Starting with 2021, persons who want to relocate from UK to Czech Republic must comply with the same formalities applicable to third party nationals, following the implementation of the Brexit laws (which decided the exit of the UK from the EU).
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Immigration requirements for short stays | Having a valid passport (visa obligations are not imposed for short-term stays). |
|
Immigration requirements for long stays |
In order to relocate from the UK to the Czech Republic, Britons must hold suitable visas. |
|
Visa exemptions for Britons |
Only for stays of up to 90 days |
| Reasons of arrival for which visa exemptions are granted |
– tourism, – visiting family and friends, – attending business events, – short-term training/ study (maximum 90 days) |
| Can Britons travel to other European states visa-free? |
Yes |
| Obligation to apply for a residence permit |
Persons who relocate from the UK to the Czech Republic need to apply for a residence permit during their visa formalities (residence permits are mandatory for stays over 90 days). |
| Reasons for which Britons can relocate to Czech Republic for long stays |
One can relocate from the UK to the Czech Republic for long stays for: – employment, – investments, – business, – family reunification, – study, – research, – humanitarian reasons, etc. |
| Visas designed for Britons |
There aren’t any visa programs specifically designed for Britons, they need to apply for visas following the rules for third-party nationals (in this case, the obligation is to obtain visas for long-term stays in accordance to the reason of the arrival). |
| Visa processing fees |
CZK 2,500 or CZK 5,000 (it depends on the visa type) |
| Residency permit fees (yes/no) | Yes |
| Where to apply for a Czech residence permit |
Ministry of the Interior |
| Requirements to become a Czech permanent resident |
At least 5 years of residency in Czech Republic |
| Minimum residency for citizenship |
5 years of permanent residency (10 years in total, as permanent residency can be obtained after 5 years of legal stay) |
| Ways to acquire citizenship in Czech Republic |
– descent, – naturalization, – declaration, – special merit |
| Fee for citizenship formalities | CZK 2,500 for adult applicants and CZK 500 for minors |
One of the main consequences of the law is that British nationals must now apply for a visa in order to immigrate to Czech Republic. However, visa formalities are imposed only for long-term stays (any stays with a duration longer than 90 days).
Table of Contents
When can UK nationals immigrate from UK to Czech Republic visa-free?
The Czech Republic immigration law stipulates that certain third-party nationals can arrive here without a visa for short-term stays. These are defined as any stays that have a duration of maximum 90 days, in a period of 180 days. The main characteristic of this type of stay is that one does not have to apply for a residence permit in Czech Republic.
Besides the first rule mentioned above, there is another major rule that must be respected, which is the purpose of the said arrival. British nationals moving from UK to Czech Republic can arrive visa-free if they come here for the following purposes:
- for tourism;
- to visit family members living in Czech Republic (or friends);
- they can immigrate from UK to Czech Republic to participate in various meetings, such as business meetings, cultural events, etc.;
- to participate in short-term study classes.
Entry/Exit System
Please know that starting with April 2026, Czech Republic, along with all other European Union member states, will implement the Entry/Exit System (EES), which aims at maintaining a digital registration protocol for all non-EU nationals entering the EU territory.
This system is automatically applied to all individuals who arrive for short-stays in EU countries every time they cross the EU borders. Thus, those who arrive from the UK will also be directly affected by this new protocol, which will register the following personal information:
- the name;
- the data of the travel document;
- the biometric data (fingerprints and photo);
- the date of entry;
- the place of entry;
- the exit information (end of visit in the EU area).
The infographic below presents the immigration rules for British nationals:
Besides these, the new system will also hold information on the refusals of entry. The purpose of the EES is to modernize the border protocols, by replacing the manual stamping of passports, and to keep an up-to-date list of the total number of days foreigners have stayed within the EU borders (short-stay visitors can spend maximum 90 days, after which, if they don’t have appropriate visas, they are considered over-stayers).
Given that UK nationals can arrive visa-free in any EU state, including Czech Republic, they will not need to obtain a digital stamp, but they will have to provide information concerning the personal details listed above.
On what grounds can foreigners relocate from UK to Czech Republic?
The Czech Republic immigration law prescribes a wide range of reasons for which foreigners, including UK nationals, can relocate here. Besides short-term arrivals, which are mainly related to tourism, foreigners can arrive here for long-term stays, allowed for the following legal grounds:
- employment;
- investment;
- study;
- family reunification;
- research;
- humanitarian reasons;
- asylum, etc.
Employment visa in Czech Republic
Many foreigners opt to immigrate to Czech Republic for employment purposes. Third party nationals, UK included, can apply for the employee card, which is available for all types of work activities (skilled and unskilled). This document has a validity of 2 years, therefore it can’t be used as a direct way of obtaining permanent residence in Czech Republic.
However, the document can lead to permanent residency, provided that the foreigner renews the visa and spends at least 5 years in this country (the minimum amount of time required for permanent residency in Czech Republic).
We invite you to watch a short presentation on how to immigrate to Czech Republic from UK:
How many British citizens live in Czech Republic?
Although the UK is famous for the large number of foreigners who arrive in this country for various reasons, mostly related to employment, it is worth knowing that a large number of British citizens have relocated to European countries.
A part of them relocated on a permanent basis, while other relocated for employment related matters. When we refer to the number of British persons moving to Czech Republic, the following information is available:
- in 2019, the Ministry of Interior in Czech Republic registered more than 8,000 British citizens who chose to move from UK to Czech Republic;
- the number of British citizens who had a permanent residency here was of 2,666;
- in 2016, there were 6,111 British citizens living in Czech Republic, out of which 1,716 chose to move to Czech Republic as permanent residents;
- the number of British persons employed in Czech Republic also increased, from 3,277 in June 2016, to 4,464 at the end of 2019;
- currently, British citizens account for 1% of the European workforce available on the Czech market.
Given the fact that the legislation regarding the immigration of British citizens may suffer certain modifications from one year to another (fees, documents, etc.), it is recommended to contact our immigration lawyers in Czech Republic for more information.
