Residence

Temporary residence

Temporary residence without registration

An EU citizen may reside in the Czech Republic only on the basis of being an EU citizen. If he/she intends to reside in the territory for more than 30 days, he/she is obliged to report to the aliens police at the place of his/her residence within 30 days of entering the territory of the Czech Republic. For practical reasons, we recommend that you also register your stay with the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy (OAMP) of the Ministry of the Interior.

Temporary residence with registration

An EU citizen can apply for a Registration Certificate if he/she intends to stay in the Czech Republic for a period longer than 3 months. A registration certificate is important if it is necessary to prove residence at the authorities (e.g. when processing a driving license, for entitlement to social benefits, it is better to prove the length of stay in the territory for a possible application for permanent residence), or for employers, it allows voting in the municipal council and the European Parliament.  

Residence can be registered in this way either for a specific purpose (employment, self-employment, studies, etc.), or without specifying a purpose. If an EU citizen states the purpose of residence, he/she must attach a document confirming the purpose of residence to his/her application for a registration certificate. This registration of residence must be distinguished from the obligation to report the place of residence to the aliens’ police.

Application for Certificate of Registration

The application is submitted on the prescribed form “Application by an EU citizen for the issuance of a registration certificate”. The form is available at every OAMP office and can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of the Interior. It can be filled in manually or online.

What needs to be submitted:

• travel document (i.e. also an EU citizen’s identity card),
• 1 photo (35 mm x 45 mm),
• document confirming the purpose of the stay, if it is employment, business or other gainful activity or study,
• document of health insurance (not required if the purpose of the stay is employment, business or other gainful activity),
• document of securing accommodation in the territory,
• original document proving family relationship – only if you are an EU citizen and state family purpose as the purpose of the stay or if you are applying for a certificate for a child born in the territory of the Czech Republic

Application submission:

The application is submitted to the relevant OAMP office, depending on your registered place of residence. You can submit the application in person, or send it by post (registered), by data box, by e-mail with a recognized electronic signature, or through an authorized representative (a power of attorney must be provided).
If you submit the application in person at the OAMP office, the official will check the application and the necessary details and accept the application. Even if any details are missing, the official must accept the application, but you must complete them as soon as possible. The missing details can then be sent by registered mail (except for the passport). It should be noted that the administrative authority will not process the application until the application is completed.

We recommend that you book in advance!

Administration fee:

• 200 CZK (to be paid by card)

Decision deadline:

• 30 days

ID – Registration Certificate:

EU citizens are issued with a registration certificate for a period of validity of 10 years. Citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who were lawfully residing in the Czech Republic as of 31 December 2020 are issued with a registration certificate for a period of validity of 5 years. The validity of the registration certificate cannot be extended. After the validity period has expired, it is necessary to apply for the certificate again or you can apply for a permanent residence permit if you meet the conditions.

More information about the registration certificate can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic under the link HERE.

Permanent residence

You can apply for permanent residence:

• after 5 years of continuous temporary residence in the territory (i.e. your absence in the territory does not exceed 6 months per year, or this period is exceeded for serious reasons)
• if you are a close family member, after 2 years of continuous temporary residence in the territory, of which you must have been a close family member for at least 1 year of another EU citizen who already has permanent residence, or a citizen of the Czech Republic who is registered for permanent residence in the territory of the Czech Republic
• if your stay is in the interest of the Czech Republic
• for humanitarian reasons or reasons worthy of special consideration
• other options are provided for by the Act on the Residence of Foreigners

Application submission:

The application is submitted to the relevant OAMP office, according to your registered place of residence. At the same time, it is necessary to make an appointment in advance, either in person, by mail (registered), data box or by e-mail with a recognized electronic signature.

What needs to be submitted:

• completed form,
• travel document,
• document proving compliance with the condition of 5 years of continuous temporary residence in the territory (if you are applying for another reason, then compliance with the required condition) – submission of such documents (e.g. employment contracts, documents on health insurance payments, etc.) is required only if compliance with the condition of the length of stay is not evident from the official records of the OAMP,
• rental agreement / confirmation of the owner or authorized user of the apartment or house on consent to accommodation (with a verified signature),
• 2 photos (35 mm x 45 mm).

Administration fee:

• 200 CZK (to be paid by card)

Decision deadline:

• 60 days from the date of application

Decision on issuing a permanent residence permit:

If your application is approved, the OAMP office will contact you by phone and arrange a date for the issuance of the permanent residence permit. If it is not possible to contact you by phone, you will be invited to collect it in writing, at the address you provided in the application as a contact. To collect the permit, always appear in person at the relevant office and take your travel document/identity document with you. The deadline for collecting the permit is 30 days from the date of delivery of the invitation to collect the permanent residence permit. If you do not collect the permit within the specified period, the procedure will be stopped.

Permanent residence permit card for a citizen of the European Union:

It is issued for a period of 10 years. The validity of the card can be extended by 10 years, even repeatedly. After obtaining a permanent residence permit, you also gain access to the public health insurance system and are obliged to fulfill the reporting obligation within 8 calendar days with the health insurance company of your choice, i.e. register there.

Application rejection:

If the application is rejected, you have the option to file an appeal within 15 days of the date of delivery of the decision. If the appeal is also rejected, it is possible to file a lawsuit within 30 days of the date of delivery of the negative decision.

More information on permanent residence of EU citizens can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic under the link HERE.