On January 25, 2023, I stood inside the Czech Embassy in Washington, D.C., holding my application for Czech citizenship by descent. Nearly two years of research, paperwork, and hope had brought me to this moment. I felt proud, connected, and full of anticipation.
But my application wasn’t just about getting a passport. It was about reconnecting with a country my family left generations ago, honoring my great-grandfather, and reclaiming an identity that lives on in our language, customs, and cooking, even if it had been legally erased.
If you’re a descendant of Czech or Czechoslovak emigrants, you might understand this pull, a deep connection to a place you’ve never lived but feel part of. Sadly, I would come to understand firsthand that even the strongest of family ties can sometimes be considered too far from the legal definition of “belonging.”
Here’s how I navigated the process, what I learned, and why I’m now fighting for change.
The process: What it takes to apply
My journey began in 2021 when I submitted an eligibility assessment through the Czech Embassy in Washington, D.C. A few weeks later, I got an email that changed everything: “You may apply for Czech citizenship through the citizenship of your great-grandfather.” It felt like Czechia was saying I belonged.
Over the next two years, I gathered every document I could find—birth, marriage, naturalization, and death records spanning four generations. I worked with the Matrika office in Šternberk, chased apostilles, hired certified translators, and spent over 55,000 CZK (about $2,500 USD) on fees and legal help.
Each step was also an emotional investment. As I navigated Czech citizenship law, I immersed myself in Czech culture and language. I studied Czech history, practiced Czech phrases, and researched how to apply for Czech citizenship by descent to ensure that every form, stamp, and signature met the legal requirements.
In January 2023, I stood at the embassy with a binder full of documents. The consular officer checked everything carefully and submitted my application to the city district office in Prague 1. I walked out feeling cautiously hopeful. It wasn’t a homecoming yet, but it felt like a major milestone.
The denial: One generation too far
Two months later, the answer came. “Rozhodnutí: žádosti se nevyhovuje.” Decision: The request is not approved.
The reason? I was a great-grandchild. Under current law, only children and grandchildren of former Czech citizens can qualify for citizenship by declaration. The embassy’s earlier email claiming my eligibility turned out to be incorrect.
The decision wasn’t just about paperwork. It felt personal. For two years, I had worked toward a homecoming that was legally impossible from the start. I appealed, pointing out the misleading guidance from the embassy. The response was kind but firm: the law left them no room to grant an exception.
Amidst this disappointment, there was still one triumph. On April 20, 2024, my dad successfully acquired Czech citizenship through his grandfather, our great-grandfather. I was grateful that his acquisition reconnected our family to Czechia. But I couldn’t help feeling left behind.
What the law says—and what needs to change
Under Czech law, descendants of former citizens can reclaim citizenship if their parents or grandparents lost it due to forced exile, discrimination, or communist-era policies. But the law only covers children and grandchildren; great-grandchildren like me aren’t eligible.
In 2023, Parliament proposed expanding this to include descendants of those who lost citizenship between 1948 and 1990, aiming to fix injustices from the communist regime. However, this still leaves out families like mine, whose ancestors lost citizenship before 1948 for reasons like political persecution or treaties to avoid dual nationality.
My great-grandfather lost his citizenship under an old treaty with the U.S., which disqualifies me under both current law and the proposed change.
The law acknowledges some past wrongs but draws a strict line, leaving other losses unrecognized. It raises a tough question: how far should a country’s responsibility to its diaspora go?
‘Recognizing diaspora strengthens Czech identity’
The Czech diaspora numbers over 1.6 million worldwide, with large communities in the U.S. (Texas, Nebraska, Illinois), Canada, Australia, and beyond. Many of us, like my family, descend from those who left before 1948. We carry Czech traditions, language, music, food, and stories, yet current law excludes us.
I hope Czechia will one day extend citizenship to all descendants of former Czech and Czechoslovak citizens—whether two, three, or four generations removed—not just those caught by narrow historical windows. Recognizing all diaspora descendants only strengthens Czech identity.
Over time, I have realized that this decision does not define belonging. It was simply a legal technicality. I’ll still keep honoring my heritage, learning the language, cooking Czech food, preserving family customs, and sharing these stories because I am, and always will be, Czech, even if the law says otherwise.
How You Can Help: A Call to the Czech Diaspora
If you’re a descendant of Czech or Czechoslovak emigrants, especially great-grandchildren or further, you can help push for change. The amendment is being discussed now, and public support matters.
Learn more about Sněmovní tisk 585 and the current Czech citizenship amendment under review on the Czech Parliament’s official website. You can submit comments or feedback directly to the committee at vb@psp.cz.
Do you have a personal story to share? Get in touch with us: editor@expats.cz