SLOVAKIA 

CITIZENSHIP: Citizenship Law is based upon the National Council of the Slovak Republic Law No.40, dated January 19, 1993.  Persons who were citizens of the Slovak Republic up to December 31, 1992, are considered citizens of Slovakia.

• BY BIRTH: Birth within the territory of Slovakia does not automatically confer citizenship. Exceptions:
• Child born in Slovakia to parents who are unknown or stateless.
• Child born in Slovakia who did not automatically receive the citizenship of foreign parents.
• BY DESCENT:
• Child, one of whose parents is a citizen of Slovakia, regardless of the child’s country of birth.
• Child adopted by a citizen of Slovakia.
• BY NATURALIZATION: Slovak citizenship is acquired upon fulfillment of the following conditions: Person has been permanently residing in the territory for at least five years, has a command of the Slovak language, and has not been pronounced guilty of a deliberate crime within the last five years. Foreigners married to Slovak nationals need not fulfill these requirements.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP:  RECOGNIZED.  If a citizen of Slovakia holds another citizenship, their Slovak citizenship is considered to be dominant.

LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP:

• VOLUNTARY:
• Voluntary renunciation of citizenship is possible only on the condition that the applicant is able to prove citizenship of another state or that the granting of citizenship can be reasonably assumed. Release of Slovak citizenship is possible only upon an individual's own petition. Decisions regarding release from citizenship are made by the District Offices. Citizenship is cancelled upon receipt of the document of renunciation.
• Persons involved in criminal proceedings, serving a prison term, or who are delinquent in their taxes or debts are not allowed to renounce citizenship.
• INVOLUNTARY: Slovak citizenship cannot be revoked by a decision of any state authority.