Terms such as citizenship, nationality or nationality are often confused in the Czech Republic, and not only among lay people. Confusion arises not only when filling out official documents, but also in official dealings. In this article, we will explain the differences between these terms and give you advice on what to fill in the boxes for “citizenship” or “nationality”.
Anyone who has ever filled in an official form knows that the question of what to write in the citizenship box is not always as simple as it seems. Sometimes the document asks for citizenship, sometimes for nationality, and sometimes even for nationality. To make matters worse, some authorities use these terms synonymously, even though they are legally and factually different.
It is not just a matter of linguistic nuances. Some of these terms have legal implications, others are purely declaratory (i.e. they merely express a personal attitude, without legal implications) and some are used primarily for statistical purposes.
Let’s start with the most fundamental one – citizenship of the Czech Republic. According to the Law on State Citizenship, it is a legal relationship between a natural person and the state. This relationship gives rise to rights and obligations – for example, the right to vote, the right to diplomatic protection, but also the obligation to comply with the laws of the Czech Republic.
Citizenship can be acquired by:
As regards the difference between citizenship and nationality, in Czech law there is basically an equivalence between them. The term nationality used to be used mainly in international treaties and legal texts, but today it is effectively replaced by the term citizenship.
Nevertheless, the term “Czech nationality” still appears in various forms or in less updated documents. Therefore, if you find the “nationality” box on your application, simply write in the same as you would write in the “citizenship” box: i.e. Czech Republic or “Czech”.
Use our legal advice service and send us your question. We will also explain to you how to fill in the official forms correctly and advise you on how to grant or verify your Czech citizenship.
And now comes the most common stumbling block – nationality. Many people assume that nationality and citizenship are one and the same. But in reality, they are quite different things.
While citizenship (and therefore nationality) is legally defined and verifiable, nationality is a subjective feeling of belonging to a cultural, linguistic or ethnic group. In other words, it is about who you feel connected to, not what is written on your passport.
In the Czech Republic, stating your nationality is voluntary – typically in the census. People have the option to write, for example, “Czech”, “Moravian”, “Silesian”, “Romani”, “Slovak” or even “Vietnamese”. There is no right or wrong.
Confusion arises when people ask whether they should write Czech or Czech nationality. The answer is simple – the state is “Czech Republic”, the nationality is “Czech”. So don’t fill in the form with “Czech Republic”, but “Czech” (if you identify yourself as such).
Nationality has no legal significance. Even if you state that you claim a nationality other than Czech, this does not affect your citizenship or your rights under Czech citizenship.
Here’s a simple guide:
If the form asks for “nationality”, the safest answer is “Czech Republic”. If the full name doesn’t fit in the box, you can write “Czech Republic” or “Czech“. In most cases, this will not be a problem.
If “nationality” is requested , the same applies – answer “Czech Republic” or “Czech”.
Examples:
If you are not sure what to write, follow what is on your ID card or passport. There you will find the form preferred by the authorities.
Hint: The latest census shows that about 640 000 citizens claim to be of a nationality other than Czech, and about 360 000 citizens claim to be Czech and of another nationality at the same time. What rights do national minorities have in the Czech Republic?
The confusion between citizenship, nationality and nationality did not arise by chance. The history of Czechoslovakia also played a role.
In the days of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR) and subsequently the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic (CSFR), the term “nationality” was commonly used. Every citizen had both “federal citizenship” and “citizenship of the republic ” – either Czech or Slovak. This duality of legal status led to a certain confusion that persisted even after the dissolution of the federation in 1993.
Today we have only one citizenship – that of the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, in various documents or international treaties, the older term “nationality” sometimes appears.
Moreover, in some countries the terms “citizenship” and “nationality” are used differently than in our country. For example, in Russia or Ukraine, “nationality” has a specific legal meaning, which is written in the passport. This can cause confusion for foreigners living in the Czech Republic when filling in Czech forms.
Let’s conclude with a look at the most common mistakes people make when filling in details of citizenship, nationality and nationality.
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It’s easier than it looks. Citizenship / nationality = legal relationship with the state. If you are a citizen of the Czech Republic, write “Czech Republic”, “Czech” or “Czech” on the form.
Nationality = cultural identity. Here it depends on your beliefs, no one can tell you what to write. You can write “Czech”, “Roma” or leave it blank.
Citizenship, nationality and nationality are not synonymous, although they are often used interchangeably in Czech forms. Czech citizenship (or nationality) denotes a legal relationship between a person and the state and confers specific rights and obligations. It can be acquired by birth, by grant or in other ways and is commonly entered on forms as “Czech Republic”, “Czech” or “CR”. In contrast, nationality is a subjective identity – e.g. Czech, Roma or Vietnamese – and has no legal meaning. It is often listed in the census, but filling it in is not compulsory. Historically, the term “nationality” was used in the Czech Republic, and although it has been replaced by “citizenship”, it survives in some documents. The most common errors are confusion of these terms, the inclusion of ‘EU’ instead of state, or incorrect filling in of the box for nationality. If you are not sure what to write, refer to the information on your documents.
In Czech law, these concepts are practically identical. Both refer to the legal relationship between a person and the Czech Republic. They differ only historically and linguistically.
The most common correct answer is “Czech Republic”. In some cases, the authorities also accept the short form “Czech” or “Czech Republic”.
Nationality expresses personal identity, not legal status. It is filled in voluntarily, most often during the census, and has no legal implications.
No. Nationality is not a country, but a cultural or ethnic affiliation. The correct answer would be, for example, “Czech”, “Romani” or other identity.
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