up in the Czech Republic to acquire Czech citizenship by declaration rather than through the standard naturalisation process.
This procedure is governed by Section 35 of Act No. 186/2013 Coll., on Czech Citizenship.
Unlike ordinary naturalisation, applicants using this pathway do not need to demonstrate the same level of integration requirements typically associated with citizenship applications. Instead, the law recognises that individuals who spent their childhood in the Czech Republic have already established strong ties to the country.
Who Can Apply?
You may qualify if you:
- are between 18 and 21 years of age;
- have held legal residence in the Czech Republic since at least the age of 10;
- have been physically present in the Czech Republic for at least two-thirds of your total residence period;
- have not been convicted of serious criminal offences; and
- meet the remaining statutory requirements under Section 35 of the Czech Citizenship Act.
If you were born in the Czech Republic, you will generally need to demonstrate physical presence for at least two-thirds of the period since your birth. Though exceptions may apply based on Czech case law and jurisprudence.
This is one of the simplest legal pathways to Czech citizenship available under Czech law.
The Importance of Proving Physical Presence
The most important part of the application is proving that you genuinely lived in the Czech Republic for the required period.
Although the Ministry of the Interior can consider many different types of evidence, in practice the strongest and most widely accepted proof consists of your school report cards (školní vysvědčení).
These documents demonstrate continuous attendance at Czech schools over many years and are generally considered the best evidence that you were physically present in the country.
Applicants should therefore gather copies of every available school report from elementary school and secondary school (and in some cases, attendance records even from kindergarten or preschool!).
Other Supporting Evidence
While school reports are usually the key documents, additional evidence can further strengthen an application.
Examples include:
- employment contracts;
- confirmation of employment;
- tax records;
- health insurance records;
- medical records showing visits to Czech doctors;
- university enrolment documents;
- vocational training certificates;
- rental agreements;
- other official documents demonstrating continuous residence in the Czech Republic.
These documents are generally considered supporting evidence, whereas school reports typically carry the greatest weight.
Timing Is Critical
One of the most important aspects of this procedure is the age limit.
Applications under Section 35 may only be submitted after reaching the age of 18, but they must be filed before the applicant turns 21.
Once an applicant reaches their 21st birthday, this simplified pathway is no longer available.
Missing this deadline may mean that the individual must instead pursue the standard naturalisation process, which is generally more demanding and subject to additional legal requirements.
For this reason, we strongly recommend beginning preparations well before the applicant’s 21st birthday.
Why Many Eligible Applicants Never Apply
Despite this law having existed for more than a decade, many eligible Vietnamese families remain unaware of it.
Parents often assume that their children must wait many years or complete the standard citizenship process, when in reality they may already qualify under Section 35.
Because the application relies heavily on historical documents such as school records, it is also common for applicants to underestimate the time required to collect the necessary paperwork.
Starting early can help avoid unnecessary delays.
How Top Visa Consulting Can Help
Our team has extensive experience assisting foreign nationals with Czech citizenship applications.
We can help you:
- determine whether you qualify under Section 35;
- review your residence history;
- identify any missing documents;
- obtain historical school records where necessary;
- prepare the declaration and supporting documentation;
- communicate with the Czech authorities throughout the process.
If you are between 18 and 21 years old and grew up in the Czech Republic, there is a good chance you may qualify for this simplified pathway to Czech citizenship.
Need Help Applying?
This form of Czech citizenship is not just for Vietnamese graduates. If you believe you or your child may be eligible for obtaining Czech citizenship by declaration and they have recently graduated, contact Top Visa Consulting for an initial assessment. We will review your circumstances, explain the legal requirements, and help you prepare a complete application with the best possible chance of success.
The earlier you begin, the easier it is to gather the required documents before the statutory deadline expires.
Contact us at: 📧 ephram@top-visa.cz
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🇻🇳 Bạn có thể đủ điều kiện xin quốc tịch Séc?
Nếu bạn là người Việt Nam đã sinh sống tại Cộng hòa Séc từ nhỏ, đã học tại các trường học của Séc và hiện đang trong độ tuổi từ 18 đến 21, bạn có thể đủ điều kiện xin quốc tịch Séc (české občanství) theo § 35 Luật Quốc tịch Séc bằng hình thức tuyên bố (prohlášení).
Nhiều bạn trẻ người Việt không biết rằng mình có thể có một con đường đơn giản hơn để nhận quốc tịch Séc mà không cần trải qua toàn bộ quy trình nhập quốc tịch thông thường. Do cộng đồng người Việt là một trong những cộng đồng lớn nhất tại Cộng hòa Séc, người Việt hiện cũng là nhóm chiếm số lượng lớn nhất trong các hồ sơ xin quốc tịch theo quy định này.
TOP Visa Consulting có kinh nghiệm hỗ trợ các gia đình Việt Nam chuẩn bị hồ sơ xin quốc tịch Séc, từ việc đánh giá điều kiện, thu thập giấy tờ như školní vysvědčení (học bạ), cho đến chuẩn bị và nộp hồ sơ với cơ quan có thẩm quyền.
Hãy liên hệ với chúng tôi để được đánh giá trường hợp của bạn:
🇨🇿 Máte nárok na české občanství podle § 35?
Pokud jste vietnamského původu, vyrůstali jste v České republice, navštěvovali české školy a je vám mezi 18 a 21 lety, můžete mít nárok na získání českého občanství zjednodušeným způsobem podle § 35 zákona č. 186/2013 Sb., o státním občanství České republiky, formou prohlášení.
Mnoho mladých Vietnamců žijících v České republice neví, že mohou mít jednodušší cestu k získání českého občanství, protože jejich dlouhodobý život, vzdělání a integrace v České republice již prokazují jejich silné vazby k této zemi. Vietnamci tvoří jednu z největších skupin žadatelů podle tohoto ustanovení.
TOP Visa Consulting pomáhá vietnamským rodinám s celým procesem získání českého občanství, včetně posouzení nároku, získání potřebných dokumentů jako jsou školní vysvědčení, přípravy prohlášení a komunikace s úřady.
Kontaktujte nás pro individuální posouzení vašeho případu:
