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).
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).
More information on the applicable procedures can be obtained from our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic. You can also rely on us for obtaining the Czech citizenship and to immigrate to Czech Republic.
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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.
It must be noted that Czech Republic is a member state of the Schengen zone, which provides free movement within the borders of this area. Those who relocate from UK to Czech Republic for maximum 90 days have the right to visit all other Schengen states, but the overall duration of the stay can’t be longer than 90 days, according to the UK Government portal.
What are the immigration rules for long-term stays in Czech Republic?
Persons who will relocate from UK to Czech Republic on a long-term basis (over 90 days) are required to apply for a visa that is suitable for their purpose of stay (employment, family reunification, business).
British nationals also have the obligation to apply for a residence permit. The immigration procedure must be initiated prior to the arrival in the country, therefore the consular missions or the embassies of Czech Republic operating in the UK must be addressed first.
The immigration formalities when moving from UK to Czech Republic are completed only after the arrival in the country, as the foreigners will also need to receive their residence permit and register with the local Czech authorities. Our immigration lawyers in Czech Republic can present more information on any obligation that can arise after the arrival on the Czech territory.
Can UK nationals apply for citizenship in Czech Republic?
Those who have a long-term residence permit can apply for citizenship if this is of interest for them. Our team can provide you with more details if you wish to know about the process and the conditions/eligibility criteria for obtaining Czech citizenship as well as on how to immigrate to Czech Republic.
UK nationals can apply for Czech citizenship following any of the legal pathways that are regulated under the Czech immigration law. Most of them will have to opt for the naturalization path (this applies when the foreigner will move from UK to Czech Republic on a permanent basis).
Some UK nationals can qualify for citizenship by descent, as long as they have a close family member (such as parents) who are/were of Czech nationality. Citizenship through marriage can also be an option.
If the UK national will qualify for citizenship by naturalization, then he or she must first obtain permanent residency in Czech Republic. All applicants are required to provide evidence on fluency in the Czech language, but also information concerning their accommodation.
It may also be necessary to provide a clean criminal record (obtained from the Penal Registry), along with 1 recent photo. 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, the 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 lawyer in Czech Republic for more information.
