What is the Immigration Process Like?

So you’ve decided to relocate with your family to the Czech Republic. Whether you are an EU citizen or a citizen of a third country, you’d better be aware of the immigration process procedure. This article will bring you detailed information on the immigration process, obligations and required documents for both EU and non-EU citizens.

EU CITIZENS

EU citizens of the countries which are European Union members, and citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland with similar rights as EU citizens. There are 2 residence types for EU citizens: Temporary residence and Permanent residence.

Temporary residence

A certificate of temporary residence can be requested by an EU citizen who intends to stay in the Czech Republic for more than 3 months and is required to show a proof of residence. Otherwise, temporary residence certificate is not obligatory. The application for issuing a certificate of temporary residence is filed on the appropriate form.

Required documents:

• A travel document (ID, passport)
• Application for temporary residence (http://www.mvcr.cz/mvcren/article/eu-citizens-and-their-family-members.aspx)
• a document confirming the purpose of the stay  (employment contract, business agreement, confirmation from school/university). It is not compulsory to have a purpose of stay but you can require a purpose other and you won’t need to submit a document confirming the purpose of stay.
• travel health insurance, (not required if the purpose of the stay is employment, business or other gainful employment)
• proof of accommodation
• 1 photograph

All required documents shall not be older than 180 days except for your ID/passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate and the photograph if it corresponds to your current appearance. You should always submit originals or notarized copies of the documents. All the submitted documents should be officially translated into Czech language.

Permanent residence

An EU citizen can apply for permanent residence after 5 years of continuous living in the Czech Republic. An application for permanent residence can be filed at one of the MOI offices. The application must be submitted in person together with the following documents:

Required documents:

• A travel document (ID, passport)
• A document confirming meeting the condition of 5 years continuous temporary residence
• proof of accommodation
• 2 photographs

In case of permanent residence applies the same rule: all required documents shall not be older than 180 days except for your ID/passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate and the photographs if they correspond to your current appearance. You should always submit originals or notarized copies of the documents. All the submitted documents should be officially translated into Czech language.

NON-EU CITIZENS

Non-EU citizens are citizens of countries neither members of the EU, nor citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, nor their family members. It’s common to use the term “third country nationals” to describe this group of foreigners. Non-EU citizens have a more complex system of visas and residence permits. For instance, they can apply for a short-term visa (stay less than 90 days) or a long-term visa (stay over 90 days). Your next step after you were entitled a long-term visa is to apply for a long-term residence permit.

Long-term residence

You are entitled to apply for a long-term residence permit if you intend to live in the Czech Republic for more than 6 months. At the same time, the purpose of your stay should remain unchanged: employment, studies, etc. An application should be submitted in person together with the following documents:

Required documents:

• A travel document (ID, passport)
• a document confirming the purpose of the stay  (employment contract, business agreement, confirmation from school/university)
• health insurance + receipt of payment
• proof of accommodation
• proof of funds (http://www.mvcr.cz/mvcren/article/third-country-nationals-application-requirements-proof-of-funds.aspx)
• 2 photographs

All required documents shall not be older than 180 days except for your ID/passport and should be officially translated into Czech language.

Employee Card

An employee card is a specific type of long-term residence permit. Employee card is issued for those third-country nationals who are employed in the Czech Republic. An employee card replaces the visa for a stay of over 90 days for the purpose of employment, a long-term residence permit for the purpose of employment, and a Green Card.

Permanent residence

After 5 years of continuous residence in the Czech Republic, a foreign national can file an application for permanent residence. If you’ve been staying in the Czech Republic for the purpose of studies, only half of this period will be counted, though. An application for a permanent residence permit can be filed in person at the MOI office where you are registered. The following documents must be submitted together with the application:

Required documents:

• Travel document
• fulfillment of the condition of 5 years continuous temporary residence
• proof of accommodation
• proof of funds
• a Czech language exam certificate
• 2 photographs

The requirements for the application shall not be older than 180 days except for the travel document, the birth certificate, the document demonstrating the knowledge of the Czech language and the photograph if it corresponds to your actual appearance.

AT THE OFFICES

Quite often you can come across an officer who does not speak English. In this case, you can either bring with you a friend who speaks Czech or ask our agency for help. We can provide an interpreter, who speaks Czech fluently and will also be able to advise you on the immigration process in general. It is also a good idea to make an appointment beforehand. This is how you avoid long queues at the offices. There is a special contact number to make an appointment, however, appointments can be made in Czech only. So Foreigners.cz can help you with that too? You can also contact us in case you need apostillization for the documents or nostrification of your diploma. Make sure the immigration process goes smoothly! Foreigners.cz offers immigration packages including complex services for any types of residence permits. Secure an immigration package (http://www.foreigners.cz/immigration-package) for a better relocation experience!

Useful links

• MOI guidance for EU citizens
• MOI guidance for third-country nationals
• EU citizen’s experience at the Immigration Office
• Non-EU citizen experience at the Immigration Office