PRESIDENT Ivan Gašparovič has signed an amendment to the Act on State Citizenship, making it more difficult for foreigners to obtain Slovak citizenship.Starting on July 15, foreigners will only qualify for citizenship after having eight years of uninterrupted permanent residence in the country. The former requirement was only five years.
Interior Minister Róbert Kaliňák explained that the proposed changes are mainly in reaction to the growing threat of organised crime and international terrorism.
The stricter rules will also enable officials to investigate more carefully how applicants for Slovak citizenship have followed the Slovak legal system and adjusted to Slovak culture.
