Jonathan Lukca with his three children, proudly holding their Slovak passports after reclaiming citizenship. (source: Courtesy, Jonathan Lukca)
Jonathan Lukca, a pilot from Montreal, Canada, has recently become a Slovak citizen along with his three children. He is the first Francophone applicant from Canada to be granted citizenship by descent.
Imagine the thrill of uncovering your great-grandparents’ lives — discovering where they came from — and walking the very streets they once called home, hand in hand with distant relatives you never knew existed.
My journey into family history began with a simple curiosity: a desire to understand where my grandparents’ families came from. A conversation sparked by a human factors in aviation conference in Vienna led me down an unexpected path — one that unfolded into years of discovery, unforgettable travels to Europe, and ultimately, Slovak citizenship for myself and my children.
The first breakthrough came in 2018, during a trip to Slovakia with my father, John. Names that once floated in family stories suddenly took on faces and histories. The branches of our family tree, blurred by time and distance, grew vivid again.
During the long pandemic nights, I committed myself to research — combing through online archives, writing to distant relatives, and carefully cross-referencing birth, marriage, and death records from around the world. Every document uncovered felt like a treasure, a small but thrilling victory. I often felt like an explorer uncovering priceless relics from a forgotten world.
This search led me back to the land of my ancestors. I stood in centuries-old churches where my great-grandparents were baptized, wandered cobbled streets they once strolled, and traced the hillsides they once called home. Along the way, I met distant cousins, shared meals across generations, and forged connections once thought lost.
A historic change came in 2022 when Slovakia amended its citizenship law. After years of debate and negotiation among the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the ruling coalition, the Slovak parliament passed a long-awaited amendment to the Citizenship Act. For the first time, descendants like myself and my children could reclaim citizenship through ancestral ties — a breakthrough that honored both the past and future.
These journeys were not just sentimental; they were essential for piecing together the documentation needed to prove our lineage. The process was meticulous: retrieving documents dating back to the birth of the Czechoslovak Republic, gathering original birth certificates, superlegalizing Canadian records (later streamlined under the Apostille Convention in 2024), and translating everything into Slovak.
Thankfully, my family had preserved critical "golden ticket" documents, including my grandfather’s rodný list (birth certificate) and domovský list (document confirming a person’s right of domicile in a specific municipality) from the 1930s — priceless artifacts in proving his citizenship. Other golden documents include original Czechoslovak passports, passport application forms, and records from the 1930 Czechoslovak census. Without such evidence, especially for those whose ancestors emigrated before 1908, the process can become significantly more challenging. Fortunately, many organizations now provide invaluable guidance to applicants.
Among them, Global Slovakia stood out. Through their webinars, books, and community, they helped me deepen my understanding of Slovak history, culture, and cuisine. Just as importantly, their advocacy played a crucial role in opening the path for citizenship by descent.
When our citizenship approvals finally arrived, the emotions were overwhelming: pride, joy, relief, and a deep, almost indescribable sense of homecoming. For my children, it is a gift beyond heirlooms — a living connection to their roots, and a dual identity that will enrich their lives and futures.
Looking back, I realize this journey was never just about legal documents or passports. It was about honoring the legacy of those who came before us —those who braved uncertainty and risked everything for a better life. It was about teaching my children that their Slovak story didn’t begin with me, but in the small villages of Slovakia, in the dreams and sacrifices of their ancestors.
I often wonder what my great-grandparents would think if they could see this renewed bond with Slovakia. I know my father’s heart was full — he lived just long enough to witness my children and me become Slovak citizens. And that, above all, has made every step of the journey worthwhile.
