The citizens of jurisdictions which are considered third countries in relation with Czech Republic and who are currently living here are allowed to bring their family members in this country.
For this purpose, the respective family members can apply for the family reunion visa in Czech Republic. Below, you can find out more on this topic. This type of visa is available only for the family members of third country nationals, as the citizens of the European Union (EU) living in Czech Republic are not imposed with any restrictions.
The family reunion visa in Czech Republic is generally meant for close family members of persons relocated here, such as spouses, children or parents.
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Who can be a family member, as per the Czech laws?
One can opt for Czech Republic immigration for family reunification purposes in certain circumstances. First of all, not all family members can be eligible for a family reunion visa in Czech Republic. As presented above, this right is available for close family members who can be any of the following:
- the spouse of the person living in Czech Republic (this also applies to those who live in a partnership, as same-sex couples);
- minor children and minor step-children (minors, as per the legislation in Czech Republic, are persons with an age below 18 years old);
- adult children who are not able to become financially independent due to various solid reasons, such as medical issues;
- a minor child who is under the custody of the third country national;
- the parent of the person living in Czech Republic (the parent must have an age above 65 years old and can be single, widowed, divorced and/or who is unable to take care of himself/herself due to medical issues).
Where can one apply for the Czech family reunion visa?
The process of applying for a family reunion visa in Czech Republic begins with the applicant (or applicants) who wants to arrive here. The procedure has to be started in the country where the person is a citizen. However, exemptions from this rule do apply.
For instance, if the citizen of a third country has his or her permanent residency in another country, then the person can apply at the Czech embassy or consulate in the respective country.
It is also necessary to know that the citizens of specific countries can apply at any Czech embassy in the world; you can find out information on the updated list from our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic. The list contains approximately 40 nationalities, such as Americans or Australians.
When applying for a family reunion visa in Czech Republic, a person will make, at the same time, an application for long-term residency in this country. This type of document can be granted to family members of foreigners who are the holders of permanent residency permits; if you are planning relocating to Czech Republic, you can receive professional assistance from our lawyer.
What is the application process for the Czech family reunion visa?
There are 3 basic steps when it comes to obtaining a family reunion visa in Czech Republic. The 1st step is to gather all the paperwork necessary for the application. Please know that if any of the documents necessary for this procedure is not included in the file, the visa application can be denied.
However, if the application is denied, the person is allowed to apply again, once the file meets the basic standards imposed by the Czech immigration law. The 2nd step is to submit the documentation along with the application form. In most of the cases, visa applicants are required to pay various visa processing fees, unless an exemption is granted.
The law provides certain exemptions from the payment of the application fee, but a fee is in general, mandatory for most applicants. Thus, along with the file, the applicant must make proof of paying the fee. After these 3 steps are completed, then the applicant needs to wait for a response, while the Czech authorities will analyze the family reunion visa in Czech Republic.
Family reunification for persons granted with asylum rights in Czech Republic
Foreigners can also immigrate to Czech Republic as asylum seekers. Those who received this status can bring their close family members to live here, under similar conditions applied to third country nationals.
However, there are several differences. For instance, family members can apply for the family reunion visa in Czech Republic only after the person staying in this country has been living here for at least 3 months. Rules may vary based on the specific situation of each person and our immigration lawyers in Czech Republic can offer in-depth information concerning this immigration pathway.
How long does it take to issue a decision?
There are different timeframes for the processing of the Czech visas. In general, short-term stays visas are processed in a short period of time, but in the case of long-term visas (such as is the case of the family reunion visa in Czech Republic), it may take longer.
Even for this visa type, there can be different timeframes, based on the nature of the person who applies for the document. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the visa can be processed in a period of 180 days to 270 days.
For instance, in general cases, where a person simply required to reunite with a family member already living in Czech Republic (therefore, relocating here solely for family reunification), the visa will be processed in approximately 270 days.
However, if the foreigner relocates here and his or her family member is currently living here as the holder of an Employee Card, then the family reunion visa in Czech Republic will be processed in a shorter amount of time – only 180 days. The particularities of the person who the foreigner is reuniting with matter in many aspects. For instance, the law on Czech immigration states that this visa type can be issued for 1 or 2 years.
The foreigner will obtain a visa valid for 1 or 2 years based on the type of permit the family member has been issued with (and the validity of the permit the person has). As such, it must be noted that the family reunion visa in Czech Republic will have a 2 years validity only if the family member living here is the holder of a permanent residence permit.
Can Czech family reunion visas be renewed?
Yes, a foreigner is entitled to renew a family reunion visa in Czech Republic. The law on immigration in Czech Republic grants this right and the procedure will be completed through the Ministry of Interior.
It is mandatory to start the procedure prior to the expiration of the current permit and the law states that this must be initiated within 120 days before the expiration of the document (but not before the 120 days).
If a person will apply for the renewal, the document can be renewed for the same period of time for which the initial document was issued. Thus, if a person is a holder of a permit issued for 1 year, then he or she will have the right to prolong the stay in Czech Republic for 1 more year.
The same rule is maintained for those issued with a permit valid for 2 years. If you need further information on this matter, we invite you to request more details from our immigration lawyers in Czech Republic, who can advise you on other types of visas that can be obtained by foreigners.
In what situations can one obtain a Czech family reunification document?
As we presented above, this type of document can be obtained by applicants who are related to a foreign national living here.
Applicants can be children or spouses, but the person living in Czech Republic has to comply with specific conditions in order for his or her family members to be entitled to apply for a family reunion visa in Czech Republic. The below mentioned aspects are currently in force, as per the Czech migration law:
• the foreign resident has been the holder of a Czech permanent residence or long-term residence permit for at least 15 months;
• in the case in which the foreign national will reunite with his or her spouse, both of them must have an age of at least 20 years old;
• the foreign national has been living in Czech Republic for at least 6 months and he or she is the holder of an Employee Card;
• the applicant is the relative of a foreign national living here and the applicant is a solitary person with an age above 65 years old.
The legal requirements that one should meet when applying for this document are prescribed by the Czech Ministry of Interior.
When preparing the list of documents that must be submitted with the Czech institutions, it is necessary to provide copies of all the documents that are included in the application. Some of the basic papers refer to the following: the passport, the application form, documents attesting the family relations that the applicant has with the person who lives in Czech Republic and other required papers.
In the case in which the application receives a positive response, then the applicant has to add to the file a travel medical insurance, which is a compulsory paper for the issuance of a visa in this country. The travel medical insurance has to be valid for the entire period for which the family reunion visa in Czech Republic is valid.
It is also customarily to provide documents showing that the applicant has paid the required premium for the issuance of the travel medical insurance, which must be recognized by the Czech institutions. The decision on the issuance of the visa, which grants the right of moving to Czech Republic, will generally be issued in a period of 60 to 90 days, but in practice it may take longer than this.
Another requirement when moving to Czech Republic is to register with the local police authorities and this procedure should be completed within the three first days after the arrival. Additional documents and steps can be imposed and you may address our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic for in-depth advice on the procedure. Our lawyer can help you with information on any matter regulated by the Czech immigration law.
Appeals for rejected family reunion visa in Czech Republic
Czech authorities may deny the issuance of the family reunion visa in Czech Republic based on the legal grounds established by the law, therefore not all submissions will be successful. According to the legislation, foreigners have the right to appeal a visa refusal and this is also available for the family reunification program.
Thus, those who were rejected can send a request to the Ministry of the Interior, in which they ask for a reassessment of the visa application. Please mind that this procedure can be done only in the first 15 days after the visa refusal was received by the applicant.
Citizenship assistance in Czech Republic
If you are interested in other legal aspects concerning immigration, such as the steps for obtaining Czech citizenship, you must know that this can be obtained after 10 years of living in this country.
One of the main requirements is to live here as a permanent resident, if the person applies for citizenship by naturalization. A clean criminal record is also required (issued by the Czech authorities). Out of the minimum 10 years, 5 must be lived here as a holder of card for residency in Czech Republic issued on a permanent basis.
Persons who have become permanent residents will maintain this status without the need to renew it, but the permanent residence card will need to be updated (once every 10 years). The same requirement applies to minor children, but their card must be renewed once every 5 years.
If you want to immigrate to Czech Republic as a family member, you can always contact our team for professional legal services. Our immigration lawyers in Czech Republic will make sure that you case will be handled with the utmost care.
