The Czech Republic immigrationlaw grants the right to apply for a business visa for foreigners who are interested in developing a business activity in this country (investing in the local economy or starting a business). If you want to find out how to obtain a Czech Republic business visa, we advise you to request information from our immigration lawyers in the Czech Republic.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| What is a Czech business visa? | It is an immigration document that is issued for stays of minimum 90 days to those who arrive in this country for business-related purposes (open a business, self-employed, run a company). |
Persons who can apply for the business visa | Third party nationals (non-EU, non-EEA) |
How to obtain Czech Republic business visa – submission of the application | Individuals have to submit the application in person. |
| Documentation | – passport; – 2 recent photos; – the completed application form; – documents attesting the purpose of stay; – documents showing the accommodation arrangements in Czech Republic; – evidence on having sufficient financial resources (minimum CZK156,500); – proof of fee payment; – a clean criminal record; – a valid travel medical insurance |
| Fee charged for the issuance of the visa | CZK 5,000 |
| Duration of the visa processing | Around 90 days (maximum 120) |
| Requirements for the supporting documentation | Persons who need to obtain Czech Republic business visa must submit documentation with maximum 180 days before the application. The documents must be in Czech. |
| Legalization requirements | Legalization is required for documents issued by foreign institutions. |
| Official translation required | Foreign documents must be translated into the Czech language. |
| Locations where the foreigner can initiate the visa process | The country where the person is a citizen or the country where the applicant is a permanent resident |
| Validity of the business visa | 1 year |
| Extension possible (yes/no) | Yes |
| Can foreigners appeal a visa refusal? | Yes, it is allowed to appeal a visa refusal. |
| Fee charged for the appeal | EUR 80 |
| Institution in charge with the visa issuance/refusal/appeal | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Table of Contents
Who needs to apply for a Czech business visa?
The business visa is necessary for all third-party foreigners who want tostay long-term in Czech Republic and who are in any of the following situations:
- carrying out a business activity;
- developing a licensed trade;
- being self-employed;
- being a member of a statutory body;
- being a member of a trading company.
When is it required to apply for the business visa in the Czech Republic?
The visa is required for any of the situations mentioned above, in the case when the foreigner plans tostay in Czech Republicon a long-term basis, which, according to law, is defined as any period of time exceeding 90 days of stay.
Are there any quotas for a business visa?
In general, there aren’t any quotas for the business visa, but it must be known that, for some countries, quotas apply. In such cases, the diplomatic missions situated in these countries can only process a specific number of applications; our Czech lawyers can provide information on these countries.
Do I need to pay a visa processing fee?
Yes. While in some cases the Czech law can prescribe visa fee exemptions, this is not the case for the business visa, for which currently applicants must pay a processing fee of CZK 5,000.
How long should I wait for my application to be processed?
The Czech business visa is usually processed in a period of maximum 90 days. However, for more complex cases the law imposes a higher threshold, of up to 120 days.
What documents are required for the Czech business visa in 2026?
Investors should prepare: the visa application form, pay the visa fee, present two photographs and the original passport and provide a document stating that the applicant has the necessary financial resources to live in this country.
We invite you to watch a short video presenting how to obtain a Czech business visa:
Can I withdraw my application after its submission?
Yes. Even though you have completed all the steps for the submission of the application file, you can withdraw your application while it is in the processing stage. You simply have to notify the authorities by completing the standard form of withdrawal.
Can I be represented by a third party for the issuance of the document?
Yes, you can request legal representation from a third party, such as our immigration lawyer in the Czech Republic, through the power of attorney. Our lawyer can provide assistance in all the stages of the process, including if you decide to withdraw your documents. We can also represent you in the process of appealing a visa refusal (there is a short deadline to initiate the procedure – 15 days).
Is there a Golden Visa in the Czech Republic?
Yes, foreign businessmen interested to migrate to the Czech Republic for the purpose of making an investment here can benefit from the advantages of the investment visa (also referred to as the Czech Republic Golden Visa), as long as they will be able to comply with the minimum requirements and maintain them for the agreed period of time.
What are the main conditions for the investment visa in the Czech Republic?
In order to apply, you need to comply with the following:
- the person who will be issued with the Czech Republic business visa must create minimum 20 jobs on the Czech market;
- the minimum investment required to obtain the Czech Republic Golden Visa is of CZK 75,000,000;
- a large proportion of this investment – 60% – can be represented by tangible or intangible assets;
- in the case in which the foreign company has more than 5 executive directors, it is required to provide evidence on how the relocation of the directors in the Czech Republic will have a positive impact on the outcome of the business and this is a compulsory process in the issuance of the visa;
- the same applies for shareholders who own less than 30% of the company’s shares.
What is the processing time for the investment visa in the Czech Republic?
One of the main advantages of relocating to the Czech Republic under this visa is that the application process is much shorter compared to othertypes of visas that can be used for business purposes (the time can be reduced by 50% and the visa can usually be issued in a period of 30 days to maximum 45 days).
We invite you to read the following infographic, presenting some of the steps investors have to follow if they want to obtain a visa for business purposes in Czech Republic:
Is there a Czech Republic self-employment visa?
Among the visas designed for business purposes, the Czech law also prescribes the Czech Republic self-employment visa. This document is available for non-EU nationals who want to immigrate to Czech Republicas self-employed individuals who want to develop a business in their own name.
What are the requirements for the Czech Republic self-employment visa?
In order to apply for it, the foreigner must submit the following documentation:
- the valid passport and 2 recent photos;
- a clean criminal record;
- documents concerning the purpose of relocating to the Czech Republic;
- a health insurance recognized in the Czech Republic;
- documents attesting the financial situation of the applicant;
- information on theaccommodation arrangements intheCzech Republic (a rental agreement).
What institutions handle Czech business visa immigration in 2026?
Czech embassies and consulates are the main institutions which are responsible for immigration matters, but other institutions can participate in this process too, depending on the type of visa required. The Czech Ministry of Interior also needs to analyze and approve application forms, as well as the Czech Labor Office.
We invite foreign investors to request other relevant information from our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic. Investors can also address our lawyer if they want to obtain the Czech citizenship.
