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Birth registration - Czech Birth Certificate

26.11.2024 / 17:49 | Aktualizováno: 27.11.2024 / 00:33

 

 

BASIC INFORMATION 

The birth of a citizen of the Czech Republic that occurred abroad must be recorded in the Special Registry (Zvláštní matrika) maintained by the Office of Brno-City District, Brno-střed, Husova 3, Brno. 
You may apply for a Czech birth certificate through a Czech consular office abroad or directly at the above-mentioned office in the Czech Republic. 

CONSULAR JURISDICTION OF THE CONSULATE GENERAL IN NEW YORK 

Please note that applications can only be submitted to the Consulate General in New York if the applicant resides in one of the following states within its consular jurisdiction: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont. Residency in the consular jurisdiction must be proven with a copy of an ID showing the address or, for example, a utility bill from the place of residence. 

Applications are forwarded to the Czech Republic for processing. The decision is made by the Special Registry Office in Brno. The Consulate General does not decide on the application or the documents required. It only acts as an intermediary between the applicant and the relevant Czech authority. 

A list of Czech consular offices by territorial jurisdiction in the USA

OBLIGATION TO LEGALIZE ALL REGISTRY EVENTS 

All Czech citizens are required to register all vital events in the order in which they occurred. This includes the registration of marriages, births, and deaths. 

For example a new marriage of a Czech citizen cannot be registered in Czech Republic if a divorce from a previous marriage conducted abroad has not been recognized by the Supreme Court of the Czech Republic. 

 

PROCESS OF OBTAINING A CZECH BIRTH CERTIFICATE 

1) Proof of Czech citizenship

To issue Czech vital records, the applicant’s (child´s and child´s parents´) Czech citizenship must be proven. 

Czech citizenship can be proven with: 

  • * a valid Czech passport
  • * a valid Czech national ID card 
  • * a certificate of acquiring Czech citizenship “Listina” not older than 1 year from delivering to         the applicant
  • * a valid proof of citizenship “Osvědčení” not older than 1 year  from its issuance


EXCEPTION: If the newly born child is under one year old on the date of the application and meets the following conditions, proof of citizenship for the child is not required: 

  • 1. The child was born in marriage, and at least one parent holds valid proof of Czech citizenship. 
  •    -or- 
  • 2. The child was born out of marriage, and the mother holds valid proof of Czech citizenship. 

If you do not have valid documentation proving your Czech citizenship, you must apply for a new certificate of Czech citizenship. 

For other cases, contact newyork.consulate@mzv.gov.cz.


 

2) Birth registration application
 

1. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORMS
 

 


INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE FORMS:

  • * Fill out all sections legibly with a pen (or on computer) in the Czech language. 
  • * Include the date, location, and your handwritten signature at the end of the         application. 
  • * If signing outside the consulate, your signature must be notarized by a U.S. notary public. 
  • * Dates should follow the European format dd/mm/yyyy 
  • * Specify the place of birth. The name of the city or town must be included, not just the state         or county. 
  • * Middle names must be fully written out; initials are not acceptable. 
  • * Abbreviations are not allowed, except for "USA".

 

ADDITIONAL FORMS FOR SPECIFIC CASES:
Choose all suitable forms for your case:


Choosing a Middle Name:

 

Additional application for Last Name in Masculine Form

The option to choose the male form of the last name is included in the form "Žádost o zápis narození". This following form is for cases when parents or applicants need to file for the male form of the last name additionally, after the Czech birth certificate with -ová was already issued.

When registering a birth with the Special Registry, if multiple names are listed on the foreign birth certificate, the citizen may declare which name(s), up to two, will be used. For minors, the declaration is made by both parents. 

 

Unconventional Names or Surnames

The Civil Registry Act permits the registration of names and last names in accordance with Czech grammar rules. If the foreign birth certificate contains an unconventional name, middle name or last name, the name must be registered following the legal system of the child's or person's usual residence. This residence has to be proven by submitting the following documents:

 

ENGLISH GUIDES FOR ADDITIONAL FORMS
The following Czech/English GUIDES are only for your convenience. The application can be submitted strictly just with the Czech-only forms above.


 

2. VALID IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS

  • * Czech citizens: If no Czech identification document is available, a foreign ID (e.g., passport, driver’s license, or U.S. Green Card) may be submitted. 
  • * Foreign citizens: Provide a valid passport or another ID confirming identity (e.g., U.S. driver’s license). 

If submitting the application by mail, include original documents or notarized copies (local notary public is sufficient for the notarization). 

 

3. VITAL DOCUMENTS TO INCLUDE WITH THE APPLICATION
 

1) Original U.S. Birth Certificate with an apostille and an official translation into Czech

  • * The Birth certificate should provide detailed information about the child and its parents. Request a "Long Form" or "Legal Form" of the document.
  • * Obtain the Apostille from the Secretary of State in the same state where the birth occurred. 
  • * Obtain the official Czech translation
  • Apostille:
    The apostille is obtained from the "Secretary of State" office, usually located in the state capital where the child was born. Once attached, the apostille becomes an inseparable part of the American "Acknowledgement of Paternity." If separated, the document and apostille become invalid. 
  • Addresses of offices issuing apostilles are available on our website: Apostilles
    ​
  • Translation:
    The American birth certificate with an Apostille must be accompanied by an official Czech translation. You can contact a court appointed translator in the USA.
  • Alternatively, you can request the translation from a translator in the Czech Republic listed in the Register of Experts and Interpreters maintained by the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic.
  •  

Please note that the Special Registry Office in Brno retains the originals of foreign registry documents with an Apostille and translation, and issues Czech registry documents in their place. Therefore, we recommend obtaining duplicates of American documents for use in the USA. 

 

2) Original Birth Certificates of Both Parents

  • * Czech citizens: originals or notarized copies are acceptable.
  • * Foreign citizens: submit the originals (if the child was born in marriage and the parents already have the Czech marriage certificate, submitting of the parent´s foreign birth certificate is optional and apostille and Czech translation for it are not required. If the parents do not have the Czech marriage certificate (child born out of marriage) an apostille and Czech translation will be required.)

 

3a) Parents´ Marriage Certificate For a child born in marriage

  • * Minor child born during the marriage of parents, at least one of whom was a Czech citizen at the time of the child’s birth
    • ​*A Czech marriage certificate must be submitted. 
  • * Adult applicant born during the marriage of parents, at least one of whom was a Czech citizen at the time of the applicant’s birth
    • * Submit a Czech marriage certificate or a foreign marriage certificate with an apostille (or superlegalization for countries that do not use apostilles) and an official translation. 

 

3b) For a child born out of marriage, whose mother is a Czech citizen OR a child born out of marriage whose father is a Czech citizen and mother is an EU citizen:

An original American "Acknowledgement of Paternity" with an apostille and an officially certified translation into Czech must be submitted: 

  • Apostille:
    The apostille is obtained from the "Secretary of State" office, usually located in the state capital where the child was born. Once attached, the apostille becomes an inseparable part of the American "Acknowledgement of Paternity." If separated, the document and apostille become invalid. 
  • Addresses of offices issuing apostilles are available on our website: Apostilles
    ​
  • Translation:
    The American "Acknowledgement of Paternity" with an Apostille must be accompanied by an official Czech translation. You can contact a court appointed translator in the USA.
  • Alternatively, you can request the translation from a translator in the Czech Republic listed in the Register of Experts and Interpreters maintained by the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic.


3c) For a child born out of marriage whose father is a Czech citizen and mother is neither a Czech citizen nor an EU citizen

- WARNING: THE CHILD DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY ACQUIRE CZECH CITIZENSHIP AT BIRTH;

The following scenarios apply:

Child under 1 year of age - pursuant to § 28 of Act No. 186/2013 Coll., on Czech Citizenship: 

  • * Original American document "Acknowledgement of Paternity" with an apostille and an officially certified Czech translation.
  • * Interview with the parents at the consulate. 
  • * Submission of documents proving that the child resides with the Czech citizen parent, who participates in upbringing and fulfills support obligations. 
     

Minor child over 1 year of age - pursuant to § 7 of Act No. 186/2013 Coll., on Czech Citizenship: 

  • * Original American "Acknowledgement of Paternity" with an apostille and an officially certified Czech translation. 
  • * DNA paternity test - For the child to acquire Czech citizenship, parents must submit a genetic test confirming paternity of the Czech citizen. The test must be conducted as an expert opinion in the field of health/genetics by an expert or an expert institute listed in the registry of experts or institutes maintained by the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic. 

Note: If the father is not listed on the foreign birth certificate, Form No. 10b (Parental Declaration of Paternity of a Czech Citizen (Father Not Listed on Birth Certificate)) must be completed in both cases above.

 

4) Original naturalization certificate(s)

If applicable. The naturalization certificate doesn´t need an apostille or Czech translation.

 

​Adopted Child

For adopted children, a certified decision of the relevant foreign authority on adoption, with proof of its legal effect, and the marriage certificate of the adoptive parents must be submitted. 

 

Copies:
We recommend submitting copies of all documents (e.g., ID, birth certificates, foreign marriage certificates with apostille and certified Czech translation, or divorce documents recognized by the Supreme Court in Brno) along with originals to expedite processing. 

 

FEE 

The current fees change monthly based on the exchange rate. Check the Consular Fees, Item No. 163 of the Fee Schedule for updates. Payment methods: 

  • * Cash 
  • * Money order payable to “The Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York, 321 East 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021” 
  • * Card (except American Express) for in-person visits. 

 

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

1. By Mail

  • * Signatures and document copies must be notarized (except for the US Naturalization Certificate). 
  • * Include a cover letter with key information, such as address, contact details, and any further requests (e.g., passport issuance). 
  • * Enclose a prepaid envelope for returning original documents if not collected in person. 

 

2. In Person

  • * Applications can be submitted at the Consulate by appointment. 
  • * Notarization is not required for in-person submissions; the Consulate will verify originals and confirm your signature. 

 

PROCESSING TIME

The completed application and all documents are forwarded to the relevant authorities in the Czech Republic. Processing takes approximately 2–3 months from the date the complete application is sent. 

If the application for the birth certificate follows after an application for the Czech citizenship certificate, both of these applications take 2-3 months each. Total processing time can then be 4-6 months.

Once the birth certificate is issued, the applicants are contacted via email. The issued certificate can be mailed (the applicant needs to provide a prepaid envelope) or picked up in person during a pre-scheduled appointment (optionally applicants can schedule an appointment at the passport department on the same day via email as well).

 

RECOMMENDATION 

Applicants who wish to apply for a Czech passport after obtaining Czech vital records should also apply for pre-validation of data in the Czech citizens register. (This allows us to see if the registry changes are already in the passport system.)

Form: Prevalidace (PDF, 206 KB)

 

For further questions, and to set up the appointment, contact: NewYork.Consulate@mzv.gov.cz