Česky

General information: Long-term residence permit

You are entitled to file an application for a long-term residence permit inside the Czech Republic at the MOI offices, if:

• you have been residing in the Czech Republic on a visa for a stay of over 90 days and

• you intend to temporarily live in the Czech Republic for more than 1 year including the previous visa

• and if, at the same time, the purpose of your stay remains unchanged (exceptions are made e.g. for a blue card, employee card, family members or scientists).
   

In given cases, an application for a long-term residence permit without the precondition of staying on a visa for over 90 days can be submitted a Czech Embassy (purpose of studies, scientific research, family reunification, resident of another EU Member State, blue card or employee card or ICT card).

In general, you are obliged to submit an application for an issuing a long-term residence permit or for an extension of a validity of this permit soon enough 120 days before the end of a validity of existing long-term residence permit or a long term visa and at the latest day of a validity of the visa or residence permit. If the last day of validity of the long term visa or the long term residence permit is public holiday (Saturday, Sunday, a bank holiday), the last day you are able to submit an application is nearest following working day. In case when the deadline is on working day, which is not official day (Friday), it is possible to deliver an application of extension validity of long term residence permit by Post Office at the last day of this term.

It does not apply for applications, which you have to submit personally (an application for an issuing a long-term residence permit, an application of “change of purpose” for long term residence permit) - you have to submit these applications in person at the office of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, at the latest day of a validity of your current long-term residence permit or a current long-term visa.

Fact that the last day of term is unofficial day, cannot be considered for reason independent of the will, which obstructs to the foreigner to submit an application. For this reason we ask you to submit an applications with time-ahead.

If you are prevented from filing the application for reasons beyond your control, you are entitled to file this application within 5 working days of these reasons ending. You can submit an application even earlier than 120 days before expiry the validity of authorization in justifiable cases. You are obligated to communicate the reasons for later presentation and for earlier presentation of an application with the Ministry of Interior.
 

Right to stay on the territory during the examination of the application

If the application for long-term residence permit is lodged on the territory (incl. the application for “the change of the purpose” of the long term residence) or  for its prolongation is lodged on the territory and in accordance with the conditions provided by the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals  (for instance in prescribed deadlines) and  period of validity of present long term visa or long term residence permit expires before the  final decision on the application is taken, the present long term visa or long term residence permit is deemed  to be valid until the decision on the application gains legal force. The right to stay on the territory will however cease before legal force of the decision on application in case of conviction to punishment of expulsion due to the administrative expulsion of applicant,  application for international protection, and specifically in case of employee cards by expiration of 60 days period after the termination of current job.

The right to stay on the territory during the examination of the application is certified by long-term visa sticker attached to the travel document of the applicant. It is so called  "transitory visa".

You should submit the application on a completed form along with all the necessary requirements given individually for selected purposes of stay. You should, however, always submit originals or notarized copies of the documents. Travel document, birth certificate, marriage certificate and document proving the purpose of the stay must be submitted in original. All of the documents submitted must be made out in the Czech language or Slovak language or officially translated into Czech. Moreover, foreign public documents must be supported by a higher verification (Apostille, superlegalisation).

The requirements for the application shall not be older than 180 days except for the travel document and the photograph of the foreign national if it corresponds to his/her actual appearance.
 

Administrative fee

Submission of the application for long-term residence permit or its prolongation is charged with the administrative fee.  Administrative fee should be paid in a form of a revenue stamp. If the administrative fee is not paid when the application is submitted or is paid only partially applicant will be noticed in writing to pay the administrative fee within 15days time. If the payment is not made within this deadline it is the reason for termination of the examination of your application. Same applies when the administrative fee is upon the notice paid only partially.  You can find the overview of administrative fees here. In case of applications for long-term residence permit, for a change of long term residence  purpose  or for prolongation  of long term residence that were submitted before 15-8-2017, the administrative fee is charged when the long-term residence permit card is handed over to you.
 

Application proceedings

You are obliged to file the application for a long-term residence permit and application of "change of purse" for long term residence permit in person. (Only with certain types of applications that can be filed at embassies, the particular Czech Embassy can waive this obligation, in well-substantiated cases). If the application is filed in the Czech Republic in a different manner (electronically, by post, via an authorised representative), it has to be delivered to the Ministry of Interior at the last day of statutory period (it is not enough to submit the application at the last day on the Post Office) application proceedings are not initiated if you do not visit the MOI office were the application was sent/submitted in person within 5 days from it being received. If this is the case, the MOI office will state this fact in decision, that is only noted into the file and will inform you of the fact that proceedings were not initiated and will return the application to you along with any appendices. It is not possible to appeal against such decision.

An application of extension validity of long term residence you are not obligated to submit personally, it suffices, if you transmit an application to Post Transportation at the last day of statutory period.

In the event of filing the application at a Czech Embassy, the Czech Embassy works as an intermediary between the applicants and the body responsible the MOI. During the proceedings, the embassy communicates with the applicants, inviting them for an interview, informing them of the reasons for rejecting their application or invites them to arrive for the stamping of the visa for over 90 days for the purpose of collecting a residence permit.

The processing of your application is subject to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals (pdf, 1.8 MB), the Administrative Code, and other related acts.

If the specified requirements have not been submitted with the application or it has other discrepancies, you will be asked in writing to remedy the discrepancies of your application in prescribed time.  The time limit for the decision on your application is discontinued in such case. During the proceedings, the MOI/embassy can invite you for an interview, request that you complete the requirements, take your fingerprints or take a pictorial record of you.

Additions can be made to the application in person, by means of your proxy or by post. The documents you were asked to provide should always be provided within the set deadlines. Not providing these requirements is a reason to reject the application. During the process you can, of course, provide any other documents that you consider important for your application.

The Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals (pdf, 1.8 MB) sets out the deadlines in which the MOI has to make a decision on the application from the day of filing the application. The deadlines vary for individual purposes of stay and can be found in the information on individual categories. If the proceedings are suspended, the deadline for issuing a decision is also suspended. This deadline is also suspended or is extended in cases laid down by law.
 

Decision to issue a long-term residence permit

In the case of a positive appraisal of your application, the MOI office/embassy at which you filed the application will contact you.

If you are not in the Schengen area at the expected time of a decision to be reached (on an application submitted inside Schengen area), please inform the given MOI office/embassy of this matter.

In the event of filing an application at an embassy, you will receive a visa for a stay of over 90 days for the purpose of receiving a residence permit, with which you can travel to the CR and report to the MOI office within 3 working days to fulfil the reporting duty and provide biometric data necessary for issuing a residence card. The address of the office which you are suppose to report at, will be given to you when receiving the residence permit at the Czech embassy abroad. If you does not appear in this period at the MOI office, the proceedings held on your application will be terminated and you will be obliged to leave the territory of the Czech Republic.

In the stated time period, however no longer than 60 days from providing the biometric data, you have to report in person at a MOI office in order to collect your residence permit card - to confirm your identity (or more precisely the correctness of the personal information in the card, its functionality and the information and correctness of the data saved on the biometric card).

During your stay in CR do not forget to report changes related to your residence.
 

Decision to reject an application

The MOI rejects an application for long-term residence if

1. the foreign national, upon request of the MOI or the embassy, does not turn up for an interview or does not submit any documents by the set deadline, or

2. the foreign national does not fill in the application for a long-term residence permit truthfully, or

3. the foreign national submits forged or altered documents or data necessary for appraising the application presented in them does not correspond to reality, or

4. the foreign national is persona non grata, or

5. the foreign national appears in the Schengen Information System, or

6. there is reasonable risk that during his/her stay in the Czech Republic the foreign national could threaten state security, seriously disturb public order or endanger international relations of the CR, or

7. there is reasonable risk that during his/her stay in the territory of another EU country the foreign national could threaten state security, seriously disturb public order or endanger international relations of EU states, or

8. the foreigner could endanger public health at next residence in the Czech Republic by his / her serious illness stated in conditions set out in the measure of Ministry of Health on prevention of the spread of infectious illnesses, if it happened to this illness before the foreigner entered to the Czech Republic,

9. the applicant did not report for a hearing without giving a serious reason, refuses to answer or gives false information in his/her testimonial, or

10. he / she does not submit a document on travel medical insurance prior to receiving the long-term residence permit, or

11. he / she does not meet the conditions set by law for granting the permit, or

12. facts are ascertained indicating that after the cessation of stay set out by the long-term residence permit the foreign national will not leave the territory or intends to abuse the long-term residence permit for another purpose;

13. the foreign national had not fulfilled the propose of his/her present long-term visa or long-term residence permit unless he/ she proves that the propose of the long term residence had not been fulfilled only temporarily  and due to serious reasons;

14. the foreign national circumvented the law in order to be granted  long-term visa all long-term residence permit for instance by marriage of convenience, by a false declaration of paternity or he /she  became member of statutory body of a company or a co-operative only for the purpose;

15. another serious impediment of the stay of the  foreign national on the territory was found out or residence of foreign national on a territory is not in the interest of the Czech Republic.

​  

 Česky

The purpose of "studies"

You are entitled to file the application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies only if you intend to stay in the Czech Republic temporarily for a period longer than 3 months and it concerns studies in accordance with § 64 of the Act on Residence of Foreign Nationals. Detailed definition of the term "studies" for these puposes is available here.

The application is filed at the Embassy abroad at the properly completed form.

Foreign national is also entitled to file an application at the MOI office in the territory of the Czech Republic in this case:

1. if the foreign national is a holder of long-term visa (for more than 90 days) for any purpose, except of long-term visa of leave to remain, purpose of seasonal work or extra work,

2. if the foreign national is a holder of long-term residence permit for another purpose issued in the territory of Czech Republic,

3. if the foreign national is a holder of long-term residence permit issued for the purpose of study by another EU member state (except Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark), if he/she submits the application within his legitimate residence.

Foreign nationals who hold a long-term residence permit issued by another EU Member State for the purpose of studying under an ERASMUS, a multilateral programme involving mobility measures or an agreement between higher education institutions are entitled to stay in the territory of the Czech Republic without a visa for up to one year after entering the territory, provided that the purpose of their stay in the territory is to study at a higher education institution and their residence permit is valid.

Along with the application for a long-term residence permit you must submit:

1. a travel document,

2. a document confirming the purpose of your stay in the territory,

3. proof of accommodation,

4. a photograph,

5. parental consent or consent of any other statutory representatives or guardians with the residence of a child in the Czech Republic; parental consent, consent other statutory representative or guardian is not required, if it is parent, statutory representative or guardian who submitted the applicationfor child or with whom the child together resides in the Czech Republic, and if the foreigner demonstrates, that he is unable to submit this agreement due to reasons beyond his/her control or if the child resides in the Czech Republic pursuant long-term visa or long-term resident permit for other purpose,

6. proof of funds, or document, that all costs will be paid by state authority (state organization), legal organization or domestic host organization. You can also submit document proving that your total monthly income will not be lower than the sum of subsistence minimum (3 860 CZK) and the highest amount of normative housing costs (9 001 CZK) or housing costs you actually spend,

7. upon request a document similar to an extract from the Penal Register record,

8. upon request a document proving the fulfilment of conditions set out in the measure of Ministry of Health on prevention of the spread of infectious illnesses (Medical report).
    

The requirements for the application shall not be older than 180 days except for the travel document and the photograph of the foreign national if it corresponds to his/her actual appearance.

In the event of a positive processing of an application filed at an embassy, you are obliged to submit proof of  travel medical insurance and, at the same time, upon request, submit a document on paying the insurance premium. A long-term visa for the purpose of receiving a long-term residency permit can be issued. If the application is filed in the Czech Republic, submit these requirements directly when you submit an application.

The MOI issues a long-term residence permit with a limited validity:

1. necessary for achieving the purpose requiring a stay in the Czech Republic, shorter than 1 year,

2. 1 year if it is a temporary stay for the purpose of studies with an expected stay longer than 1 year.
    

The time-limit for issuing a decision on an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies is 60 days.

Detailed information on stays for the purpose of studies is available - Information for schools and students.

 Česky

The purpose of "scientific research"

You are entitled to file an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of scientific research at an embassy, if you have signed a hosting agreement with a research organisation and intend to temporarily stay in the Czech Republic for more than 3 months.
 

The application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of scientific research can be submitted also on MOI office in the Czech Republic, if foreign national - researcher:

1. is holder of visa for a stay of over 90 days (long-term), issued for any purpose, except visa for a stay of over 90 days, purpose leave to remain visa, seasonal work or extra work visa,

2. is holder of long-term residence permit issued by another purpose,

3. is holder of long-term residence permit issued for the purpose of scientific research by another EU member state (except Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark), if foreign national submits an application during his/her visa-free regime and if he/she resides in the Czech Republic for more than one year for the purpose of scientific research.

Holders of long-term residence permit issued by another EU member state for the purpose of the scientific research can stay in the territory of the Czech Republic without any visa up to one year from entry to territory and purpose of their stay is also scientific research.
 

Along with the application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of scientific research, you are obliged to submit:

1. a hosting agreement,

2. travel document,

3. a photograph,

4. a written commitment by the research organisation that it will cover the costs relating to your residence in the Czech Republic after the residence permit expires, including the costs of your departure from the Czech Republic if such costs have been incurred within six months from the date the hosting agreement ends and have been paid from public funds; and

5. upon request a document similar to an extract from the Penal Register record,

6. upon request a document proving the fulfilment of conditions set out in the measure of Ministry of Health on prevention of the spread of infectious illnesses (Medical report).
    

The requirements for the application shall not be older than 180 days except for the travel document and the photograph of the foreign national if it corresponds to his/her actual appearance.

In the event of a positive processing of an application filed at an embassy, you are obliged to submit proof of  travel medical insurance valid from the date of entry till the date you will be covered by public health insurance and, at the same time, upon request, submit a document on having paid the insurance premium. A long-term visa for the purpose of receiving a long-term residency permit can be issued by the embassy, if you have a general visa requirement to enter the EU.

Duting the validity of your long-term residence permit for the purpose of scientific research, as a holder of this permit you are covered by public health insurance, such as holders of a permanent residence permit.

The time-limit for issuing a decision on an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of scientific research is 60 days.

PLEASE NOTE: A detailed description of all rules and benefits related to this status, including information on possibilities of stay in other EU countries, as well as the wording of the Council Directive 2003/109/EC of November 25^th, 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents, which establishes this status, is available here.

 Česky

The purpose of "seeking employment"

Foreign nationals who are residing in the territory of the Czech Republic with a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies and who successfully completed their university education are eligible to file an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment or, as the case may be, an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of starting a business. Foreign nationals who are residing in the territory of the Czech Republic with a long-term residence permit for the purpose of scientific research and who completed their research are also eligible to file the same application. After completing their studies or scientific research, university graduates and researchers thus have the option to obtain a residence permit, the purpose of which is merely to seek employment or start a business.

An application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment or starting a business can only be filed in the territory of the Czech Republic at an office of the Ministry of the Interior using a properly filled-out form. The application can be filed by a foreign national who is a holder of a valid long-term residence permit for the purpose of university studies under an accredited study programme or a holder of a valid long-term residence permit for the purpose of scientific research. The application must be filed in person before the end of the validity of such a residence permit and no later than on the last day of its validity.
 

The following required documents need to be attached to the application:

1. the original of a valid travel document;

2. a document on availability of accommodation;

3. a photograph;

4. a document on availability of funds for their residence for the entire duration of their stay in the country or a document proving that the foreign national’s total monthly income will not be lower than the sum of the subsistence minimum (CZK 3 410) and the officially determined highest average cost of housing (CZK 9 001) or the actual cost of housing incurred;

5. a document on successful completion of university studies (for a holder of a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies) or a document on completion of research issued by the relevant research organisation (for a holder of a long-term residence permit for the purpose of scientific research);

6. a document on travel medical insurance for the entire duration of their stay in the country and, upon request, a document on payment of the insurance premium. This does not apply to cases specified in Section 180j(4) of the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals, that is, for example in those cases where a foreign national is a participant of a national medical insurance programme or where the foreign national’s medical care is covered under an international agreement.
    

The required attachments to the application must not be older than 180 days, except for the travel document and the foreign national’s photograph, as long as it corresponds to his/her actual appearance.

The period of validity of an issued long-term residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment or starting a business is nine months and this permit cannot be renewed. Those foreign nationals who will be holders of a long-term residence permit for starting a business or seeking employment will be eligible to file an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of business without having to meet the condition of prior five-year residence in the country.

 Česky

The purpose of "employment"

As of 24 June 2014, it is no longer possible to apply for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of employment. This type of permit was replaced by an employee card.

 Česky

The purpose of "business"

An application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of business can only be filed at the MOI, if you are already staying in the Czech Republic on a visa for a stay of over 90 days for the same purpose.

Along with the application, submit these requirements:

1. travel document,

2. proof of accommodation,

3. 1 photographs; not valid if a pictorial record has been taken of you,

4. proof of finance - a document proving that your aggregate monthly income alongside all persons residing in the Czech Republic with you will not be lower than the sum amount of the subsistence minimum for you and all persons assessed together with you and the highest amounts of standard costs for accommodation specified for the purpose of a contribution for accommodation by a special legal regulation, or the amount which you can credibly prove as an amount of reasonably justified costs for accommodation of yourself and all persons assessed together with you;

   • a foreigner is on request obliged to submit the declaration of release obligation of secrecy of the Tax Office, in full range of data, in purpose of verification aggregate monthly income of the family; if a foreigner submitted the document to the request of income of the family member, he/she is on request also obliged to submit its declaration of release obligation of secrecy

5. a document confirming the entry into the pertinent business register, list or record,

6. confirmation of non - existence of arrears,

7. if you are the statutory body of a company or cooperative or its member, then a further confirmation of non - existence of arrears the company or cooperative,

8. upon request an income tax assessment,

9. upon request extract from the Penal  Register record,

10. upon request a document proving the fulfilment of conditions set out in the measure of Ministry of Health on prevention of the spread of infectious illnesses (medical report),

11. a document on travel medical insurance, and upon request a document on having paid the insurance premium, it does not apply, if it is about cases listed in § 180j paragraph 4.
     

Requisites of the request cannot be older than 180 days, except the passport and photograph of a foreigner, if it is not responsible to his/her real portrait. The confirmation of non-existence of arrears shall be no older than 30 days to the date of submission of the application.

The time-limit for issuing a decision on an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of business is 60 days.

 Česky

The purpose of "family reunification"

An application for long-term residence for the purpose of family reunification can primarily be filed by a foreign national who is:

1. the spouse of a foreign national in possession of a long-term or permanent residence permit,

2. the minor child or adult dependent child of a foreign national in possession of a long-term or permanent residence permit,

3. the minor child or adult dependent child of the spouse of a foreign national in possession of a long-term or permanent residence permit,

4. a minor child adopted by a foreign national in possession of a long-term or permanent residence permit or his/her spouse in accordance with a decision taken by the competent authority, or a minor child in foster care of a foreign national in possession of a long-term or permanent residence permit or his/her spouse; or the minor’s guardian or the spouse of the guardian is a foreign national with a long-term or permanent residence permit for the Czech Republic and the minor will be taken care of in the Czech Republic,

5. any one of the parents of minor children who have been granted asylum under a special legal regulation²⁾; if such minor children do not have parents, then any other relative in the direct ascending line, and if such a relative does not exist a guardian of such minor children, shall be entitled to file an application;

6. solitary foreign nationals older than 65 years or, regardless of age, foreign nationals who are objectively unable to provide for their own needs on account of their state of health if it concerns family reunification with a parent or a child with a long-term or permanent residence permit in the Czech Republic.

An application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification in the Czech Republic may be filed by a foreign national who, before entering the Czech Republic, has resided in another EU Member State as a family member of a holder of an EU Blue Card. The foreign national is obliged to file the application within 1 month of entering the Czech Republic.

You should file an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification at a Czech Embassy.

If you are already in the Czech Republic on the basis of a visa for over 90 days or a long-term residence permit issued for a different purpose, you may file this application at MOI inside the Czech Republic.

A long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification shall be granted if:

1. the foreign national, with whom the applicant is to be reunited, is a holder of a long-term or permanent residence permit and has resided in the Czech Republic for at least 15 months; as regards reunification of spouses, each of them must be at least 20 years of age,

2. the foreign national, with whom the applicant is to be reunited, has resided in the Czech Republic for at least six months and is a holder of an Employee Card,

3. a spouse, with whom the applicant is to be reunited, has been granted asylum under a special legal regulation and their marriage was entered into prior to the sopoouse´s arrival in the Czech Republic,

4. a minor, with whom the applicant is to be reunited, has been granted asylum under a special legal regulation,

5. the applicant is a minor child adopted by a foreign national or his/her spouse in possession of a residence permit in the Czech Republic in accordance with a decision taken by a competent authority, or a minor child under the foster care of a foreign national in possession of a residence permit or his/her spouse; or the minor’s guardian or the spouse of the guardian is a foreign national with a residence permit in the Czech Republic and the minor will be taken care of in the Czech Republic,

6. the applicant is a solitary foreign national older than 65 years or, regardless of age, a foreign national who is unable to provide for his/her own needs on account of his/her state of health if it concerns family reunification with a parent or a child with a residence permit in the Czech Republic or

7. the foreign national, with whom the applicant is to be reunited, is a holder of an EU Blue Card or a holder of Intra-Company Employee Transfer Card or European Union Member-State Intra-Company Employee Transfer Card or a holder of a long-term residence permit for investment purposes.

In the event of a polygamous marriage, a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification will not be issued to an applicant whose spouse, with whom the applicant is to be reunited, already resides in the Czech Republic with another spouse.

Along with the application for a long-term residence for family reunification, you should submit these requirements:

1. travel document,

2. proof of accommodation,

3. 1 photograph; not applicable if a pictorial record has been taken of you,

4. documentary evidence of the family relationship (if it concerns an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification with a person who has been granted asylum, the family relationship can be proven in another credible manner if submission of such a document is not possible),

5. parental consent or consent of any other statutory representatives or guardians with the residence of a child in the Czech Republic; parental consent, consent other statutory representative or guardian is not required, if it is parent, statutory representative or guardian who submitted the applicationfor child or with whom the child together resides in the Czech Republic, and if the foreigner demonstrates, that he is unable to submit this agreement due to reasons beyond his/her control or if the child resides in the Czech Republic pursuant long-term visa or long-term resident permit for other purpose;

6. proof of finance - a document proving that the aggregate monthly household income of the family after its reunification will not be lower than the sum of:

   • the amount of the subsistence minimums of all family members and

   • the highest amount of normative costs for housing, which the foreign national can credibly prove as an amount of reasonably justified costs for the accommodation of the family,

   • a foreigner is on request obliged to submit the declaration of release obligation of secrecy of the Tax Office, in full range of data, in purpose of verification aggregate monthly income of the family; if a foreigner submitted the document to the request of income of the family member, he/she is on request also obliged to submit its declaration of release obligation of secrecy.

7. a foreign national who has resided as a family member of a holder of an EU Blue Card in another EU Member State is further obliged to submit a document or a residence permit that was granted to him/her as a family member of a holder of an EU Blue Card by another EU Member State,

8. upon request an Extract from the Penal Register record,

9. a document proving the fulfilment of conditions set out in the measure of Ministry of Health on prevention of the spread of infectious illnesses (Medical report).

The requirements for the application shall not be older than 180 days except for the travel document, birth certificate, marriage certificate and the photograph of the foreign national if it corresponds to his/her actual appearance.
 

In the event of a positive processing of an application filed at an embassy, you are obliged to submit a document on travel medical insurance, valid from the time of entering the Czech Republic until you are covered by public health insurance; and, at the same time, upon request, submit a document on having paid the insurance premium. A long-term visa for the purpose of receiving a long-term residency permit can be issued  by the embassy, if you have a general visa requirement to enter the EU. If the application is filed inside the Czech Republic, submit these requirements right away.

In the case of family reunification, the long-term residence permit is issued for a period corresponding to the validity of the residence permit issued to the person with whom you are to be reunited, however no less than

1. 1 year,

2. 2 years in the case of family reunification with a holder of a permanent residence permit.

The time-limit for issuing a decision on an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification is 270 days, in the case of family reunification with a holder of an EU Blue Card it is 180 days.

 Česky

The purpose of "investment"

Long-term residence for investment purposes is intended for entrepreneurs who intend to stay in the Czech Republic for longer than 90 days and plan to make a “significant investment” in the Czech Republic and also for foreign nationals in the management of commercial corporations with a similar plan. You can lodge an application for long-term residence for investment purposes with the appropriate consulate. If you are already staying in the Czech Republic on a long-term visa or long-term residence permit for another purpose (excluding a long-term visa or long-term residence permit for exceptional leave to remain in the Territory), you may lodge your application direct with an MoI CR office.

Please submit the following to support your application:

1. travel document,

2. 1 photographs; this does not apply if an image record has already been captured,

3. a document demonstrating that the foreign national or the commercial corporation, of which the foreign national is a governing body, member of a governing body or of which such foreign national is a procurator or partner, has access in the Territory to finances for implementation of significant investment; such document must not be more than 30 days old on the date of lodging your application;

4. financial statements or similar documents containing the net profits of the applicant, commercial corporation and its controlling entity for the 2 calendar or accounting years preceding the date of lodging the application,

5. upon request, proof of origin of the finances for implementation of the significant investment (tax return or, in the case of a natural person who is an employee, a document confirming income certified by the employer),

6. a statutory statement by the applicant that a decision with effect similar to a bankruptcy decision has not been served either on the applicant, the commercial corporation or its controlling entity in the country of its hitherto operations,

7. documents proving ownership and origin of other assets to be invested (e.g. purchase contract) and an expert valuation of such assets,

8. a document proving that the foreign national is debt-free; this shall not apply for a foreign national who has not yet been in the Territory,

9. if the applicant is a foreign national applying for long-term residence for investment purposes as a partner, governing body, member of a governing body or procurator of a commercial corporation, please submit

   1. a document proving the commercial corporation is debt-free,

   2. a document proving that the applicant’s activity in the territory of the Czech Republic will have a substantial influence on the business of the commercial corporation (if more than 5 persons from the same company apply for entitlement to residence, their concrete significance for the company by means of candidate profiles – candidate curricula vitae. In the absence of the aforementioned, the rebuttable assumption stipulated in the government ordinance laying down details relating to the issuance or extension of long-term residence for investment purposes shall apply, i.e. if there are fewer than 5 persons, it is assumed that they have a significant influence for the company – an extract from the commercial register is required),

   3. a document proving that his/her/its share in such commercial corporation is at least the minimum share stipulated in the government ordinance (extract from the commercial register),

10. proof of registration in the appropriate register, list or records,

11. upon request, a document similar to an extract from the Penal Register,

12. upon request, a document confirming satisfaction of the requirements of measures for preventing the introduction of infectious disease,

13. travel medical insurance certificate, and, upon request, proof of payment of the insurance premium specified in the travel medical insurance certificate; this shall not apply in cases specified in Section 180j(4).

14. a business plan containing a description of the targets of the plan to implement a significant investment, a risk assessment of execution of this plan, the reasons for making such significant investment in the Territory, a description of the separate stages of the plan to implement a significant investment, including a time schedule, the volume of finances earmarked for each stage, description of the product to be manufactured or service to be provided, customer and sales outlet target groups and of the technical and technological processes of production or the method of provision and description of the method of securing a work force.
     

The information supporting the application must be no more than 180 days old, with the exception of the foreign national’s travel document and photograph, if it corresponds to his/her current appearance.

The deadline for the decision concerning long-term residence for investment purposes is 30 days from the date of lodging the application for long-term residence for investment purposes; in particularly complex cases, this deadline is extended to 60 days from the date of lodging the application.

 Česky

EU Bleu Card

As of 24 June 2014, it is no longer possible to apply for a green card. This type of permit was replaced by an employee card.

 Česky

Green Card

- More information

 Česky

"EC long-term residents" in other EU member states and their family members

A person holding a permanent residence permit along with a legal status of “EC long-term resident” of another EU Member State (hereinafter referred to as “a resident of another EU member state”) is entitled to file an application for a long-term residence permit if he/she intends to temporarily reside in the Czech Republic for more than 3 months.

A resident of another EU Member State files an application for a long-term residence permit at  a Czech Embassy or at an MOI office inside the Czech Republic.

If you are a resident of another EU Member State and are going to file an application inside the Czech Republic, you must do so during your legal temporary residence, however no later than three months after your arrival to the Czech Republic.

Along with the application, you shall provide:

1. a document proving the legal status of a resident of another EU Member State,

2. a document on travel medical insurance, and upon request a document on having paid the insurance premium;

3. proof of finance - a document proving that your aggregate monthly income, alongside all persons residing in the Czech Republic with you will not be lower than the sum amount of the subsistence minimum for you and all persons assessed together with you and the highest amounts of standard costs for accommodation specified for the purpose of a contribution for accommodation by a special legal regulation, or the amount which you can credibly prove as an amount of reasonably justified costs for accommodation of yourself and all persons assessed together with you,

   • a foreigner is on request obliged to submit the declaration of release obligation of secrecy of the Tax Office, in full range of data, in purpose of verification aggregate monthly income of the family; if a foreigner submitted the document to the request of income of the family member, he/she is on request also obliged to submit its declaration of release obligation of secrecy.

4. travel document,

5. a document confirming the purpose of the stay in the Czech Republic,

6. proof of accommodation,

7. a photograph; not applicable if a pictorial record has been taken of you,

8. upon request an extract from the Penal Register record,

9. a document proving the fulfilment of conditions set out in the measure of Ministry of Health on prevention of the spread of infectious illnesses (Medical report).

The requirements for the application shall not be older than 180 days except for the travel document, birth certificate, marriage certificate and the photograph of the foreign national if it corresponds to his/her actual appearance.
 

Together with an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of employment, you are obliged to submit a contract of employment, an agreement on work activity, or at least a contract for a future contract, in which the parties undertake to enter into an employment contract within a set period of time, plus documents a), d), f) and g) and, upon request, h) and i).
 

You may also file this application if you are a family member of a resident of another EU Member State, if you were permitted to reside for the purpose of family reunification in the territory of that Member State, and that Mamber State also recognised his/her status of a resident, or, you were granted the legal status of a resident of that Member State.

Aa a family member of a resident of another EU Member State, you are obliged to prove that you have satisfied the conditions of the previous paragraph and submit with the application a document on travel medical insurance, proof of finance - a document proving that your aggregate monthly income ,alongside all persons residing in the Czech Republic with you will not be lower than the sum amount of the subsistence minimum for you and all persons assessed together with you and the highest amounts of standard costs for accommodation specified for the purpose of a contribution for accommodation by a special legal regulation, or the amount which you can credibly prove as an amount of reasonably justified costs for accommodation of yourself and all persons assessed together with you; a foreigner is on request obliged to submit the declaration of release obligation of secrecy of the Tax Office, in full range of data, in purpose of verification aggregate monthly income of the family; if a foreigner submitted the document to the request of income of the family member, he/she is on request also obliged to submit its declaration of release obligation of secrecy and further documents under d), f) and g) and upon request h) and i).

In the case of a family member of a resident of another EU Member State, the long-term residence permit is issued for a period corresponding to the validity of the residence permit that was issued to this resident.

The time-limit for issuing a decision on an application for a long-term residence permit for a resident of another Member State and his/her family members is 120 days.

 Česky

Extending a long-term residence permit

An application for an extension to the validity of a long-term residence permit should be filed at an MOI office inside the Czech Republic.

The validity of a long-term residence permit can be repeatedly extended, principally for the period:

1. necessary for achieving the purpose requiring residency in the Czech Republic, that being less than 1 year,

2. 1 year if it concerns temporary residencey for the purpose of studies in accredited degree programme at university or participation in language and vocational training to study in accredited degree programme at university that is organized by any of public universities, or participation on language and professional course organized under the EU program, if the temporary residence permit is more than 1 year,

3. 2 years, if it concerns a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies in accredited degree programme at university or participation in language and vocational training to study in accredited degree programme at university that is organized by any of public universities, eventually for the purpose of scientific research, if this residence is realized within the EU programme or multiratelal programme including mobility measures or within inter-institutional agreement the case of a family member of a resident of another EU Member State, corresponding to the validity of the residence permit issued to this resident,

4. in the case of family member of scientific researcher corresponding to the validity of long-term residence permit issued to scientific researcher for the purpose of scientific research, searching of employment or business activity,

5. in the case of family reunification, corresponding to the validity of the residence permit card issued to the person with whom you are going to be reunited,

6. for 5 years, if it concerns a long-term residence permit for the purpose of reunification and if it concerns a family member of a foreign national with a permanent residence permit,

7. up to 2 years in other cases, if the residence is necessary to attainment of purpose in the Czech Republic longer than 1 year.
    

If the long-term residence permit was issued for the purpose of studies in accredited degree programme at university, it can be repeatedly extended, though only for a period of maximum 2 years each time. If this permit was issued for the purpose of language or vocational training organized by public higher education institution, it can be extended only once. In other cases the validity of a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies is not extended.

The validity of an employee card can be repeatedly extended for the period for which a contract of employment or an agreement of work activity has been entered into or for the period specified in the recognition authority´s decision to grant a professional license or professional experience, but not for more than 2 years. In the case of a job performed on an employment permit, the validity of the employee card will be extended for a period corresponding to the period stated in the decision on extension of the employment permit.
 

With the application for an extension of the validity of a long-term residence permit issued for the purpose of "family reunification" you must provide:

1. a travel document,

2. proof of accommodation,

3. 1 photograph,

4. parental consent  or consent of any other statutory representatives or guardians with the residence of a child in the Czech Republic; parental consent, consent other statutory representative or guardian is not required, if it is parent, statutory representative or guardian who submitted the application for child or with whom the child together resides in the Czech Republic, and if the foreigner demonstrates, that he is unable to submit this agreement due to reasons beyond his/her control or if the child resides in the Czech Republic pursuant long-term visa or long-term resident permit for other purpose;

5. document proving that the aggregate monthly income of the family after reunification will not be lower than the sum amount of the subsistence minimum for you and all persons assessed together with you and the highest amounts of standard costs for accommodation specified for the purpose of a contribution for accommodation by a special legal regulation, or the amount which you can credibly prove as an amount of reasonably justified costs for accommodation of the family or the amount which you can credibly prove as an amount of reasonably justified costs for accommodation of yourself and your family; income is deemed such income that is in accordance with the Act on Living and Subsistence Minimum, with the exception of a one-off salary, child benefits, unemployment benefits, requalification benefits and benefits within the system of assistance in material need. Section 8 Clause 2 and 4 of the Act on Living and Subsistence Minimum shall not be used for the purpose of counting salary,

   • a foreigner is on request obliged to submit the declaration of release obligation of secrecy of the Tax Office, in full range of data, in purpose of verification aggregate monthly income of the family; if a foreigner submitted the document to the request of income of the family member, he / she is on request also obliged to submit its declaration of release obligation of secrecy.

6. a document on travel medical insurance for the period of your stay in the Czech Republic, and upon request a document on having paid the insurance premium.
    

With the application for an extension of validity of a long-term residence permit issued to a resident of another EU Member State you must submit:

1. a document proving the legal status of a resident of another EU Member State;

2. a document on travel medical insurance for the period of stay in the territory, and upon request a document on having paid the insurance premium;

3. proof of finance - a document proving that your aggregate monthly income , alongside all persons residing in the Czech Republic with you will not be lower than the sum amount of the subsistence minimum for you and all persons assessed together with you and the highest amounts of standard costs for accommodation specified for the purpose of a contribution for accommodation by a special legal regulation, or the amount which you can credibly prove as an amount of reasonably justified costs for accommodation of yourself and all persons assessed together with you - income is deemed such income that is in accordance with the Act on Living and Subsistence Minimum, with the exception of a one-off salary, child benefits, unemployment benefits, requalification benefits and benefits within the system of assistance in material need. Section 8 Clause 2 and 4 of the Act on Living and Subsistence Minimum shall not be used for the purpose of counting salary,

   • a foreigner is on request obliged to submit the declaration of release obligation of secrecy of the Tax Office, in full range of data, in purpose of verification aggregate monthly income of the family; if a foreigner submitted the document to the request of income of the family member, he / she is on request also obliged to submit its declaration of release obligation of secrecy.

4. a travel document,

5. a document confirming the purpose of the stay in the Czech Republic,

6. proof of accommodation,

7. 1 photograph.
    

With the application for an extension of validity of a long-term residence permit issued for the purpose of "business" you must submit:

1. travel document,

2. proof of accommodation,

3. 1 photograph; if your appearance had changed,

4. proof of finance - a document proving that your aggregate monthly income ,alongside all persons residing in the Czech Republic with you will not be lower than the sum amount of the subsistence minimum for you and all persons assessed together with you and the highest amounts of standard costs for accommodation specified for the purpose of a contribution for accommodation by a special legal regulation, or the amount which you can credibly prove as an amount of reasonably justified costs for accommodation of yourself and all persons assessed together with you - income is deemed such income that is in accordance with the Act on Living and Subsistence Minimum, with the exception of a one-off salary, child benefits, unemployment benefits, requalification benefits and benefits within the system of assistance in material need. Section 8 Clause 2 and 4 of the Act on Living and Subsistence Minimum shall not be used for the purpose of counting salary

   • a foreigner is on request obliged to submit the declaration of release obligation of secrecy of the Tax Office, in full range of data, in purpose of verification aggregate monthly income of the family; if a foreigner submitted the document to the request of income of the family member, he/she is on request also obliged to submit its declaration of release obligation of secrecy,

5. a document on the entry into the pertinent business register, list or record,

6. confirmation of non - existence of arrears,

7. if you are the statutory body of a company or cooperative or its member, then a further confirmation of non - existence of arrears on the side of the company or cooperative,

8. upon request an income tax assessment,

9. a document on travel medical insurance for the period of stay in the territory, and upon request a document on having paid the insurance premium it does not apply, if it is about cases listed in § 180j paragraph 4,
    

With the application for an extension to the validity of a long-term residence permit issued for the purpose of "employment" you must submit:

As of 24 June 2014 long-term residence permits for the purpose of employment are no longer issued. This type of permit was replaced by an employee card. More information on extension of residence permit for holders of long-term residence permit for the purpose of employment can be found here.
 

With the application for an extension of validity of a long-term residence permit issued for the purpose of "studies" you must submit:

1. a travel document,

2. a document confirming the purpose of stay in the Czech Republic,

3. proof of accommodation,

4. 1 photograph,

5. a document on travel medical insurance for the period of your stay in the Czech Republic, and upon request a document on having paid the insurance premium,

6. a document confirming the availability of funds in the territory or document proving that all costs will be paid by state authority, by legal entity or by domestic host organization or you can submit document proving, that your total monthly income will not be lower than a sum of subsistence minimum and highest amount of normative housing costs or housing costs you actually spend,

7. parental consent or consent of any other statutory representatives or guardians with the residence of a child in the Czech Republic; parental consent, consent other statutory representative or guardian is not required, if it is parent, statutory representative or guardian who submitted the application for child or with whom the child together resides in the Czech Republic, and if the foreigner demonstrates, that he is unable to submit this agreement due to reasons beyond his/her control or if the child resides in the Czech Republic pursuant long-term visa or long-term resident permit for other purpose.
    

With the application for an extension of validity of a long-term residence permit issued for the purpose of "scientific research" you must submit:

1. a travel document,

2. a hosting agreement,

3. a written commitment by the research organisation that it will cover the costs relating to your residence as researcher in the Czech Republic after the residence permit expires, including the costs of your departure from the Czech Republic if such costs have been incurred within six months from the date the hosting agreement ends and have been paid from public funds,

4. upon request a document proving the fulfilment of conditions set out in the measure of Ministry of Health on prevention of the spread of infectious illnesses (Medical report).

A family member of scientific researcher applying for extending of the validity of the long-term residence permit, must submit the same requirements as required for an application for an extension of long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification.
 

With the application for an extension of validity of an EU Blue Card, you should primarily submit:

1. a travel document,

2. proof of accommodation for the period of your stay in the Czech Republic,

3. an employment contract for employment requiring high qualifications signed for a period of at least one year for a legally set working week, which further contains the amount of the agreed gross monthly or annual wage corresponding to at least 1.5 times the average gross annual wage declared by Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

4. documents confirming high qualifications,

5. if it concerns carrying out a regulated occupation, a document on meeting the conditions for carrying out such an occupation. (MOI decides on issuing the Blue Card after the statement by the relevant authority on recognising qualifications has been issued.) in case your employer is a job agency and you will be temporarily allocated to another employer, a document in which there is your name, surname, former surname, citizenship, birthdate, birthplace and place of your stay in the territory of the Czech Republic (address). There have to be stated a kind of work you will do, place of work, the name of the (another) employer and its registered office in this document as well. You can find a form of this document here.

The requirements for the application shall not be older than 180 days except for the travel document, birth certificate, marriage certificate and the photograph of the foreign national if it corresponds to his / her actual appearance.

If you meet the conditions for extending the validity of the long-term residence permit, then, upon being invited, you are obliged to report in person to the MOI to process the data necessary for issuing the residence permit, including providing biometric data and a digital signature; a signature is not taken if, in so doing, you are prevented by a barrier that is difficult to overcome.

You are obliged to report at the MOI within a set time period, though no later than 60 days after providing biometric data, to receive your residence card.

 Česky

Changing the purpose of long-term residence

If you intend to stay in the Czech Republic for a purpose other than the one for which you have been granted permission, you are obliged to apply to the MOI for a new long-term residence permit.

• If you intend to stay in the Czech Republic for the purpose of business, you can apply for such a change if you are a holder of a valid long-term residence permit and you have been living in the Czech Republic for longer than 5 years.

• If you have a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification and you entered the territory on the bases of this residence permit, you can apply for a long-term residence permit for a different purpose, after residing in the Czech Republic for 3 years or after reaching 18 years of age.

• If you possess a long-term residence permit issued for the purpose of family reunification and you entered the territory on the bases of this residence permit, you are entitled to apply for a long-term residence permit for a different purpose if you divorce the person with whom you were reunited and, to the date of the divorce, you have resided in the Czech Republic continuously for at least two years and the marriage had lasted for at least five years; the condition of continuous residence and duration of marriage shall not apply if you have lost Czech nationality as a consequence of the marriage with the person with whom you were reunited.

• If you possess a long-term residence permit issued for the purpose of family reunification and you entered the territory on the bases of this residence permit you are entitled to apply for a long-term residence permit for a different purpose if the person with whom you were reunited died due to industrial injury or if you already resided on the territory of the Czech Republic for the continuous period of 2 years before your sponsor (person you were reunited with) died.

• The right to lodge an application for a long term residence permit for the different purpose ceases one year after the divorce  with the sponsor or  one year  after his/her death.

 Česky

A visa for the purpose of collecting a residence permit - D/VR

In some cases, if you have a general visa obligation in the EU, for instance when changing a passport with a valid visa sticker in your country of origin, if the validity of a long-term residence permit or visa expires in the course of proceedings on a legitimate newly filed application, or after approving applications for a long-term residence permit filed at an embassy, to return/enter the Czech Republic, you will receive visa for the purpose of rcollecting a residence permit (D/VR visa).

You shall fill in a standard long-term visa application, add your photograph, and no other requirements are necessary.

This visa is conferred ex officio in the shortest time possible.

The visa is issued for a maximum of 60 days. After entering the Czech Republic, it is necessary to report to the an MOI office within 3 days from entry for all subsequent steps to be taken.

 Česky

"Bridging label"

If you are staying in the Czech Republic on a long-term visa or a long-term residence permit and you filed an application for issuance or extension of a long-term residence permit within the due time limit and a decision is yet to be made, during which time your visa/residence permit has expired, you can apply at an MOI office for a a certificate of residence permit in the form of a visa sticker ("bridging label").

This "bridging label" is marked into the passport by a visa for a stay over 90 days (long-term) with the term of validity corresponding presumed length of proceeding about request, usually as you wait. For this reason, it is necessary for you to be present in person. You should submit a valid travel document, no other requirements are necessary.

The put up label then serves as a testimonial to having filed an application and it serves as a proof of the legality of stay in the territory of the Czech Republic until a legitimate decision is made on the application, on the condition that the so called fiction of the validity of the previous residence permit applies to the foreigner. If this fiction of the validity of the previous residence permit does not apply to the foreigner, he/she cannot be issued a bridging label. If the so called fiction of the validity of the previous permit ceases to exist (for example by a legitimate decision on the application or a legitimate decision of the court on imposition of punishment by expulsion or if the decision on expulsion of the foreigner is enforceable), the validity of the bridging label also ceases to exist.

The bridging label enables its holder to travel from/to the Schengen zone.

Residence permit of the foreigner who is subsumed into the Informational System of States Parties is only certified by the confirmation of residence permit. If the so called fiction of existing residence permit ceases to exist (for example by the means of final decision on the application or by the means of final decision of the court on imposing the sentence on the basis of an expulsion or deportation or if the decision on the expulsion of the foreigner is enforceable), the validity of the residence permit also ceases to exist.