Most delays in a Czech or Slovak citizenship case come from documents: a missing certificate, an apostille that was never obtained, a translation that does not match, a form filled in the wrong language. This guide gathers the document requirements that the Czech Embassy in Ottawa and the Slovak Embassy in Washington publish, and adds advice on getting records from Czech and Slovak archives. The lists differ by embassy and change, so use your own mission’s current page. This guide reflects official pages we checked in October 2026. Rules, fees, forms and waiting times change and differ between embassies, so confirm every detail with the embassy or consulate that will receive your application.
Czech declaration: Section 31(3), descendants
According to the Czech Embassy in Ottawa (updated 6 January 2025), an adult child or grandchild declaring under Section 31(3) provides:
- The filled-in declaration form, in Czech.
- A family tree with names, dates of birth, places of birth and dates of marriage of both parents and grandparents, on the embassy’s family tree form.
- Your birth certificate, apostilled if issued in Canada, and translated into Czech.
- Marriage, partnership, divorce or death records of a spouse or partner, as applicable.
- The Czech parent’s or parents’ birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree or death certificate, if necessary for the declaration.
- The Czech grandparent’s or grandparents’ birth, marriage, divorce or death certificates, if necessary.
- A document that certifies the date and the basis on which the parent or grandparent ceased to be a Czech or Czechoslovak citizen, for example an original foreign citizenship certificate, apostilled and translated, or an original Czechoslovak release certificate (Listina or Osvědčení o propuštění ze státního svazku).
- A valid ID and a photocopy.
- A completed declaration of non-acquisition of Slovak citizenship.
- A completed personal data form.
Former citizens declaring under Section 31(1) provide a similar set, and parents declaring for a minor under Section 31(5) add both parents’ IDs, the child’s birth certificate and the other parent’s written consent, unless that parent has lost or been stripped of parental responsibility, cannot be found or has died, which must be proved with original documents.
Slovak descent: the Washington embassy’s list
The Slovak Embassy in Washington lists, among others, the application form with questionnaire, a CV, a valid passport, a family tree, your apostilled and translated birth certificate, proof of the ancestor’s Czechoslovak citizenship, the ancestor’s Slovak birth certificate, an affidavit that you have never been a Slovak citizen, complete lineage documentation and criminal background checks including the FBI Identity History Summary. See our Slovak guide for the full list.
Apostilles and translations
| Czech route | Slovak route | |
|---|---|---|
| Apostille | Foreign civil documents must be originals with legalization, which for Canadian documents means an apostille | Documents not in Slovak or Czech must be apostilled under the Hague Convention |
| Translation | Into Czech, by a translator, with the embassy listing translators | Into Slovak, by a certified translator |
| Copies | Originals or officially verified copies. Plain photocopies are not accepted | The consulate can make certified copies of originals, according to the Ottawa Slovak page |
| Forms | In Czech, filled out legibly with nothing omitted | The form and questionnaire are provided by the embassy |
Getting records from Czech and Slovak archives
- Czech documents. The Ottawa embassy says that if you know an ancestor’s place of birth or last residence in Czechoslovakia before 1953, you can apply for Czech documents through the embassy, and that if you do not, you should start with genealogical research in the Czech Republic.
- Parish registers and civil records. See our Czech parish registers guide and our Slovak records guide.
- Censuses. A population register extract can serve as proof of citizenship on the Slovak route. See our guide to censuses.
- US records. Passenger manifests and naturalization records stating “Czechoslovak” are accepted on the Slovak route, and a naturalization certificate often documents loss on the Czech route.
Names must match
Differences in spelling between documents can hold up a file. If your ancestor appears as Dvorak in a US record and Dvořák in a Czech register, explain the connection and attach documents that show both forms refer to the same person. See our guide to spelling and diacritics and surnames changed in America.
A checklist routine
- Read your mission’s current page and download its forms.
- Build the family tree on the embassy’s form, with dates and places.
- Order certified copies of every certificate, and apostilles.
- Order translations from a translator on the embassy’s list.
- Gather the proof of citizenship or of loss. See our guide to proving loss of citizenship.
- Check names, dates and places across every document.
- Prepare background checks if the Slovak route requires them.
- Book the appointment and keep copies of everything.
Illustrative composite (not a real family): A reader assembles her Czech declaration file. She has her own apostilled birth certificate and her mother’s, her grandfather’s naturalization certificate showing the date he lost Czechoslovak citizenship, a family tree on the embassy’s form and a completed declaration that she is not a Slovak citizen. The embassy’s list of translators supplies the Czech translations, and she submits the file at her appointment.
Common mistakes
- Using a different embassy’s list. Requirements and procedures differ.
- Submitting plain photocopies. The Czech route requires originals or verified copies.
- Skipping the family tree. It is required for Section 31(3).
- Forgetting the Slovak affidavit. The Czech route needs a declaration of non-acquisition of Slovak citizenship.
- Letting names drift. Explain every difference.
Continue with the complete guide and the Czech declaration guide, and browse Czech & Slovak Citizenship by Descent. Sources: the Czech Embassy in Ottawa (updated 6 January 2025), the Slovak Embassy in Washington (updated 18 June 2026) and the Slovak Embassy in Ottawa.
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