While the free movement in the European Union has been already largely restored, lots of other countries remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which is a great complication for many people. In the Czech Republic, this poses a significant problem especially for those foreigners whose visa has expired after March 12 and who can stay in the country only until July 16 but at the same time cannot return to their country of origin.
How to proceed if your visa has expired
Foreign nationals whose visa has expired after March 12, have to leave the country by July 16, otherwise, they’ll be staying in the Czech Republic illegally. Those people who cannot for objective reasons yet return to their country of origin (for example the country’s borders are closed shut, the flights haven’t been resumed, and so on) might be, however, allowed to stay in the Czech Republic until the initial problem is resolved.
To be able to do so, they must report at a Foreign Police Office with evidence (such as a confirmation from the embassy that the country is still closed or that a plane will be sent for them at a certain date) or a ticket for the nearest possible date of the next flight by July 16. The Foreign Police will give them a so-called Departure order which is also issued for those foreigners who need to transit through different European countries (they need to leave the country within the next 24 hours).
APPLY FOR YOUR RESIDENCE PERMIT NOW
Foreigners who will report after July 16 or not at all, will be staying in the Czech Republic illegally as mentioned in the previous paragraph. For this reason, it is highly advised that all foreigners in this situation report at the nearest Foreign Police Office as soon as possible to avoid problems with the police.
If you need any help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! By the way, let us know and get your residence permit as soon as possible to be safe in the future in case the pandemic returns. Having a residence permit is the best way of making sure you’ll be able to return to the Czech Republic even if the borders are closed again.
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Sources of the information: Ministry of the Interior (UPDATE, July 21: The document was removed from the Ministry’s website)
Source of the image: Unsplash.com
hello, my wifes’s(from kosovo) got a visa to entry on the state and get a permit residence but her visa expired on april i need help to get her the permit to stay
Hello Patrik,
thank you for reaching out to us. I suggest you contact my colleagues at info@foreigners.cz and they’ll get back to you with more details as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
Anna
Hi there,
Thanks for all the explanation. Additionally I’ve got one question.
My working permit(employee card)got expired at the end of june after I had applied for its extension in May. 2 weeks ago I saw that it was approved, hence I arranged an appointment for biometrics for next week. However, I need to go to my country immediately after that biometrics appointment. In order to be legal and correct I called that helping line given on MOI website to get some info and solve the issue. They told me that as long as I show them my return flight tickets they will immediately issue a bridging visa that will allow me to get back to CZ territory even without my updated employee card.
Well here is the question;
Can I get into CZ territory with that bridging visa without any kind of problem in particular during this Covid time? Will that bridging visa mean that I got my residence permit? Is there any possibility of being rejected at the airport passport control?
P.s. my country is not in that green list.
Thank you in advance for your valuable reply.
Kind regards
Hi Chad,
thank you very much for reaching out to us! You should be able to enter the Czech Republic with the bridging visa. If you need any assistance, you can also contact my colleagues at info@foreigners.cz and they’ll get back to you with more details as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
Anna
Dear Anna, My short term business visa expired on 12th July 2020 and Iam stuck in Dubai as the Czech Embassy in UAE is still not accepting new business visa applications. My business is suffering and I want to return back to Czech rep as soon as possible. Kindly advice if there is any alternative way to returning bacnk. Thanks.
Dear Chandrasen,
I am very sorry you’ve found yourself in such a difficult situation. I am informing our immigration experts who will surely be able to help you return to the Czech Republic as soon as possible. Fingers crossed!
Kind regards,
Anna
Dear Chandrasen,
I contacted my colleagues and it, unfortunately, seems that you’ll have to wait for the Czech Embassy to start accepting new visa applications. This is, sadly, the only way.
Kind regards,
Anna