The long-term visa in the Czech Republic is issued for foreigners who are interested in staying here for a period longer than 90 days. More details upon this subject can be presented by our immigration lawyers in the Czech Republic, who can also offer legal assistance on how to obtain a long-term visa in the Czech Republic.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| What is a long-term visa? | A long-term visa is an immigration document that must be obtained by foreigners who want to stay in Czech Republic for more than 90 days. |
Who needs to apply for it | Third party nationals (non-EU, non-EEA) |
Where to initiate the process | Individuals interested in how to obtain a long term visa in Czech Republic must initiate the procedure at the embassy/consulate in the country where they are nationals or in the country where they have their habitual residence. |
| Reasons for which it can be issued | Employment, study, family reunification, business, etc. |
| Documentation submitted by the applicant | – application form, – identity documents, – proof of accommodation, – health insurance recognized in Czech Republic, – a recent photo, – proof of paying the processing fee |
| Visa proceesing fees | CZK 2,500 |
| Residence permit fee | CZK 2,500 |
| Duration of the visa processing | Standard processing is 90 days, but in certain situations the procedure can be completed in maximum 120 days. |
| Can applications be refused? | Yes |
| Grounds to refuse a visa application | – incomplete applications, – misleading documents/information, – unpaid processing fees |
| Interview requirements | Those interested in how to obtain a long term visa in Czech Republic should know that they are required to participate in an in person interview in order to receive this document. |
| Is it necessary to have Czech language proficiency? | No |
| Obtaining permanent residency | A long term visa can offer the possibility for permanent residency after 5 years of stay in Czech Republic. |
| Obtaining Czech citizenship | For the holders of long-term visas, citizenship is possible through naturalization. |
| Legal services | Preparing the visa application file, maintaining the connection with the Czech immigration authorities, assisting in obtaining residence permits, assistance in visa refusals/appeals, etc. |
Table of Contents
Who needs to apply for a Czech long-term visa?
Foreigners from third party countries who stay in Czechia for more than 90 days. EU/ EEA nationals are exempt from any visa formalities, given that they benefit from the right of free movement within the EU area, which also includes the Czech Republic.
On what legal grounds can I obtain the long-term visa?
Thelong-term visa in the Czech Republic can be granted to citizens from third party countries for a wide range of reasons, such as: employment purposes, studies, family, business, sports or culture.
What documents are necessary for the issuance of the Czech long-term visa?
In the list below, our immigration lawyers in the Czech Republic present the basic documentation that must be included in the application file:
- a set of documents, including the standard application form required by the local authorities;
- his or her travel document in original, a photograph, the proof of accommodation in this country;
- documentation presenting the purpose for which the visa is granted and proof on the funding necessary to live here for the duration of the visa;
- an extract from the Penal Register record in home country of the applicant or the one of the country where the person has had his or her last residency;
- documents presenting the health state of the applicant (the Ministry of Health may require documents regarding any infectious illnesses);
- health travel insurance.
What institution is responsible for the issuance of the visa?
The documents will be processed by the Czech Ministry of Interior, which has the full responsibility regarding the issuance of the visa.
Can minors apply for a long-term visa?
Yes. Minors (individuals under the age of 18) can apply for this visa type. However, the approval of a parent/ legal guardian is necessary. We advise you to get in touch with our immigration lawyers in the Czech Republic for legal advice concerning immigration procedures referring to underage persons.
What are the fees for long-term residency applications in the Czech Republic?
The fees for the issuance of a long-term visa in the Czech Republic are administered by the Ministry of Interior, the following being available:
• the issuance of a visa for long-term stays (longer than 90 days) has a fee of CZK 2,500;
• persons moving to the Czech Republic and who want to apply for a Czech long-term residence permit will need to a pay a fee of CZK 2,500;
• long-term residence permits for applicants with an age below 15 years old are charged with a fee of CZK 1,000;
• theextension of a Czech long-term residence permit – CZK 2,500;
• changing the information of a long-term residence permit holder – CZK 1,000.
Can I obtain a refund provided that my application is not accepted?
No. The fees are charged for the processing of the applications, regardless of the outcome.
How long does it take to obtain a long-term visa in the Czech Republic?
It is possible to immigrate to the Czech Republic in a rather short period of time after the submission of the visa application file, given that the law states the visa has a standard processing time of 90 days (calculated from the day the submission was made by the applicant). The maximum period of time stipulated by law is 120 days (it can happen in more complicated cases).
The infographic below presents details on the Czech long-term visa:
What is the validity of a long-term visa in the Czech Republic?
The document has a 1 year validity.
Is the visa issued as a physical document?
Yes, the long-term visa is a physical document that must be added to the visa holder passport. The applicant must arrive in person to collect his/her passport, which will contain the newly received visa.
Do I have any other immigration obligations after arriving in the Czech Republic as a holder of a long-term visa?
Yes. Foreigners who have been issued with a long-term visa are required to address the Foreign Police in a period of maximum 3 days since the arrival. The procedure is required for the registration of the foreigner’s data.
Is it possible to apply for an extension of the visa?
Yes, individuals who are holders of a long-term visa have the right to apply for an extension of the sameimmigration document. However, they need to maintain the same conditions under which the first was issued.
When should I initiate the visa extension?
The visa extension formalities can be started, the earliest, 90 days before the expiration of the document. The latest, the applicant can initiate the procedure in the last day of validity. You canaddress our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic for advice on the matter.
How long does it take to process a visa extension?
The processing of a visa extension takes a shorter period of time compared to the initial processing. Once the applicant has submitted the request for the extension, theCzech authorities can analyze the application in around 14 days.
When can the long-term visa in the Czech Republic be rejected?
It must be noted that a share of these applications is usually rejected by the local authorities due to various reasons, such as:
- some of them can be related to procedural mistakes made by the applicant;
- due to the decisions of the local institutions, which can consider that there isn’t enough evidence that the long-term visa in the Czech Republic must be granted for a particular situation;
- misleading information or false declarations are also a legal ground for not receiving the long-term visa in the Czech Republic.
We invite you to contact our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic for additional information on the issuance of the long-term visa.
