Dual citizenship — keeping your existing nationality

Czech law allows dual citizenship; whether you can actually keep both depends on your other country.

What this actually is

Since the Citizenship Act took effect in 2014, Czech law no longer requires you to give up your existing nationality in order to become Czech, and Czechs who naturalise abroad no longer lose Czech citizenship automatically. That answers only half the question. The other half is decided by your own country's law: some states withdraw their nationality when a citizen voluntarily acquires another, some require permission first, and some allow dual nationality without conditions. Prague Compass cannot answer that half for you.

Who it applies to

Anyone considering Czech citizenship who wants to keep another nationality, and Czech citizens acquiring a foreign one.

When it's required

Before you file a citizenship application, while the decision is still reversible.

Step by step

1
Ask your own country's authorities in writing
Your embassy or consulate in Prague is the right place to ask, and a written answer is worth having on file.
2
Check any prior-permission requirement
Where permission to retain your nationality is needed, it usually has to be obtained before the Czech oath, not afterwards.
3
Think through the practical consequences
Military service, tax residence, inheritance rules and visa-free travel can all be affected by holding two nationalities.

Documents to bring

Written confirmation from your own country's authoritiesNot required by Czech law, but useful evidence for yourself

Who decides

Ministry of the Interior for the Czech side; your own country's authorities for the other side

Official information

Ministry of the Interior of the Czech RepublicOfficial source

Last checked: 3 September 2026

This page states the Czech position only. Whether you may keep your existing nationality is a question for that country, and getting it wrong can mean losing a nationality irreversibly.