Relocating to permanent residence in Europe is not an easy task. One of the most sought-after countries that Russians and Ukrainians would like to immigrate to is the Czech Republic. How to obtain citizenship of this state? Let's try to understand in detail the nuances of this issue.
The popularity of the Czech Republic among the Slavs is easily explained by their mental similarity with the indigenous inhabitants, the commonality of history, traditions and languages. The process of obtaining Czech citizenship can take quite a long period of time, however, those who are ready to go all the way in their aspirations will receive a valuable reward - the opportunity to live in a country that is one of the thirty most developed countries with a high standard of living.
Benefits of obtaining a Czech passport
The present Czech Republic is a full member of the European Union, which is one of the member states of the Schengen Agreement. The stable economic situation of the country and the steady increase in the living standards of the Czechs attract immigrants from the post-Soviet states. How to obtain Czech citizenship? For Russians and Ukrainians, the benefits are obvious:
- the holder of a Czech national passport has the right to freely move around the territory of the European Union;
- with Czech citizenship, the process of obtaining citizenship of any other EU country is greatly simplified;
- Czech citizens have the right to apply for free education at any local or European university;
- Czech university diplomas are recognized worldwide;
- Czech citizens are allowed to become owners of real estate not only within the Republic, but also in the territory of any other EU countries with the possibility of mortgage lending at a favorable interest rate;
- possessing Czech citizenship, the right arises to participate in elections and cast their votes for worthy candidates;
- decent level of social protection of local residents;
- Czech citizens have an advantage over foreigners in matters of employment within their country;
- Czechs also have the right to work without additional permits and patents in other EU countries;
- creation of more favorable and favorable conditions for doing business both in the Czech Republic and within the European Union;
- the possibility of obtaining a visa in a simplified manner for a trip to Canada or the United States.
Foreigners who automatically obtain citizenship
How to obtain Czech citizenship to a Russian citizen? You will only be able to get your treasured passport without long paperwork if you were born in the territory of this country. In addition, it is important that at least one of your parents has Czech citizenship. If the mother and father of a child born in this country were stateless, children automatically become its citizens.
From people who dream of living in Old Europe, one can often hear inaccurate information about how a Russian citizen can obtain Czech citizenship. Some parents specifically go to the territory of this country so that their baby is born here, which supposedly would automatically make him a European citizen. However, local authorities took care not only of providing migrants with certain guarantees of legalization in the territory of the state, but also of limiting the possibility of obtaining citizenship in the event of a child being born to foreigners. If both parents at the time of the birth of the child were in the status of foreign tourists, there is no question of providing him with a Czech passport.
Thus, in order for a Russian to obtain citizenship in the Czech Republic according to a simplified scheme, it is important to not only be born on the territory of this country, but also have a Czech parent. If you do not belong to this category, you will have to go through a lengthy procedure for issuing a country's passport.
Basic conditions to be met by the candidate
Thinking about ways to obtain Czech citizenship, study the migration legislation of this state. To qualify for this status, the following conditions must be met by a foreigner or stateless person:
- permanent residence in the Czech Republic (permanent residence implies, in Russia the right to permanent residence is granted to foreigners by a residence permit);
- depending on the immigration program, the submission of documents for citizenship must be preceded by a certain period of permanent residence in the territory of the state (from 3 to 8 years);
- the absence of administrative offenses and other problems with the law, confirmed by an official certificate issued by national law enforcement agencies for the period of stay in the country in any status;
- the presence of a stable legal source of income, which covers the cost of living for the immigrant himself and his minor children, excluding social benefits from the state;
- availability of a certificate of successful passing the test of knowledge of the Czech language, knowledge of it at the level necessary for full socialization in the country;
- diploma of passing the test for knowledge of the fundamentals of legislation, history, traditions and culture of the Czech Republic.
Foreigners who arrived on the territory of the state in refugee status are exempted from compliance with the last two paragraphs.
What documents are needed
The list of documents for applying for Czech citizenship may vary, depending on the state program chosen by the migrant. In all cases, the following are required:
- valid passport;
- 4 photos (without corners, size 3.5 x 4.5 cm);
- original birth certificate and its translation into Czech, notarized;
- a document confirming the status of a foreigner (stateless person) and which is the basis for legal stay in the country;
- autobiography;
- original marriage certificate with translation into Czech;
- certificate of no criminal record, as well as open administrative or criminal proceedings against the applicant;
- written explanation of the further status of citizenship of the country of origin (the applicant has the right to retain it or refuse it);
- certificates from the tax service confirming the absence of debts;
- availability of a place for permanent residence (a certificate of ownership or a long-term lease agreement can serve as confirmation);
- health certificates issued by a Czech specialized medical institution;
- receipt of state duty, the amount of which for an adult is CZK 2,000; at the exchange rate in force at the time of publication of the article, 2,000 Czech crowns are equivalent to almost 5,700 rubles.
Where to file and how long to wait for a decision
How to obtain Czech citizenship? From a technical point of view, the procedure is relatively simple. The applicant must submit a petition to the municipal authorities at the place of residence and submit the main package of documents, which will be submitted to the police department on migration issues. There, within 30 calendar days, a thorough check is carried out for the authenticity of documents and the accuracy of the information. After that, the package of documents will be transferred directly to the internal affairs bodies. The ministry considers the application within 90 days.
During the three months of considering the application, the applicant should not leave the Czech Republic, since at any time he can be invited for an interview. The call occurs in 9 out of 10 cases. The interview allows the commission of the migration authority making the decision on granting Czech citizenship to make sure that the applicant is fluent in the state language. In addition, a potential Czech citizen orally should tell his biography, answer questions about the reasons that prompted immigration, etc.
Citizenship of minors is granted simultaneously with parents. Spouses submit a single application with a request to grant citizenship to their offspring. If it is impossible for one of the parents to be present, the second must document the reason for the absence of the spouse (death, deprivation of parental rights by the court, serving a sentence with imprisonment, etc.)
Next, we will get acquainted with the most popular immigration programs, according to which you can obtain Czech citizenship to a citizen of the Russian Federation. As a rule, they are suitable for citizens of any of the post-Soviet republics.
By natural naturalization
The algorithm for obtaining citizenship according to the general scheme is as follows:
- Upon arrival in the Czech Republic, an immigrant with a Schengen or national category āDā visa must apply for a residence permit. The status is issued for a year, after which it can be renewed for a period of 2 years an unlimited number of times.
- After five years of residence with a residence permit, you must apply for permanent residence status.
- A foreigner is entitled to apply for Czech citizenship after three years in the country on the basis of permanent residence.
Thus, eight years will pass from the moment of entry into the territory of the Czech Republic until the receipt of a passport. Often you can hear the version that supposedly enough to take ownership of an apartment or a private house in order to apply for Czech citizenship. When buying real estate for Russians, however, as well as for immigrants from other countries, no privileges or reduction in the terms for issuing a passport are provided. However, private ownership in the country can be an additional advantage when obtaining a residence permit.
Marriage Citizenship
This is a very popular way to purchase a Czech passport. Czech law recognizes only official marriage. Here, the procedure for obtaining citizenship is largely similar to the Russian one: a foreigner (foreigner) who has been married to a Czech and has been in official relations for more than three years can become the holder of Czech citizenship and at the same time the EU. When submitting a petition, spouses are required to prove that they live together, have a joint household and own common property.
If the marriage is found to be fictitious, then a foreigner who has used this method of obtaining citizenship is threatened with arrest, followed by deportation and a life-time ban on entry into the Czech Republic. To obtain citizenship, as in all EU countries, here you can not only by traditional, but also by same-sex marriage.
Business immigration
Until 2004, this method of acquiring Czech citizenship was one of the simplest - the authorities were not particularly interested in the activities of companies created by foreigners. The main thing is that the entrepreneur pays taxes. After the Czech Republic joined the EU, the conditions for doing business became tougher.
However, even today, for those who are ready to invest an impressive amount of money to open a business in the Czech Republic, the state creates very favorable conditions. Minimum taxes, soft loans and other measures to support small and medium-sized businesses make this country attractive for those who would like to obtain Czech citizenship through investment. For Russians and visitors from other countries, the conditions are equal:
- registration of the company and execution of related papers will cost the entrepreneur in the range of 3-7 thousand euros;
- authorized capital must be deposited to a Czech bank account;
- the tax burden is not removed even in the absence of income;
- conclusion of liability agreements with lending organizations is mandatory.
Family reunification
What is needed to obtain citizenship in the Czech Republic under this program? If the applicant for a Czech passport has a close relative (parents, grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister) who has been living in the Czech Republic for the past five years or more, he can take advantage of this program.
First of all, it will be necessary to prove a family relationship with a Czech citizen. The host, that is, a Czech relative, must guarantee the support of a foreigner for the period of processing documents and considering decisions on granting residence permits, permanent residence, citizenship. An immigrant will be able to get a passport under this scheme in 1.5-2 years from the moment of crossing the Czech Republic border.
Czech passports to refugees
In order to officially obtain this status, a person who has arrived in the territory of the Chechen Republic must provide strong evidence that he is subject to political persecution, and that his life in the country of origin is in real danger.
During the period of mass migration of refugees from the Donbass in 2014, the Czech Republic granted this status to thousands of Ukrainians. People who were forced to leave their homes in connection with the hostilities will be able to become Czech citizens after six years from the moment of continuous residence in the country. They will not have to pass Czech language exams and prove that the integration process in Czech society was successful. On an individual basis, refugee status can be granted to any foreigner who can prove the insecurity of his stay at home, including to citizens of the Russian Federation. How to obtain Czech citizenship in a couple of years? An immigration program for refugees does not allow this.
Can denial of citizenship
According to statistics, in almost half the cases, applicants are refused. The legislation of this state does not provide any guarantees for approval if all legal grounds are present. Thus, having gone through the entire legalization procedure in the Czech Republic and submitting a petition, none of the immigrants can be 100% sure that they will get a positive result, even if they legally and in fact meet all the established requirements.
The notice sent as a result of the consideration of the petition must indicate the official reason for the refusal. Most often, a positive answer about admission to Czech Republic citizenship is received by Ukrainians, Russians, and citizens of Kazakhstan.
How to obtain Czech citizenship? To increase the chances of approval, before going through the legalization procedure in the territory of this European state, you should consult with a qualified lawyer.