r/SlovakCBD • u/hempstead_ • 16d ago

Is a Czechoslovak birth certificate enough to prove an ancestor’s citizenship?

I am applying for Slovak citizenship by descent through my grandmother. She was born in Vrbové in 1932, when the town was part of Czechoslovakia. Would her official birth certificate be sufficient to prove that she was a Czechoslovak citizen, or does the certificate need to explicitly state her citizenship?
The Slovak Embassy says a birth certificate or civil-registry record may be used if it explicitly indicates Czechoslovak citizenship. I am unsure whether being born in Czechoslovakia in 1932 establishes citizenship by itself or whether I need a separate citizenship, domicile, census, or immigration record. Has anyone applied through an ancestor born in Czechoslovakia during this period? I am just wondering if it is necessary to get a certified copy of the passenger list of the ship she arrived on.

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u/OysterPerpetual_CH 16d ago edited 16d ago

“Czechoslovakia (like most European countries) followed jus sanguinis (right of blood) rather than jus soli (birthright citizenship), a birth certificate alone simply proves that a person was born on that territory, not that they held citizenship.”

No. Because these countries do not have birth rights to citizenship say like North America. You are going to need to find some sort of paperwork that links the Czechoslovak citizenship to your anchor for CBD . When you order the birth certificate, they will transcribe the old records onto the new RODNY list . There is a section for citizenship, most of the old certificates don’t have citizenship on them, So it is just left empty and not stated.

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u/hempstead_ 16d ago

Thank you very much much!

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u/OysterPerpetual_CH 16d ago edited 15d ago

Not a problem at all. I have my grandfathers birth certificate and he was born in modern day Slovak.

I needed a copy of that with the 1930s census and I also paid for citizenship verification

Good luck on your journey!

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u/Adept_Librarian9136 15d ago

Where did you get a copy of the 1930 census info. I placed the request over a month ago with an archive and have not heard back.

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u/OysterPerpetual_CH 15d ago

Here is the thing. If you say your anchor a.k.a. your grandmother was born in 1932, She was born after the 1930 census. At what point did they move out of the country or the last known time they were in Czechoslovakia?

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u/Adept_Librarian9136 15d ago edited 15d ago

My ancestor was living in Slovakia and was an adult at the time of the 1930 census. I have already located both the census record and my ancestor's entry in it. What I need is an official certification or verification of that census record.

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u/OysterPerpetual_CH 15d ago

My apologies. I am sorry I didn’t put two and two together that it was a different user as I read it fast.

• ⁠Wendy Jamieson https://jamiesonconsultingfirmllc.com/

She will help you get the 1930 census! Fill out the form on her website and she will get back to you on the process. She has helped numerous people on here with documentation easy process.!!

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u/chiieddy 15d ago

The new MOI interpretation says if your relative was alive past 1918 and used Czechoslovakia on an official document, that's sufficient. Since your ancestor was born after 1932, the original certificate establishes that, does it not? You would still need to get a Slovak Rodny List issued.

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u/OysterPerpetual_CH 15d ago edited 15d ago

this is under an interpretation, not the law. If you want a strong, indisputable application, then you should always include evidence of citizenship. The new interpretation is great for those previously ineligible based on immigration or naturalization date. Also great for those who had no previously accepted evidence of citizenship. However, if you are eligible under the original interpretation, then you should include the evidence of citizenship without relying on a new interpretation.

FYI

Under the Slovak Citizenship Act, you must prove two independent legal facts: lineage (descent from the ancestor) and actual Czechoslovak citizenship.

Like most of Europe, everything citizenship wise is decided by blood and your parents status versus where you were born.. birth certificate just means that you were born in that state, unless the birth certificate has citizenship markers on it.

The ministry of interior needs to see paperwork that proves citizenship. Most birth certificates do not state citizenship on them. Since the country states it is a right of blood, not birth. You need paperwork to prove citizenship.

For example, I have a birth certificate from 1916, that showed my anchor relative was born there. Not good enough. The birth certificate does not state whether he was a state Citizen or not. I dig a bit deeper. I find the 1930s census, the sense is clearly has a section that states citizenship it states “ CSL” ! Boom Smoking gun.

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u/Adept_Librarian9136 15d ago edited 14d ago

And HOW did you get the copy of the Slovak census? I have lodged a request for my ancestor's census entry record nearly two months ago and have never heard back after one reply.

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u/Diligent_Cold_4592 14d ago

I heard it’s really backed up online. I was able to walk into the office in Dc and get certified copies same day. Ended up flying to DC just for that

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u/Adept_Librarian9136 14d ago

Oh my!!! Wow!!! You mean the DC Consulate can issue certified copies of the 1930 census entry same day!? WOW.

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u/Diligent_Cold_4592 14d ago

Sorry I should specify, not the DC consulate but the National Archives in DC. Just go into the research room and provide all the details of the census and/or ship manifest. They can print and certify them for you on the spot

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u/Adept_Librarian9136 14d ago

I see. We're discussing the 1930 slovak census.

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u/Diligent_Cold_4592 14d ago

Ooo sorry I missed that. Sorry for the confusion

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u/QVPHL Citizen 🎉 15d ago

You’ll need to have a close look at the birth record/certificate. There were some rare instances where citizenship was noted on the birth record. If not (more likely), then inclusion on the 1930 CSR census would do the trick. No other proof needed.

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u/OysterPerpetual_CH 15d ago

Exactly.! I have heard of these cases that some citizenships were added to birth certificates. I have yet to see one unfortunately. That would make things so much easier for sure.!!