Relocating As a Family – How Does It Work?

#ImmiUpdatesCzechia Would you like to relocate to the Czech Republic? But what about your partner/family back home? We have a solution! They can relocate with you based on partnership/marriage or family reunification. Which permits and visas does this involve? Find out all the important information in this article.

 

Relocate to Czechia with Foreigners.

 

Temporary Residence Permit of an EU Citizen’s Family Member

This residence permit is intended for third-country citizens who are family members of EU citizens, citizens of Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic (and subject to conditions for citizens of the United Kingdom) for stays over 90 days.

Who Is a Family Member?

  • a spouse
  • a same-sex registered partner
  • a parent who is the primary carer of an EU citizen under 21 years of age
  • an EU citizen’s offspring (a child, or grandchild) who is under 21 years of age
  • an offspring of an EU citizen’s spouse who is under 21 years of age
  • another family member (e.g. a sibling, cousin, aunt, or uncle) who are:
    • are supported by the EU citizen in their country of origin
    • are members of the EU citizen’s household in their country of origin
    • require personal care of the EU citizen for serious medical reasons
  • his/her partner with whom they live together if they provide evidence of a long-term partnership

Permit

To get the permit, you must apply in person at the Ministry of the Interior office. The administrative fee costs 200 CZK and the application will be processed for up to 60 days. After approval, the permit is valid for 3 or 5 years.

Did you know?

As an EU citizen’s family member, you have free access to the labor market.

 

Long-term Visa for Family Purposes

This visa is intended for third-country nationals’ family members who wish to reside in the Czech Republic with their family members for stays over 90 days.

Who Can Apply?

You can apply if you’re an elementary family with a foreigner:

  • a spouse
  • a same-sex registered partner
  • a parent
  • a minor child
  • a dependent relative

Other family members will be considered individually by the Ministry of the Interior.

Permit

You can only apply in person at one of the Czech Republic’s diplomatic missions:

  • in a country that issued you with a travel document or which you are a national of, or
  • in a state in which you have been granted a long-term or permanent residence permit and have been legally residing there continuously for at least 2 years, or
  • at any of the Czech Republic’s diplomatic missions

The application costs 2,500 CZK and needs to be processed within 90 days. It is free for children under 6. The visa is then valid for 1 year. The visa enables you to leave and re-enter the Czech Republic repeatedly, as well as travel within the Schengen Area.

 

Let Us Handle the Process For You

Forget the hassle and enjoy a smooth process of acquiring your residence permit/visa – even if you’re still in your home country. Foreigners are here to help you with your individual immigration background.

Long-term Residence Permit for the Purpose of Family Reunification

This residence is intended for third-country citizens’ family members who wish to stay in the Czech Republic for longer than one year.

Who Is a Third Country Citizen’s Family Member?

  • the citizen’s spouse – applies also to same-sex registered partnerships.
  • a minor child (under 18 years of age) or the spouse’s minor child (a stepchild).
  • a financially dependent child of full age – applies to incapable of taking care of themselves for medical reasons.
  • an adopted minor child (under 18 years of age) or a minor child in the custody of a third-country citizen.
  • a minor child (under 18 years of age) whose legal guardian is a third-country citizen or his/her spouse, and the child care will be provided in the Czech Republic.
  • a lone parent over 65 years of age (the citizen’s mother or father) – single, divorced or widowed.
  • a lone parent regardless of age (the citizen’s mother or father) who cannot take care of himself/herself for medical reasons – single, divorced or widowed.
  • family members of foreigners with granted asylum (see more)

Did you know?

Since 1 July 2023, a financially dependent child of full age CANNOT apply for the permit for the purpose of family reunification. They need to choose another type based on studies, employment, etc.

Permit

You can apply from both the Czech Republic and abroad. It costs 2,500 CZK (or 1,000 CZK for minors under 15 years of age – when applied in the Czech Republic). The application needs to be processed within 270 days. The permit is valid for as long as is the validity of the residence permit document of the family member with whom you are planning to live within the Czech Republic but for a minimum of 1 year. It enables you to leave and re-enter the Czech Republic repeatedly, as well as travel within the Schengen Area.

 

Break Up or Divorce

All these permits and visas are tied to your relationship with your spouse or partner. If this relationship ends, your permit ceases to be valid. You will no longer be fulfilling the purpose of your residency and so you have to take steps to acquire a new residence permit or visa.

As a third-country citizen, you have the right to apply for a residence permit for another purpose, but ONLY if you’ve been living in Czechia for at least 2 years before the divorce and the marriage lasted at least 5 years. You can find the details on the MOI website. If you have children, it is a good idea to at this point tie yourself to them instead of your spouse.

 

Report All Changes

You are obliged to report a breakup or a divorce within 15 working days (as a family member of an EU citizen) or within 3 working days for others.

 If you lie about the state of your relationship, your case may go to court, potentially jeopardizing your stay in the Czech Republic

 If you are unable to secure a different type of residence permit, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) will issue a decision to cancel your current permit due to failure to fulfill the purpose of your stay. Following this decision, you will be required to leave the country within the timeframe specified by the MOI.

 

Do you have any other worries? Foreigners have your back! We will help you find a property, the best school for your children, and even with car registration.

 

If you want to feel at home, check out our categories of “Expat” and “Practical tips for expats” where you will find interesting information about the Czech Republic and recommendations how to make your life here easier.

Sources: FRS EUFRS Long-term visa, FRS Long-term permit

Image sources: pexels,

Monika Tužinská

Hey, my name is Monika. I love exploring the world and learning new languages. I worked in the USA for several months and moved to Brno a year ago, so I know how it feels to live in a different country. Let's discover Czech Republic together.

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