Česky

Permanent residence - non-EU nationals

Submitting an application

You should submit the application on the completed form along with all the necessary requirements. You should, however, always submit originals or notarized copies of the documents. All documents submitted must be made out in the Czech language or officially translated into Czech. Foreign public documents must further be provided with a higher verification (Apostille, superlegalisation).

The application shall be submitted in person.(the Czech Embassy can only waive this obligation in well-substantiated cases). A legal representative submits the application on behalf of a foreign national under 15 years.
 

Application procedure

The application procedure is governed by the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals (pdf, 1.8 MB), the Administrative Procedure Code, and any other associated acts.

If the specified requirements were not submitted with the application or the application has other discrepancies, the MOI worker accepting the application will help you in removing these discrepancies or invite you back to remove the discrepancies giving an adequate deadline for this and informing you of the consequences of not removing the discrepancies within the deadline, at the same time the proceedings for such an application can be halted.

It is possible to submit any missing requirements in person, by means of your proxy or by post. The documents that you have been asked to submit should always be submitted within the set deadlines. Not providing the requirements is a reason for suspending the application procedure. Naturally, during the procedure you can submit any other documents that you consider important for your application. Remember that travel documents must be submitted in person.

The Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals (pdf, 1.9 MB) sets a deadline of 60 days from filing the application in the Czech Republic and 180 from filing the application at a Czech Embassy, during which the MOI is required to make a decision on your application. If the procedure is interrupted, the deadline for making a decision is also halted. This deadline is also halted or is extended in other legally set cases.

At any time during this procedure you can ask to inspect the documentary material and familiarise yourself with it. You can also be called upon by the Ministry to familiarise yourself with the documents before issuing a decision.
 

Decision on issuing a permanent residence permit

In the event of a positive settling of your application, which was submitted at the MOI, this office will contact you by telephone and arrange a date for picking up the permanent residence permit and providing biometric data. If it is not possible to contact you by telephone, you will be asked to pick it up in writing at the contact address that you gave in the application.

In the case of a positive appraisal of an application submitted at a Czech Embassy abroad, the embassy will contact you and issue a visa for a stay of over 90 days for the purpose of receiving a residence permit. Within 3 days of entering the Czech Republic, you shall report to the MOI office where you will arrange a date for providing biometric data.

You must report in person by the set deadline, though no later than 60 days after providing the biometric data, to the MOI office to pick up you permanent residence card so that your identity can be checked, i.e. the veracity of the personal data entered on the card, that the data carrier is functional and the veracity of the biometric data it holds.

The MOI informs the Central Office of the General Health Insurance Provider of the Czech Republic of the day the decision on permanent residence permit came into legal effect and you will be automatically entered into the register of General Health Insurance Provider policyholders.
 

A decision to reject an application for a permanent residence permit

The MOI will reject an application for a permanent residence permit, if

1. the foreign national submits forged or altered requirements or the data necessary for appraising the application presented in them does not correspond to the truth,

2. in the case of a polygamous marriage, the holder of authorisation for family reunification has resided in the Czech Republic with one wife,

3. the foreign national is recorded in the register of persona non grata,

4. the foreign national, without serious reason, fails to report for a hearing, refuses to give a testimony or gives false information in the testimony,

5. in the procedure it is found that the foreign national circumvented this act with the aim of obtaining a permanent residence permit, especially if he/she intentionally got married or intentionally declared his agreement with fatherhood or the foreign national has resided outside the territory of the EU countries for longer than 12 months, unless justified by serious reasons, in particular pregnancy and childbirth, serious illness, studies or professional training or a foreign work posting, or

6. in the procedure the reasons given in the application for a permanent residence permit, pursuant to § 66 of the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals (pdf, 1.9 MB), were not confirmed or the conditions pursuant to § 67 or § 68 were not met.
    

The MOI will further reject an application for a permanent residence permit, if

1. the foreign national is entered into the information system of the contracting states,

2. the foreign national fails to submit a document on securing funds for permanent residence in the Czech Republic,

3. the foreign national fails to meet the condition of a clean criminal record,

4. pursuant to § 66, the foreign national applying for permanent residence permit suffers from a serious illness,

5. the foreign national, a former Blue Card holder, or his/her family member, lived continuously outside of the territory of the EU countries for longer than 24 months,

6. there is reasonable risk that the applicant could endanger state security or seriously disrupt public order, or

7. the foreign national seriously disrupted public order or threatened the state security of another EU Member State,
    

under condition that this decision is adequate from the standpoint of the impacts on the foreign national’s private or family life.

In the event your application, submitted at the MOI, is rejected, the decision on rejecting the application will be sent by post to the contact address given in the application. You have the right to appeal against this decision, that being within 15 days of delivering the decision. The appeal can be submitted in person or by post to the pertinent MOI office.

If the MOI does not find your objections to the decision on rejecting an application to be legitimate for changing its decision, it hands over all of the materials associated with the procedure on your application to the Appeal Commission on the Residence of Foreign Nationals, which will decide about your appeal. The appeal decision will be sent to you.

 Česky

Permanent residence permit after 5 years of continuous temporary residence in the CZ

After 5 years of continuous residence in the Czech Republic, a foreign national can file an application for permanent residence.

To the period of continuos residence is counted:

1. The period of stay on long-term visa and on a long-term residence permit unless otherwise provided.

2. The period of stay of statut asylum seeker or a person under the subsidiary position under the Asylum act.

3. The period of previous residence based on temporary residence permit including the time, during which it was conducted proceeding about application bases of which the permit was issued,if

   1. Was the long-term residence permit issued to foreigner ,based on request under paragraph 87f(5),after termination of temporary residence of family member of an EU citizen or

   2. The foreigner applied for a residence permit during periods for departure setting due to determination of temporary residence of family member of an EU citizen stated in paragraph 87f(5)

4. By one half

   1. The period of stay in the territory on long-term visa and on long-term residence permit issued for pupose of study or

   2. The period during which the proceedings was conducted for granting international protection, which led to the decision to grant asylum or supplementary protection, including the period of an action or cassation complaint, if was the proceedings about granting international protection was conducted more than 18 months, this period is counted in its fullness.

5. Period of absence of foreigner in the territory during the residence according to letter from a) to d), if these each period of absence not exceed 6 months consecutively and if it not exceed 310 days in its summary, if one of the period of absence of foreigner in the territory was not longer then 12 months consecutively from serious  reasons, especially case of pregnancy and birth of a child, serious illness or study and trainings, the continuity of residence is retained, while this period is not counted

6. Period of absence of foreigner in the territory during the period of residence according to letter a) to d), if the foreigner was posted abroad by the employer and if these each period of absence not exceed 10 months consecutively and not exceed 560 days in its summary, however, this period is not counted if the foreigner was a member of statutory body of the employer.
   ​

To the period of continuos residence is not counted:

1. Transfer of foreigner in the territory by the foreign employer or foreign legal entity or individual,

2. Residence of foreigner in the territory for a purpose of employment depending on changing  seasons or he was helping with home works for food, accommodation and spending money designed to meet his basic social culture and educational needs (au pair),

3. Imprisonment, the day of entry of foreigner´s imprisonment interrupting the period of his continuous period in the territory, until his release from prison.
    

An application for permanent residence can also be filed by a foreign national that met the conditions at the time but now resides outside of the Czech Republic. If the foreign national’s long-term residency permit becomes invalid whilst he/she is not present in the Czech Republic, this application must be filed within 6 months of this permit becoming invalid, at the latest. In this case, the application is filed at a Czech Embassy.
 

A foreigner fills the application after 5 years of continuous residence in the territory of the Czech republic, if he stay in the territory on:

• Long-term visa,

• Long-term resident permit or,

• Based on document issued to residence inside territory according to S.I.no 325 of 1999* or S.I. no 221 of 2003, or

• During the period for departure due to termination of temporary residence of family member of EU citizen, case of citizen who stay in the territory 5 years continuously.

* Persons with granted subsidiary protection can also submit an application for granting the status of long-term resident in the European Union in the territory of the Czech Republic due to § 53d of Act No. 325/1999 Coll. This status gives the holder similar rights as a permanent residence permit. It is not necessary for the foreign national to waive subsidiary protection for the pupose of granting long-term residence status.

An application for a permanent residence permit can be filed at the MOI offices where you are registered. The application must be submitted in person.
 

The following requirements must be submitted with the application:

1. a Travel document,

2. 1 photograph,

3. a Proof of accommodation,

4. a Proof of funds,

5. a Czech language exam certificate (more information available on the official website Čeština pro cizince).

6. upon request a Document similar to an extract from the Penal Register record.
    

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

 Česky

The legal status of a long-term resident

The MOI recognises the legal status of long-term resident in the European Community in the Czech Republic at the time of issuing the permanent residence permit if you meet the following conditions:

• 5 years of continuous residence in the Czech Republic,

• on your part, there has been no serious disturbance of public order or threats to national security of the CR or that of another EU Member State, and

• you have demonstrated you have funds for permanent residence in the Czech Republic.
   

If the legal status of a long-term resident in the European Community in the Czech Republic is not recognised at the same time as the permanent residence permit is, the MOI can recognise it at a later stage, if you request it and meet the conditions.

The legal status of a long-term resident in the European Community in the Czech Republic can likewise be recognised for a family member of an EU citizen who is not an EU citizen.

The application is filed on official form at the MOI office according to the place where you are registered.

For an "Application for the Legal Status of a Long-term resident of the European Community in the Czech Republic" that is not filed at the same time as an application for a permanent residence permit, you shall submit a proof of funds for permanent residence in the country.

IMPORTANT: Complete description of all the rules and benefits of this status, including information on residence possibilities in other EU countries and the Council Directive 2003/109/EC of November 25th, 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents, which this status follows from, is available here.

 Česky

Permanent residence permit for persons with Czech origin

Foreign nationals that have proven Czech origins, may apply for a permanent residence permit for reasons worthy of consideration pursuant to § 66/1/b of the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals (pdf, 1.8 MB), without meeting the condition of prior continuous residence in the Czech Republic. The spouse or minor child of the given foreign national may also apply for the same kind of residence permit.

The application for permanent residence is submitted at a Czech Embassy abroad or, in certain cases, directly at the MOI office, if, for instance, you reside in the Czech Republic on the basis of being granted a visa for a stay of over 90 days or a long-term residence permit.
 

The following requirements must be submitted with the application:

1. a travel document,

2. Proof of Czech origin,

3. 2 photographs,

4. Proof of accommodation,

5. Proof of funds,

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

7. upon request a medical report,

8. If the applicant is a minor child, submit the consent of a parent or any other statutory representative or guardian to the permanent residence of a child in the Czech Republic. Consent of a parent is not required, if the parent, statutory representative or guardian making the request for a child, will stay with a child in the territory and if foreign national proves that he / she is a unable to declare consent due to reasons beyond his / her control or if the child resides in the territory based on a long-term visa or a long-term residence permit for other purposes.
    

It is further necessary to supplement the application with a written substantiation, part of which shall be your curriculum vitae, in which you give other reasons worthy of consideration for your application for a permanent residence permit apart from Czech origins. Here is a scheme for elaborating the substantiation and the curriculum vitae. The spouse or minor child of an applicant further submits a document confirming the relationship with the applicant and a notarised copy or original of the confirmation of his belonging to the Czech community.

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

 Česky

Permanent residence permit for EU Blue Card holders

A foreign national that has met the condition of 5 years of continuous residence in Member States of the European Union as holder of an EU Blue Card may apply for a permanent residence permit if, as the holder of a Blue Card, he/she has lived in the Czech Republic for at least 2 years. In the event of a positive decision, the status of a long-term resident of the EC shall likewise be recognised for such a foreign national.

The period of staying in another EU Member State is not included in the period of 5 years of continuous residence in Member States if the holder of the Blue Card issued by this EU Member State resided in its territory for a period shorter than 18 months. The period a Blue Card holder was absent from the territory of EU Member States is counted in the required period of continuous residence, if the individual period of absence did not exceed 12 consecutive months and if it did not exceed 560 days in total. Similarly, this provision is used for a family member of a Blue Card holder who has been issued a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family unification.

The following requirements must be submitted with the application:

1. a travel document,
2. fulfillment of the condition of 5 years continuous residence in the territory of EU Member States as a Blue Card holder,
3. 2 photographs,
4. proof of accommodation,
5. proof of funds,
6. Czech language examination certificate (more information available on the official website Čeština pro cizince),
7. upon request a document similar to an extract from the Penal Register record.
    

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

 Česky

Permanent residence permit for children born in the Czech Republic

If the legal representative of a foreign national born in the territory resides on the basis of a permanent residence permit, they are obliged to submit an application for permanent residence on behalf of the child within 60 days of the child’s birth.

If an application is submitted, the residence of the newly born foreign national is understood to be permanent from the moment of birth to the time the decision on the application comes into force (this is primarily of importance for health insurance purposes).

The application on permanent residence can be submitted at the MOI office according to where the child is expected to reside.
 

Application requirements are:

1. the child’s travel document; can be substituted by submitting a travel document of the foreign national (legal representative), in which the child is entered,

2. the child’s birth certificate

 Česky

Permanent residence permit for the purpose of family unification (child of a foreign national with a permanent residence permit)

A foreign national applying for this permit as a minor child of foreign national who is staying in the Czech Republic on the basis of a permanent residence permit, if the reason for the application is family unification in the Czech Republic, then he/she may apply for permanent residence pursuant to §66/1/d of the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals (pdf, 1.8 MB), without meeting the condition of previous continuous residence in the Czech Republic.

A minor is understood to be a foreign national under 18 years.

The application for permanent residence is submitted at a Czech Embassy abroad or directly at an MOI office if the foreign national, who is to be issued a permanent residence permit, resides in the Czech Republic on the basis of temporary residence.
 

The following requirements must be submitted with the application:

1. a Travel document,

2. 1 Photograph,

3. a Document confirming the purpose of the stay,

4. Proof of accommodation,

5. Proof of funds,

6. the Consent of a parent or any other statutory representative or guardian to the permanent residence of a child in the Czech Republic if the family reunification with such parent, statutory representative or guardian is not concerned; this provision shall not apply if a foreign national proves that he/she is a unable to submit such document due to reasons beyond his/her control,

7. a Document similar to an extract from the Penal Register record, not if it concerns a foreign national under 15 years.
    

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

 Česky

Extending the validity of a permanent residence card

• Extending the validity of a permanent residence card