What to Expect When You’re Expecting in Czechia: Pregnancy, Baby’s Residency, and Health Insurance

Many foreigners who settle in the Czech Republic eventually start a family and become parents. But of course, having a baby is not the same in every country and there are further steps you need to take if you become a parent abroad. Are you about to be a new mum or dad in Czechia but you’re feeling confused about how everything works? In this special article, we’ll touch on all the important parts from pregnancy and birth to the baby’s residential status and health insurance.

 

baby’s parents is a Czech citizen

If one of the baby’s parents is a Czech citizen, the baby automatically becomes one too.

 

Getting through pregnancy safe and sound

If you’re a foreigner in the Czech Republic and you or your partner become pregnant, it’s good to know your rights and obligations. That way, you can make sure everything goes smoothly and – most importantly – without any stress.

If you’re the one who’s pregnant, remember that there is no law telling you that you have to announce it to your employer. As Aperio – a non-profit center for pregnancy and parenthood – explain on their website, announcing your pregnancy to your boss is completely up to you. Just remember that until you’ve announced your pregnancy at work, you can’t use any of the protections and benefits that are guaranteed to pregnant women in the workplace. These include for example no overtime and no night shifts.

 

Giving birth without stress 

If everything goes smoothly, you have the freedom of choice about where to give birth. You can go to a hospital, a birth house (community center), or have your baby at home. All of these options guarantee access to health care (if you have public health insurance or your private health insurance covers it).

You also have the right to have your partner present at birth (WITHOUT paying a fee) and you can choose your birth attendant (doula) as the main provider of your health care during your pregnancy, birth, and the time after.

 

Baby’s citizenship

Once your baby’s born, the hospital/birth center/health professional will notify the local birth register. They will issue the baby’s birth certificate. 

If one of the official parents of the baby is a Czech citizen, your child will automatically get Czech citizenship. Your baby might also have a right to dual citizenship depending on your/your partner’s origin country’s rules.

If your child is born a citizen of another country (e.g. your origin country), make sure to contact your embassy in the Czech Republic and apply for his/her passport or have him/her written into your passport. 

If you and your partner aren’t married, make sure to declare the other parent on the baby’s birth certificate in the registry office or in court, so all of the above goes smoothly. 

 

Baby’s residential status

If neither of you is a Czech citizen, but at least one of you is an EU citizen, you don’t need to apply for residency for your baby. However, it is better to apply for it if you’re planning on living in Czechia. 

If neither of you is a Czech citizen and you’re both from third (non-EU) countries, however, you must apply for the baby’s residence. You will apply at the Foreign Police if you’re here on a short-term visa and at the Ministry of the Interior if you’re here on a long-term visa or residence permit.

This must be done within 60 days after the baby’s birth. The baby’s residential status will copy the residential status of one of his/her parents. E.g. if both parents are here on a long-term residence permit, the baby needs to apply for the same. 

You get to choose which of the parents’ visa/residency to apply for. Make sure it is the one more beneficial for the baby (e.g. if one of you has permanent residency, it makes sense to choose it for the baby as it is the best type of residency after citizenship). 

When applying for residency for your baby (either at the Foreign Police or the Ministry of the Interior), one of the parents needs to be present in person. You need to pay a fee stamp, and bring the baby’s birth certificate, the baby’s passport (of yours, if the baby has been written in), and (if necessary) confirmation of health insurance (more on this below).

 

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Baby’s first health insurance

If one of the parents of your baby is a Czech citizen or if one of you has permanent residency, your baby automatically “inherits” this residency. Therefore, he/she becomes covered by public health insurance. Similarly, if one of the baby’s parents is an EU citizen employed (or self-employed) in the Czech Republic, the baby is also covered.

In other cases, the baby will need to be covered by private health insurance

  • If your baby inherits a short-term or long-term visa, you need to purchase travel health insurance for them (or an honorable declaration that you’ll cover the baby’s health costs).
  • If your baby inherits your long-term residence permit, you need to purchase comprehensive health insurance for them. 

You have to purchase (travel of comprehensive) insurance for the baby once you’ve been released from the hospital. You will need it to apply for the baby’s residency

From August 2021, if you’re in Czechia on a long-term residence permit (e.g. employee card), your baby is covered by public health insurance until the end of the month in which he/she reaches 60 days of life. You have to notify the insurance company within 8 days of the baby’s life. And once the limit of 60 days has been reached, you need to have purchased comprehensive health insurance for your baby. 

NOTE: There are more exceptions – some countries may have a bi-lateral contract with Czechia regarding a baby’s insurance. Make sure to call your embassy and double-check what the conditions are for your specific country before you purchase anything.

Are you about to have a baby in the Czech Republic, but you’re feeling lost in all the rules? Not sure how to apply for your offspring’s residence permit? We’re here for you! Contact your local Foreigners office and we’ll help you with everything.

Article sources: Aperio, penize.cz, cicops, the official website of the city of Prague, VZP, §88 Law no. 326/1999, MOI, PVZP
Photo source: RODNAE Productions, Pexels

Tereza Walsbergerová

Hello! I'm Tereza and I'm a wordsmith and literature nerd from Brno. Although I was born and raised in the Czech Republic, I know all too well from my time living in Texas what it's like to be a "stranger in a strange land." I am excited to share all kinds of information with y'all!

14 thoughts on “What to Expect When You’re Expecting in Czechia: Pregnancy, Baby’s Residency, and Health Insurance

  1. Hello,im from algeria living here in Czech Republic and i have permanent residence and i have girlfriend from ukraine with visa a long term 2 years and she is pregnant even we are not married,want to ask where and how to make permanent residence for our baby and what we have to do and if our baby will get nationalty now or a later…thx for your understanding and help.

    1. Hi Djallel!
      I believe that as long as you’re on the baby’s birth certificate as the father, the baby can inherit both your nationality and your residence permit. All the details are in this article. If you need hands-on help with this, you can use our services! Email us at info@foreigners.cz.

      Best,
      Tereza

  2. Hi.. My wife has employee card and now in maternity leave. In this article, it is told that first 60days of insurance will be covered under public health insurance but I paid around 4400CZK when I went to register the baby birth in the vzp insurance office. How does it work?

    1. Dear Krishna,

      It’s true that during the first 60 days the baby is included in the public health insurance but it doesn’t mean it is free of charge. It only means, the monthly fee is little lower than in case of the “Complex health insurance for foreigners” via pVZP and, most important, the health care that the baby receives is the same as if the baby was a Czech national.

      The medical care of the “Complex health insurance for foreigners” is not equivalent to the public one, also the contract often contains a number of exceptions that are not covered by the insurance (such as chronic illnesses, current medical condition…).

      Best,
      Tereza

  3. Hi – any help for an African student who is expecting in Brno. lost as to how I can receive help on my pregnancy and delivery.

    1. Hi Sarah,
      If you live in Brno, I would recommend going to the Brno Expat Center to ask for help as they are a public institution and can help you.
      They should also be able to recommend an english-speaking doctor to you.

      Best of Luck,
      Tereza

  4. Hello, my girlfriends health insurance is still on process because she change her employer and she is 2 months pregnant now…will the health insurance cover the cost of childbirth?

    1. Hi John! Most likely the cost of childbirth will be covered by the health insurance, however to fully confirm this we would need more details about your situation, such as for how long had she worked before etc. Would you like to schedule a meeting with our consultant? You can request one at info@foreigners.cz, the price of the meeting is 2 420 CZK including VAT. We will be glad to help!

  5. Hello. What happens if i get pregnant before receiving my long term residence permit and i have not traveled to Czech Republic yet? Does it affect my future job and residence permit?

    1. Hi, this would depend on how long would you be pregnant when you get the residence permit. Please set up a meeting with our consultants, so we can get more details about your situation and answer you properly, if you are interested the price of the consultation is 2420CZK including VAT, write our consultants at info@foreigners.cz to set up an appointment.

  6. Hi, My name is Crystal I live in the Czech Republic for 2 years and a few months, I am married to a Czech Woman. And were now 7 months pregnant through the help of IVF Insemination. From an unknown donor, the donor is white and is a Czech citizen. I am from the Caribbean we will be having a biracial baby. I have never worked since I lived here because I’m still adapting to learn the language better, I just want to know as a mother what would be my benefits at child’s birth?

  7. Hello,

    I wanted if both parents are on student visa and the lady gets pregnant. What are the consequences?

    1. Hello, thank you for your question! Please, contact our office at +420 533 533 787 to help you with this.

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