Starting a new life in the Czech Republic? Great! Visa approved, suitcase packed. Ready to go? Well, not that fast. Don’t forget to prepare the necessary documents while you’re still in your home country – especially the ones issued by authorities. Obtaining them while abroad can be quite complicated. What documents are we talking about? Let’s find out in the article.
Passport and other identity documents
When relocating, your passport will be one of the most important documents. Always double-check the requirements for your type of Czech visa or residence permit (passport expiry date, number of blank pages, correctness of your personal details).
It’s always a good idea to bring your national ID, as it might be useful in emergencies or informal situations.
PRO TIP: keep a secure digital copy of your passport and other key documents. Store the copies somewhere you can access them even if you lose your portable devices.
Birth certificate
Even though you won’t need it immediately after arriving, you will still need it later for administrative and family-related matters, such as marriage.
For documents issued outside the EU, additional authentication may be required, including an apostille or even superlegalisation. For documents from other EU Member States, this is usually not necessary.
Marriage and other civil-status documents
If you are married, divorced, widowed or planning to get married in Czechia, consider bringing the relevant documents with you. These might include a marriage/divorce certificate, certificate of marital status, documents concerning a previous marriage, or documents relating to children.
If you are considering marriage in the Czech Republic, check the requirements well in advance. Some documents may need to be relatively recent or may require a specific form.
Diplomas and proof of education
For studying and working in Czechia, you’ll need your educational documents. These might include university diplomas, secondary-school certificates, academic transcripts, certificates of professional qualifications and certificates from vocational or specialised training.
These documents need to be in either their original form or as a certified copy and, depending on the document and procedure, may require authentication and a certified Czech translation.
Criminal record certificate
A criminal record certificate is only required for certain immigration, employment, or professional procedures. However, it is a time-sensitive document. Always check the validity requirements before obtaining one.
Driving licence
Don’t forget to bring your valid national driving licence if you plan to drive in Czechia.
For EU/EEA licence holders, it’s pretty easy: valid EU/EEA driving licences are recognised.
For licences issued by third countries, it depends on the issuing country and whether the licence complies with the relevant international conventions. For some non-EU licences, an International Driving Permit may also be necessary.
Documents relating to children
If you are relocating with children, prepare a separate document folder for each child.
These documents include a birth certificate, valid passport, school records and certificates, vaccination or medical records, if relevant, documents relating to custody or adoption, if applicable. Parental consent for travel or relocation is particularly important when only one parent is relocating with a child or when the child’s legal guardianship situation is more complicated.
Documents that may need an apostille or superlegalisation
This is one of the most important things to check before leaving your home country.
A foreign public document may need to be authenticated before it can be used in the Czech Republic. The most common ways are:
Apostille
An apostille is a certificate to authenticate certain public documents for use abroad under the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
Superlegalisation
If the apostille procedure does not apply, a document may require superlegalisation. This involves authentication by the authorities in the country where the document was issued and subsequent verification by the Czech diplomatic mission.
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