Information about residency for citizens of the European Union and their family members in the Czech Republic.
1.1 Basic information about entry and residency for citizens of the European Union in the Czech Republic
1.1.1 Information about temporary residency permits
1.1.2 Information about permanent residency permits
1.2. Information about residency for family members of European Union citizens in the Czech Republic
1.2.1. General information and conditions for the issuance of special residency permits
1.2.2. Information about temporary residency permits
1.2.3. Information about permanent residency permits in the Czech Republic
1.2.3.1. Information about permanent residency permits for a family members of a citizen of the Czech Republic
1.2.3.2. Information about permanent residency permits for citizens of the European Union, excluding family members who are citizens of the Czech Republic
1.3. Extension of the validity of the documents issued for citizens of the European Union and their family members
1.4. Reporting obligations of European Union citizens and their family members and reporting residency changes
1.5. Temporary period for reserving a new procedure for European Union citizens and their family members in the Czech Republic
1.6. Residency for the citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland in the Czech Republic
1.1 Basic information about entry and residency for citizens of the European Union in the Czech Republic
Citizens of the European Union countries have the right to travel freely within the European Union, and therefore their stay in the Czech Republic is not conditioned by any residency permit. With the entrance of the Czech Republic into the European Union, all European Union citizens can enter and reside in the Czech Republic without any special restrictions. The only requirement is a valid travel document, which in this case is an Identification card. Regardless of the purpose and length of stay, European Union citizens do not need visas.
European Union citizens do not need a special residency permit when staying in the Czech Republic up to three months. If the European Union citizen stays in the Czech Republic longer than three months, for example if he/she is a student, employed, owns a business or is doing any other activity, he/she is entitled (not obligated) to apply for a “residency permit for European Union citizens”. Issuance of such a permit, however, is not a condition for staying in the Czech Republic, not even when he/she is a student, employed, owns a business or id doing any other activity. There are many other cases when a European Union citizen has to apply for a special residency permit, such as to enable a family member who is not a member of the EU to apply for such a permit, etc.
Special residency permit is understood to be a permit for a long-term or a short-term residency.
The same procedure for entry and residency that is valid for EU citizens is also valid for the citizens of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein.
1.1.1 Information about temporary residency permits
European Union citizens are entitled, not obligated, to apply for a temporary residency permit if he/she intends to temporarily stay in the Czech Republic for a period longer than three months. The application for a temporary residency permit or application for extending the period of its validity can be submitted by the EU citizen in the representative authority of the Czech Republic or in the department of the foreign police, depending on the place of residency in the Czech Republic. Addresses and telephone numbers can be found on the web site www.mvcr.cz under the heading – contacts.
EU citizens must submit the documents together with the application:
- Travel document, in this case also an ID card,
- A document proving the purpose of the stay (for example, an employment contract…); foreign law does not specify the purpose of the stay for which a foreigner applies for the temporary residency permit,
- 2 photographs,
- A document regarding health insurance and affirmation that he/she will not apply for social benefits. These documents are not required if the person is employed in the CR, runs a business, or functions as a member of the statutory organs of a legal entity
- A medical record proving that a person does not suffer a serious illness may be asked for in certain cases. Illnesses have been stated by the public notice of the Ministry of Health number 274/2004, which determines the list of illnesses that could endanger public health and handicaps that could seriously threaten public order.
All documents must not be older than 180 days, with the exception of travel documents, registry data, and photographs of the foreigner if it corresponds to his/her present appearance.
All foreign-language documents must be officially translated into Czech.
The foreign police issue a temporary residency permit in the form of a purple residency certificate regarding temporary residency for citizens of European Union member states. The period of its validity is stated depending on the purpose of the stay. In these circumstances, all foreigners are obligated to report surname changes, personal status, and other personal data changes stated in this purple certificate and travel document within three days of the change at a department of the foreign police.
The processing period for applications is up to 180 days from the submission of the application, in the case that the application is submitted in the Czech Republic the application will be processed within 60 days
Issuing and extending the period of validity of temporary residency permits for EU citizens is free from administrative charges.
1.1.2. Information about permanent residency
The foreign police will issue EU citizens a permanent residency permit provided that he/she:
- Is employed in the Czech Republic and has been living here continuously for at least three years,
- Runs his/her own business,
- Functions as a member of the statutory organ of a legal entity,
- Reached retirement age in the period when he/she finished his/her job, business or function as a member of a statutory organ of a legal entity, and engaged in this activity for the last 12 months in a EU country, and before submitting the application has lived here continuously for a period of at least three years,
- Terminated employment, a business or his/her function as a member of a statutory organ of a legal entity because of disability and has lived in the CR continuously for a period of at least two years. This condition is not valid in the case that he/she was entitled for a disability pension because of injury at work or illness caused by a job during the stay,
- Is employed in another EU country and returns to the Czech Republic at least once a week, during which time he/she resided in the CR continuously and was employed here for a period of at least three years,
- Runs a business in another EU country or is a member of statutory organ of a legal entity and returns to the Czech Republic at least once a week, during which time he/she resided in the CR continuously and was employed here for a period of at least three years,
- Has been residing in the Czech Republic continuously for five years on a temporary residency permit for a reason other than employment, business, function in a statutory organ or study,
- Fulfils the conditions for the issuance of a permanent residency permit without the condition of a previous continuous residency, given by § 65 of the foreign law (e.g. former CR citizen).
The application for a permanent residency permit or application for extension of the period of the validity can be submitted by the EU citizen in the representative office or department of the foreign police according to the place of residency. Addresses and telephone numbers can be found on the web site www.mvcr.cz under the heading contacts.
When applying for a permanent residency permit, the EU citizen must submit:
- A travel document, which can be an ID card,
- A document proving the fulfilment of some of the conditions for permanent residency
- 2 photographs,
- A medical record proving that a person does not suffer a serious illness may be asked for in certain cases. Illnesses have been stated by the public notice of the Ministry of Health number 274/2004, which determines the list of illnesses that could endanger public health and handicaps that could seriously threaten public order.
All documents must not be older than 180 days, with the exception of travel documents, registry data, and photographs of the foreigner if it corresponds to his/her present appearance.
All foreign-language documents must be officially translated into Czech.
The foreign police issue a permanent residency permit in the form of an administrative decision and, simultaneously, a purple residency certificate regarding permanent residency for citizens of European Union member states. The period of its validity is stated depending on the purpose of the stay. In these circumstances, all foreigners are obligated to report surname changes, personal status, and other personal data changes stated in this purple certificate and travel document within three days of the change at a department of the foreign police.
The document permitting residency for EU citizens is valid for ten years, whereas its validity can be extended for ten years repeatedly.
The processing period for applications is up to 180 days from the submission of the application, in the case that the application is submitted in the Czech Republic the application will be processed within 60 days
Issuing and extending the period of validity of temporary residency permits for EU citizens is free from administrative charges.
1.2. Information about residency of family members of European Union citizens in the Czech Republic
1.2.1. General information and conditions for the issuance of a special residency permit
A family member of an EU citizen is, according to foreign law, understood as a husband, wife, child under 21, a direct relative in ascending or descending line who is a dependant, or a dependant who is a close relative of the wife or husband’s side and are EU citizens. In the case of EU citizens studying in the CR, a family member is considered as only husband, wife or dependent child.
Family members of EU citizens are entitled to apply for a special residency permit, meaning a permit for temporary or permanent residency, on condition that this EU citizen has been already staying in the CR on this special residency permit or has already applied for it.
In the case that the EU citizen has been residing in the CR without a special residency permit, for example using only a passport or ID card, the same procedure for residency in the Czech Republic is applied for family members of such EU citizens as for citizens from the so called third states. Further information concerning this problem is explained in point 2 of the information line.
Family members of EU citizens who are the citizens of the so-called third states need a Czech visa to enter the Czech Republic if there is a visa requirement for the citizens of that state.
1.2.2. Information about temporary residency permits
A family member of a EU citizen has to submit the following documents with the application:
- Travel document
- A document proving the purpose of the stay,
- 2 photographs,
- A document regarding health insurance and affirmation that he/she will not apply for social benefits. These documents are not required if the person is employed in the CR, runs a business, or functions as a member of the statutory organs of a legal entity
- A medical record proving that a person does not suffer a serious illness may be asked for in certain cases. Illnesses have been stated by the public notice of the Ministry of Health number 274/2004, which determines the list of illnesses that could endanger public health and handicaps that could seriously threaten public order,
- A document proving that he/she is a family member and that he/she is a dependant; a document proving that he/she is a dependant is not required from a husband or child younger than 21.
All documents must not be older than 180 days, with the exception of travel documents, registry data, and photographs of the foreigner if it corresponds to his/her present appearance.
All foreign-language documents must be officially translated into Czech.
The application for a temporary residency permit or the application for an extension of its validity can be submitted by a family member of the EU citizen at the administrative office of the Czech Republic or at a department of the foreign police depending on the place of residency in the Czech Republic.
The foreign police issue a temporary residency permit in the form of a green certificate. In this circumstance, all foreigners are obliged to report surname changes, marital status and other personal data changes stated on this certificate and travel document, within three days of the change, in a department of the foreign police.
The processing period for applications is up to 180 days from the submission of the application, in the case that the application is submitted in the Czech Republic the application will be processed within 60 days
Issuing and extending the period of validity of temporary residency permits for family members of EU citizens is free from administrative charges.
Family members of EU citizens who are not EU citizens and are citizens of a state with visa requirements are entitled to stay in the Czech Republic based on a valid visa until the temporary residency permit is issued.
1.2.3. Information about permanent residency in the Czech Republic
1.2.3.1. Information about permanent residency permits for family members of citizens of the Czech Republic
A family member of a Czech citizen, being a husband, wife, child under 21, dependent direct relative in ascending or descending line, or dependent direct relative, regardless of his/her nationality, of a wife or husband who are Czech citizens will be issued a permanent residency permit by a department of foreign police based on the application for a permanent residency permit.
Together with the application, a family member must submit:
- Travel document
- A document proving that he/she is a family member,
- 2 photographs,
- A medical record proving that a person does not suffer a serious illness may be asked for in certain cases. Illnesses have been stated by the public notice of the Ministry of Health number 274/2004, which determines the list of illnesses that could endanger public health and handicaps that could seriously threaten public order,
The application for a temporary residency permit or the application for an extension of its validity can be submitted by a family member of the Czech citizen at the administrative office of the Czech Republic or at a department of the foreign police depending on the place of residency in the Czech Republic.
All documents must not be older than 180 days, with the exception of travel documents, registry data, and photographs of the foreigner if it corresponds to his/her present appearance.
All foreign-language documents must be officially translated into Czech.
Issuing and extending the period of validity of temporary residency permits for family members of Czech citizens is free from administrative charges.
The foreign police issue a permanent residency permit to the family member in the form of an administrative decision and, simultaneously, a green certificate. In this circumstance, all foreigners are obliged to report surname changes, marital status and other personal data changes stated on this certificate and travel document, within three days of the change, in a department of the foreign police.
1.2.3.2. Information about permanent residency permits for European Union citizens, excluding family members who are citizens of the Czech Republic
The department of foreign police will issue a permanent residency permit for a family member of a EU citizen if:
- A similar application has been submitted by the EU citizen, or
- The applicant is a surviving relative of the EU citizen who was residing in the Czech Republic because of a job, business, or as a member of the statutory organ of a legal entity and was residing in the CR when the death of the relative occurred for a period of at least two years, or the death of the EU citizen was work related, or if the applicant gained citizenship by marriage with this EU citizen. The right of a family member who is a citizen of a third state to apply for permanent residency expires two years after the death of the EU citizen.
Together with the application, a family member must submit:
- Travel document
- A document proving fulfilment of one of the conditions above,
- A document proving that he/she is a family member,
- 2 photographs,
- A medical record proving that a person does not suffer a serious illness may be asked for in certain cases. Illnesses have been stated by the public notice of the Ministry of Health number 274/2004, which determines the list of illnesses that could endanger public health and handicaps that could seriously threaten public order,
The application for a temporary residency permit or the application for an extension of its validity can be submitted by a family member of the EU citizen at the administrative office of the Czech Republic or at a department of the foreign police depending on the place of residency in the Czech Republic.
All documents must not be older than 180 days, with the exception of travel documents, registry data, and photographs of the foreigner if it corresponds to his/her present appearance.
All foreign-language documents must be officially translated into Czech.
Issuing and extending the period of validity of temporary residency permits for family members of Czech citizens is free from administrative charges.
The foreign police issue a permanent residency permit to the family member in the form of an administrative decision and, simultaneously, a green certificate. In this circumstance, all foreigners are obliged to report surname changes, marital status and other personal data changes stated on this certificate and travel document, within three days of the change, in a department of the foreign police.
1.3. Extension of the validity of the documents issued for European Union citizens and their family members
EU citizens, including family members, who have been given a permanent residency permit have the right to apply for an extension of the validity of the residency permit within 90 days before its expiration; in certain cases the application can be submitted earlier.
A passport has to be submitted with the application; In the case of EU citizens, an ID card can be submitted instead of passport; if the applicant’s appearance has changed, 2 recent photographs also have to be submitted.
EU citizens, including family members, who have been given a temporary residency permit has the right to apply for an extension of the validity of a temporary residency permit for EU citizens at the department of the foreign police within 90 days, and at least 30 days, before it expires; in certain cases the application can be submitted earlier.
A passport has to be submitted with the application; In the case of EU citizens, an ID card can be submitted instead of passport; if the applicant’s appearance has changed, 2 recent photographs also have to be submitted.
1.4. Reporting obligations of European Union citizens and their family members, and reporting residency changes
If the EU citizen intends to stay in the Czech Republic longer than 30 days, he/she is obligated to report their place of residency at the department of foreign police up to 30 days after entry into the CR, and the same obligation applies to family members of the EU citizen in the case that he/she resides in the CR as well. If the EU citizen does not reside in the CR, the family member is obligated to report their place of the residency up to three days from entering the CR. If the family member has the right to temporary residency without a visa requirement, he/she must fulfil this obligation within 30 days if his/her stay in the CR will exceed 30 days.
The obligation to report the place of residency at the department of foreign police does not refer to cases when a landlord has already done so.
EU citizens, including family members, fulfil the reporting obligation by filling out and signing an application form and providing all the information required by regulation § 97 of the foreign law. A Sample of the application form can be seen on the web site: http://www.mvcr.cz/cizinci/zakon_policie.html.
EU citizens, including family members who have been given a special residency permit, is obligated to report changes to their place of residence in the CR at the department of foreign police up to three working days from the change if the anticipated period of stay is longer than 180 days.
1.5. The temporary period for reserving a new procedure for European Union citizens and their family members in the Czech Republic
For the purpose of a trouble-free transition of residency status for EU citizens and their family members, the foreign law has stated a period of 180 days beginning on 1.5.2004. All EU citizens and their family members should come to the respective departments of foreign police within this period where:
a. A current document about a permit for residency in the Czech Republic will be exchanged for a purple permit of residency for the EU citizen; this does not apply to family members who are not EU citizens, they will keep the existing green residency document.
b. The visa for residency over 90 days will be superseded and will be replaced for the purple temporary residence permit for the EU citizen; the family members who are not EU citizens will keep the existing green residency document.
Applications of EU citizens for granting a visa for residency over 90 days, registered before the entry of the Czech Republic into the EU, will be processed as applications for temporary residency permits.
If the visa for residency above 90 days is exchanged to the EU citizen for a residency permit for EU citizens for the purpose of temporary residency in the Czech Republic, the same procedure will be applied for the family members; if they are not EU citizens they will be issued another type of document – a “green document for temporary residency”.
If the EU citizen submits the application for extending the visa over 90 days, the department of foreign police will issue a purple permanent residency permit for the EU citizen in the Czech Republic; a family member who is not a EU citizen will be issued a green permit for temporary residency in the Czech Republic.
1.6. Residency for citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland in the Czech Republic
For the citizens of Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland the same procedure as for EU citizens and their family members is applied in the Czech Republic.
If any of these citizens apply for a temporary or permanent residency permit they will be issued another type of document instead of the residency permit for EU citizens – “the green residency permit.”