Slovak citizenship in 2026: how to get it
8 years of continuous permanent residence, an exam in Slovak and a fee of about $1,200, with a shorter route for descendants of Czechoslovak citizens. Periods, exam and fees.
The short answer: under the general route Slovak citizenship is granted after 8 years of continuous permanent residence, with an exam in Slovak and knowledge of the country. The fee for an adult is about $1,200. Descendants of Czechoslovak citizens have a shorter and cheaper route: 3 years with a Slovak-living-abroad certificate, or a separate ground with a fee of about $35.
Who can get Slovak citizenship
| Route | Permanent residence period | Features |
|---|---|---|
| General route | 8 continuous years before filing | exam in language and knowledge of the country |
| Spouse of a Slovak citizen | 5 years, with at least 5 years of marriage and living together | exam required |
| Slovak living abroad with a certificate | 3 years | no exam |
| People born in Slovakia and stateless persons | 3 years | exam under the general rules |
| Former Slovak and Czechoslovak citizens and their descendants | under separate grounds | fee of ~$35 |
You first need permanent residence: years of temporary residence do not count towards the 8. The law gives no right to citizenship even when all conditions are met; the decision rests with the Interior Ministry. Residence permits are covered in the article Slovakia residence permit.
How much Slovak citizenship costs
Fees are under Slovakia's administrative fees act, in US dollars at the European Central Bank rate of 6 October 2026, rounded up.
- Adult over 18. about $1,200.
- Child under 15. about $160; from 15 to 18, about $240.
- Former Slovak and Czechoslovak citizens, people with a parent or grandparent who was a Czechoslovak citizen, Czech citizens born after 1 January 1993. about $35.
- No fee. Foreigners over 65, people granted asylum and some other categories.
The total for a family of two adults and a child under 15 under the general route is from $2,600. This excludes translations, certificates and the years on a residence permit.
The fee is the smaller cost: a refusal after 8 years of waiting costs more
The law does not stop you applying for Slovak citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fee: years of temporary residence that do not count towards the 8, a break in continuity from trips, an unprepared interview in Slovak and archive documents on Czechoslovak ancestors that fall short for the preferential ground. Murblz specialists choose the ground, count the period, search the archives, prepare you for the interview and handle the application up to the decision. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first application.
The cost of support depends on the ground and the family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Exam and requirements
- Language and knowledge of the country. An interview before a commission: questions on Slovak history, geography and civics, plus reading and writing in Slovak.
- No exam. Children under 14, people over 65, Czech citizens, graduates of schools teaching in Slovak and Slovaks living abroad with a certificate.
- Continuity. The 8 years are counted immediately before filing, so long absences push the date back.
The Slovak procedure is unhurried: the commission tests language for real rather than as a formality, so people prepare for the interview over months, not a weekend.
Dual citizenship and restrictions
Whether you must give up your previous passport on naturalisation depends on your citizenship and ground, so it is checked before filing: ask an expert. Some countries require you to notify them of a second citizenship. Any pair of countries can be checked with the dual citizenship check.
How we help
Murblz specialists choose the ground with the shorter path, count your permanent residence period, search archives for documents on Czechoslovak ancestors, prepare you for the interview in Slovak and handle the application up to the decision. If you are not yet eligible, we will show the exact date when you can apply.
Slovakia residence permit
Grounds and the path to permanent residence.
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Learn more →We will check your path to a Slovak passport. Tell us about your residence permit and whether there were Czechoslovak citizens in your family. We will show the ground, timing and fees.
FAQ
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Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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