#LifeInCzechia Do you own a permanent residence permit? Have you ever thought about staying outside Czechia for a period of time? People tend to ask us how long they can stay outside the country – and here are the answers! Watch out, the periods are different for living in the EU and in a third country. We’ll also answer the question of whether having a Czech permanent residence permit can help you obtain the same document elsewhere in the EU.

You can leave Czechia to live in the EU for 6 years if you have permanent residency.

 

Leaving Czechia with permanent residency 

Many people ask us if and for how long they can live outside the Czech Republic as holders of permanent residency. 

The time limits differ based on if you want to live in another EU country or in a third (non-EU) country. 

The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) will cancel your permanent residency if you reside outside the Czech Republic (but within the EU) for OVER 6 YEARS. Therefore, if you live in – let’s say Germany – for 5.5 years, you’re still fine.

The limits are different for third countries, however. The MOI can revoke your permanent residency validity if you live in a non-EU country for a period that is LONGER THAN 12 MONTHS unless you can justify your leaving Czechia by presenting serious reasons.

These reasons can include pregnancy, childbirth, serious illness, studies, professional training or foreign work posting. 

You can find more information regarding this topic on the official website of the Ministry of the Interior or in § 77, c) and d) of the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Czech Republic – available HERE.

 

Note for former blue card holders

Did you come to Czechia on a blue card before you were eligible to apply for permanent residency? Here’s some extra good news for you regarding this matter!

If you were a holder of a blue card before obtaining a permanent residence permit, you can stay outside of the EU for up to 24 months.

 

 

 

 

Getting permanent residency elsewhere?

Many foreigners living in Czechia with permanent residency seem to think that having this document can help them obtain permanent residency in another EU country.

Unfortunately, that is most likely incorrect.

The fact that you have a permanent residency in the Czech Republic likely doesn’t help in getting a permanent residency in another EU country as every country has its own rules. Also, as we explained above, you will lose your permanent residency in Czechia after 6 years.

That being said, each country may approach this issue differently, so if you’d like to move to another EU country, we recommend first contacting that country’s embassy in your country of citizenship and asking them. You never know! 

Alternatively, you can contact your target country’s embassy in Czechia to see if they might have some special insight into the issue.

 

Want to apply for a permanent residence permit?

When applying for a permanent residence permit, you need to prove that you’ve been continually living in the Czech Republic for at least 5 years. In this case, you shouldn’t leave Czechia for longer than 6 months or 310 days in summary or 12 months in case of serious reasons (such as illness). 

Want to know more? Find all the information regarding permanent residence permits in our previous article. 

We can help you apply for permanent residency HERE.

Photo source: Andrea Piacquadio, pexels
Article sources: MOI, Czech law