Having a residence permit that issued by the Czech authorities will provide the right of living in this country of a limited amount of time or for an indefinite period, depending on the type of permit obtained. All foreigners relocating to Czech Republic have to apply for a temporary residence permit in the case in which they will live here for a period longer than three months.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Temporary residence permit types in Czech Republic |
For: – study purposes, – business, – family reunification programs, – tourism, – other reasons prescribed by the national law. |
|
Time needed to obtain the temporary residence permit (approx.) |
A residence permit in Czech Republic can be processed in 30-60 days, counting from the day when the application is submitted (the time needed for the issuance can vary based on the purpose of stay). |
|
Temporary residence permit validity |
Minimum 3 months, maximum 1 year |
| Documents for obtaining temporary residence |
– the application form, – a valid travel document (identity card or passport), – documents attesting the purpose of stay, – 1 passport photo, – evidence of a valid health insurance, – evidence on the residential address in Czech Republic. |
| Mandatory registrations with state authorities (i.e. with the population/municipality register) |
Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic is in charge with the issuance of the residence permit in Czech Republic. |
| Dependents can join the temporary permit holder (Yes/No) |
Available in some cases (for instance, for EU citizens). |
| Temporary or permanent residency for investment purposes |
– investors can apply for temporary residence if they want to invest here, – when they meet the residency requirements for permanent residency, but there aren’t any expedite immigration programs for investors. |
| Type of investments available for residency purposes |
Long-term residence permit for the purpose of investment/ Czech investment visa |
| Minimum investment amount |
Approx. EUR 2,9 million (for the Czech investment visa) |
| Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence | A permanent residence permit in Czech Republic can be obtained after 5 years |
| Residency for individuals married to a citizen of the country |
The foreign spouses of Czech citizens can become permanent residents in only 2 years. |
| Documents for obtaining permanent residence |
– evidence on the visa and the residence permits issued in Czech Republic, – proof of having Czech language skills (A1 level is required), – meeting the financial requirements, – a completed application form, – an extract of criminal records. |
| Naturalization requirements |
– be a permanent resident in Czech Republic for minimum 5 years (or 3 years for EU citizens), – have Czech language skills, – a clean criminal record, – have knowledge of the constitutional system in Czech Republic and of the Czech culture and society, – meet financial requirements, – show your participation and integration in the Czech society, – pass the citizenship test. |
| Citizenship after permanent residence |
One has to be a permanent resident for at least 5 years (or 3 for EU and EEA citizens) in order to have the right to apply for citizenship. |
| Dual citizenship permitted (Yes/No) | Yes, permitted since 2013. |
There is also the possibility of obtaining a permanent residence permit in Czech Republic, but this right is granted only if the foreigner lived in this country for a period of minimum five years. Our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic can present the main requirements foreigners should follow for the issuance of the residence permit; our attorney can also assist with advice on the steps that must be taken upon the renewal of the document.
Table of Contents
Do EU citizens need a temporary residence permit in Czech Republic in 2025?
The citizens of the European Union (EU) who want to stay in Czech Republic for periods longer than three months can apply for a temporary residence permit if they prefer to do so, but the Czech immigration law does not impose this as an obligation.
However, having a temporary residence permit as a EU citizen moving to Czech Republic can provide certain benefits when registering with various institutions. EU citizens who want to obtain this document can register their residence in the Czech Republic with the Ministry of Interior. You can also rely on our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic for assistance.
In order to do so, the following documents are necessary: complete a standard application form, provide a personal identification document (identity card or the passport), provide a document which states the purpose of the stay, add a recent photograph with the standard size, offer proof of having medical insurance (the document is not necessary if the purpose of moving to Czech Republic is related to employment) and a proof of the place where the applicant currently lives.
As a EU citizen, it is recommended to apply for a temporary residence permit in the case in which you are interested in relocating to Czech Republic for a longer period of time. This means that having a temporary residence permit issued since the beginning of the stay will become helpful when the person will want to apply for a permanent residence permit.
We invite you to watch a video on how to obtain a residence permit in Czech Republic:
On what legal grounds can one obtain a long-term residence permit in 2025?
The long-term residence permit in Czech Republic can be obtained for multiple purposes. Third country nationals moving to Czech Republic for a longer period of time can apply for this document for one of the following reasons: scientific research, studies, employment, seeking employment, business purposes, or family reunification programs. Czech residency by investment is also possible under certain conditions.
The legislation which regulates the manner in which the document can be issued is prescribed under the Act on Residence of Foreign Nationals, which can be detailed by our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic, and the Administrative Code. Applicants must also know that the application can be rejected, but each applicant has the right to appeal the decision.
Please mind that the legislation on immigration in Czech Republic which regulates the procedures through which a foreigner can obtain the permanent residence permit has been recently modified. Thus, if you want to obtain a permanent residence permit in 2025 you must comply with new language requirements. Here, you must know that starting with 1st July 2021, you must comply with the A2 level Czech language certification in order to be able to obtain permanent residency in this country.
What is the procedure for permanent residence in Czech Republic?
The main aspect foreigners should be aware of when it comes to permanent residence in Czech Republic is that this right is granted after living in this country for a period of 5 years. This period is required for both persons who arrive from the EU member states, as well as persons outside the EU.
However, there is also the possibility to acquire Czech permanent residence in a period of only 2 years of continuous living in this country. This right is granted to persons who fall into the category of close family members of EU citizens. However, in order to be able to receive this right, the applicant must have been the family member of the EU citizen for at least one year at the moment when the residency application is made, and the applicant has to be included in the category of close family members.
The person can apply for permanent residency in the case in which the person who is a relative is a Czech national who has his or her permanent residency in Czech Republic, or in the case in which the family member is not a Czech national, but has obtained the Czech permanent residence prior to the moment when the applicant prepares the application file.
The Czech residence permit can be issued if the application file contains all the required papers, which refer to the following: the standard application form, signed and completed by the applicant, the travel document or the identity document, any documents recognized in Czech Republic that attest the family tie with the person who is a Czech national or a Czech permanent resident, proof of the accommodation in Czech Republic, two recent photos and the proof of payment of the processing fee.
Processing fees
In 2025, those who want to apply for permanent residency must pay a fee of CZK 2,500. The same fee is charged for the issuance of a new document or when the document was damaged or lost.
The fee is only CZK 1,000 for all the above-mentioned situations, in the case in which the applicant has an age of maximum 15 years old, and it must be mentioned that for the issuance of documents for children with an age below 6 years old there aren’t any fees.
Fees are not charged only for the issuance of temporary or permanent residence permit, but they also apply for visa processing formalities. The processing of visas that grant the right to long-term residency costs CZK 2,500 or CZK 5,000 (the latter is imposed for entrepreneur and employment visas).
The legislation provides certain fee exemptions for the nationals of few countries. For instance, persons who arrive from Turkey benefit from a full fee exemption when they apply for a long-term visa issued for tertiary studies.
The procedure related to permanent residence in Czech Republic for non-EU citizens is similar with the one available for EU citizens, but the rules can be more complex, as the first category of persons may be required to provide more documents. Also, such persons can be denied permanent residency due to a wide set of reasons.
Please mind that permanent residence in Czech Republic for non-EU citizens is available for persons who are younger than 15 years old, but in this case, such persons are required to have their applications signed by their legal guardian. In the case in which the application is made from Czech Republic, the law guarantees that the applicant will receive an answer in a period of maximum 60 days.
However, for applications for residency in Czech Republic from outside the country (which implies that the applicant will address to a Czech embassy or consulate), the issuance of an answer can last twice as long, reaching a maximum of 180 days. As a general rule, foreigners applying for the Czech residence permit will be contacted by the Czech institutions in the case in which the application is successful.
It is also necessary to know that the applications can be rejected for a wide range of reasons. One of the main reasons refers to incomplete applications, in which the applicants did not offered the necessary documents required by the local institutions. Another reason refers to any forged information presented by the applicant as being real. Persons who are registered as persona non grata can also be denied from receiving a Czech residence permit.
If you will qualify for permanent residency, this can be the basis of applying for Czech citizenship. When this procedure can be initiated, depends on the circumstances of the applicant.
In general, a foreigner can apply for citizenship after 10 years of continuous stay in this country (out of which 5 were spent as a permanent resident). For citizenship by marriage, the required time is much shorter.
What is the advantage of Czech permanent residence?
If you are interested in relocating to Czech Republic on a long-term basis or a permanent basis, having the Czech residence permit will definitely have a set of advantages. For instance, it is important to know that there are few legal differences between Czech permanent residents and Czech nationals.
Both categories enjoy almost all the legal rights prescribed by the Czech Constitution, the difference being that the permanent residents are not allowed to vote in Czech Republic, to work in top institutional functions or to apply for a Czech passport, as this document is granted only to those who are Czech nationals. Other than this, there aren’t any differences between the two.
Czech permanent residents can become part of the Czech society, they can work here, apply for a loan, purchase a property, enter the national health system, register in any of the education institutions available here, start a business and numerous other rights, following the same procedures applicable to Czech citizens. Also, being a Czech permanent resident opens the possibility of acquiring Czech nationality, a process which can be started after living here for a period of 10 years, including the years prior to becoming a permanent resident.
How many foreigners reside in Czech Republic?
The number of foreigners living in Czech Republic has gradually expanded in the last 3 decades. The data stored by the Czech Statistical Office divides the foreigners who have a legal residency in this country in foreigners who have obtained long-term residence permits and foreigners with permanent residency, as follows:
• in 1985, there were 37,177 foreigners (27,892 had permanent residency and 8,891 had long-term residency permits);
• in 1994, there were more than 100,000 foreigners (104,343 persons, out of which 33,164 had permanent residency);
• the 200,000 persons threshold was reached few years later, in 1997, when there were 210,311 persons (56,797 with permanent residency);
• in 2006, there were more than 300,000 persons living here (321,456, out of which 139,185 decided moving to Czech Republic on a permanent basis);
• the 400,000 foreigner threshold was reached in 2008, with more than 437,565 persons (172,191 had permanent residency);
• in 2017, the Czech immigration authorities registered the 500,000 persons threshold (524,142 persons, with 281,489 permanent residents).
Persons who want to relocate to Czech Republic in 2025 must know that the number of foreigners living here has been constantly increasing. By the end of 2022, the foreign population accounted for 1,12 million people, which represented around 10% of the country’s entire population.
More details on how to become a permanent resident of Czech Republic can be obtained from our lawyer. Foreigners should take into consideration that permanent residency has specific requirements, including the language abilities that the person must prove. For more details on how to obtain any of the residence permits prescribed by the Czech immigration law, please contact our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic.
The Czech authorities decided to provide an extension on the permits issued to Ukrainian nationals who arrived here as refugees. At the moment, Ukrainians who relocate seeking asylum can benefit from an extension of temporary protection until 31 March 2025. For this, they will have to register for extended residency in Czech Republic in 2025, which implies having all the supporting papers required by the law.
