An expert guide to birthright, descent, and citizenship pathways in Czechia

An immigration lawyer debunks common myths and misconceptions about birthright across nationalities and real-world scenarios.

Juan M. Chaves Pernett

Written by Juan M. Chaves Pernett Published on 07.05.2026 12:30:00 (updated on 07.05.2026) Reading time: 4 minutes

Consider a common scenario: two foreign nationals living in Prague for work have a child born in a Czech hospital. That child grows up here, attends local schools, and becomes fully integrated. In every social sense, the child is Czech.

In the United States, at least for now, that same child would be constitutionally American. Born on US soil, citizenship is automatic, no exceptions, no conditions. It's one of the most expansive birthright citizenship frameworks in the world.

In Czechia, the legal outcome is entirely different. Citizenship follows the parents, not the birthplace, and that gap between lived experience and legal reality is one that catches many long-term expat families off guard.

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