The Slovak citizenship oath: Where, when, and what you promise

The oath is the last step before you become a Slovak citizen by descent, and no one else can take it for you. This guide explains when you become a citizen, where and when you take the oath, what you promise, who takes it, what you pay, and whether you keep your other citizenship.

The Slovak citizenship oath at a glance

When do you become a Slovak citizen?

You become a Slovak citizen on the day you receive the Deed of Granting Slovak Citizenship [Section 8a(10) of Act No. 40/1993 Coll. on Citizenship of the Slovak Republic]. The Ministry of the Interior issues the Deed, but the office that hands it over may do so only after you take the oath; the law makes the oath a condition of acquiring citizenship. The office records your oath, sends the record to the Ministry with proof that you received the Deed, and writes both dates on the Deed.

Where do you take the Slovak citizenship oath?

You take the oath at the office where you filed your application, because the Ministry of the Interior sends your Deed there. In Slovakia, that is a district office in the regional capital (okresný úrad v sídle kraja); for applicants who have never lived in Slovakia, the District Office in Bratislava. Abroad, it is the Slovak embassy or consulate that serves your country. In the United States, it is the Slovak Embassy in Washington, D.C., or the Slovak Consulate General in New York.

If you want to take the oath somewhere other than where you filed, for example in Bratislava during a visit, we coordinate with the offices involved so that the Ministry sends your Deed there and you take the oath there.

You take the oath before the head of the district office, the ambassador, the consul, or a person they authorize [Section 8a(12) of Act No. 40/1993 Coll.]. In autumn 2026, the Slovak Embassy in Washington, D.C., gave our clients oath dates two to seven weeks after we asked.

How long do you have to take the Slovak citizenship oath?

You have six months. After the Ministry of the Interior approves your application, you receive written notice that your Deed is ready, and you must take the oath and collect the Deed within six months of receiving that notice. If you miss the deadline without a serious reason, the Ministry of the Interior discontinues the proceedings, and you cannot appeal [Section 8a(11) and (14) of Act No. 40/1993 Coll.].

If we represent you, the office sends the notice to us, as it does all correspondence in your proceedings, and we pass it on to you. Without representation, the office sends the notice to the address in your application. If the office cannot deliver the notice there, the law treats it as delivered on the day it returns to the office, even if you never learned of it [Section 11(5)]. Report any change of address to the office without delay [Section 11(3)].

What happens at the Slovak citizenship oath ceremony?

At the ceremony, you say the oath aloud, receive your Deed, and pay the fee. Offices hold each ceremony for several applicants whose Deeds are ready, so you take the oath together with other new citizens. One applicant usually reads the whole oath and the others say „Sľubujem“ (“I promise”); sometimes each applicant has to say the whole oath. At Slovak embassies and consulates, you also sign the oath on a form that records the place and the date. Your closest family can attend, though the size of the room limits the number of guests.

What is the wording of the Slovak citizenship oath?

Section 8a(12) of Act No. 40/1993 Coll. sets the wording, and every new citizen promises the same. In Slovak, it reads:

„Sľubujem na svoju česť a svedomie, že budem verný Slovenskej republike, budem dodržiavať Ústavu Slovenskej republiky, ústavné zákony, zákony a iné všeobecne záväzné právne predpisy a riadne plniť všetky povinnosti štátneho občana Slovenskej republiky.“

In English (courtesy translation): “I promise on my honor and conscience that I will be loyal to the Slovak Republic, that I will observe the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, constitutional laws, laws, and other generally binding legal regulations, and that I will duly fulfill all the obligations of a citizen of the Slovak Republic.”

Do children take the Slovak citizenship oath?

Children under 14 do not take the oath, and neither do people whose health does not allow it [Section 8a(10) of Act No. 40/1993 Coll.]. A child under 14 becomes a Slovak citizen together with their parent [Section 8(11)]. The child may attend the ceremony but does not have to, and does not take the oath even when present. Children aged 14 and older file their own applications and take the oath themselves. Our guide to Slovak citizenship for your spouse and children explains how children become citizens with you.

What does the Deed of Granting Slovak Citizenship say?

The Ministry of the Interior issues the Deed. Among other things, it states the provision of the Act under which the Ministry granted you citizenship, your name, your date and place of birth, and your existing citizenship [Section 8a(8) of Act No. 40/1993 Coll.]. Since July 15, 2026, the Deed also proves your Slovak citizenship, but only for 90 days from the day you receive it [Section 9a(1)(e)].

What is the fee for Slovak citizenship by descent?

You pay the administrative fee when you receive the Deed, not when you apply. For Slovak citizenship by descent through a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent, the fee is EUR 30 [items 20(e) and 247(e) of the schedule to Act No. 145/1995 Coll. on Administrative Fees], and applicants over 65 pay no fee.

Children who qualify by descent themselves also pay EUR 30. Fourth-generation children, whose Slovak ancestor is a great-great-grandparent, pay according to their age at oath-taking [items 20(b) and 247(b)]:

Slovak embassies and consulates in the United States collect the fee in U.S. dollars at the exchange rate for the month.

Do you keep your U.S. or other citizenship after the Slovak citizenship oath?

Taking the Slovak citizenship oath does not require you to give up any other citizenship. Slovak law does not ask new citizens to renounce another citizenship; the oath is a promise of loyalty to the Slovak Republic and its laws, and your Deed records your existing citizenship [Section 8a(8) and (12) of Act No. 40/1993 Coll.]. Whether you keep your other citizenship depends on the law of the other country.

United States: Under U.S. law, taking an oath of allegiance to another country leads to the loss of U.S. citizenship only when you take it intending to give U.S. citizenship up [8 U.S.C. § 1481(a)(2)]. The U.S. Department of State presumes that a citizen who takes a routine oath of allegiance intends to keep U.S. citizenship [22 CFR 50.40(a)].

Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Israel: all four let their citizens take another citizenship and keep their own. If you hold the citizenship of another country, check its rules before you take the oath.

What happens after the Slovak citizenship oath?

After the oath, you file three more applications: registration of your birth and marriage with the Special Registry Office, a Citizenship Certificate, and a Slovak passport. Our guide to getting a Slovak passport after citizenship by descent sets out each of them.

How to prepare for the Slovak citizenship oath

Bring your valid passport. If you take the oath in Slovakia, we go with you to the oath ceremony. If you take it at a Slovak embassy or consulate abroad, we tell you beforehand everything you need to know, including what else to bring.

The complimentary case review is confidential. You can expect to hear from us within three business days.

General information on the Slovak citizenship oath, current as of publication. Fees change from time to time.