Visa
This site is only for informational purposes. Only text of the law and sub-statutory regulation has a binding nature . The legislation that establishes the conditions for entry into and residence in the Czech Republic is Act no. 326/1999 Coll., On the stay of foreigners in the Czech Republic, whose last amendment introduces a number of changes. For information, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mzv.cz (Informace pro cizince) and the website of the Ministry of the Interiorhttp://www.mvcr.cz/clanek/sluzby-pro-verejnost-informace-pro-cizince-informace-pro-cizince.aspx
(Services for the public — Information for foreigners). There you will also find the entire text of the above Act with the recent changes indicated. More information can also be obtained at the nearest embassy or consulate of the Czech Republic.
All students who are not from the EU or do not have a valid permit for long-term or permanent residence in the Czech Republic who are arriving for courses longer than 90 days (» intensive Czech language courses») have to obtain a long-term visa or long-term residence in the Czech Republic. NOTE, A CHANGE WAS MADE! In the MFA VisaPoint system, it is now only possible to apply for a long-term visa or a long-term residence permit (without stating the purpose of the stay). The purpose of stay is filled in to the appropriate application (see below).
Please note that students of » intensive Czech language courses» can ONLY apply for a long-term visa (in the black form check «other» for the purpose of the stay)
(1) Application for LONG-TERM VISA (the black form can be downloaded here http://www.mvcr.cz/clanek/formulare-zadosti.aspx )
■ It can be submitted both by students of the «one-year preparatory course to study an accredited degree program at university,» and students included in the «intensive Czech language courses», or exchange programs, if it is a course longer than 90 days. However, only students of the one-year preparatory course state the purpose of the stay as «for study» (only this course corresponds to § 64 of the aforementioned Act ). Students of an intensive Czech language course state «other» as the purpose of their stay.
■ Validity (duration) of the visa
According to the amendment of the Law made on 18 December 2015, it is possible to obtain such a visa for 12 months. Students of 5, 7, 10 or 12 month ‘intensive Czech language courses «can obtain a long-term visa that is valid for 5, 7, 10 or 12 months. Students in Prague are requesting an extension of a residence permit or an extension of a long-term visa at the DAMP, which has its new workplace in Hládkov (it is ALWAYS necessary make an appointment for this department ahead of time over the phone!)
■ Obligation to attend an interview at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in person!
■ Registration at the Foreign Police upon arrival
All students must register in person at the Foreign Police within 3 working days after entering the Czech Republic . You can obtain detailed information at the study department.
■ Insurance for this visa
To pick up this visa, you must present proof of at least a «basic health insurance» (the indemnity limit must be at least 60.000 EUR) for the entire duration of stay (resp. the period for which the visa was issued, i.e. the longest 12 months). Note! For the subsequent extension of the stay, it is necessary to attain «Comprehensive health insurance» for the period for which the visa was issued, i.e. 12 months at the longest.
■ The deadline for obtaining the visa after submitting the application
The deadline for obtaining this visa for the purpose of «study» is 60 days (although it is good to have some reserve time, because the deadline can sometimes stretch out a little in the exposed periods). The deadline for obtaining this visa for «other» purposes is 90 -120 days!
■ Movement within the Schengen area
Students who come to the Czech Republic with this type of visa also have the option to enter other Schengen states, but for a period no longer than 90 days within 6 months.
(2) Application for a LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT (the green form can be downloaded here http://www.mvcr.cz/clanek/formulare-zadosti.aspx )
■ it may ONLY be submitted by students admitted to the «one-year preparatory course for studying an accredited degree program at university» (this course meets the definition of study according to § 64 of the Aliens Act).
■ Validity (duration) of the long-term residence permit
Long-term residence is usually granted for 12 months.
■ Obligation to attend an interview at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in person! The interview is in Czech! When applying for a long-term residence permit, the applicant must always attend an interview at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in person. The interview takes place in Czech, and the applicant must hire an interpreter at his/her own expense is he/she does not speak Czech! The interview can only be conducted in English in some countries (we strongly recommend that you contact the nearest embassy of the Czech Republic and enquire about the language in which the interview will take place).
■ Registration at the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic (DAMP)
Registration at the DAMP is usually (but not always!) organized by individual centres (more information will be available upon arrival to the centre). Every student who has been granted long-term residency will first get a passport visa for 60 days (D / VR / 23 / …). Upon arrival in the Czech Republic, every student is obliged by law to register at the DAMP in person within 3 working days from the day of entering the Czech Republic. The student is obliged to show up at the DAMP with a valid passport in order to provide biometric data for the purpose of issuing a residence permit document. The exact address of the workplace which issues a residence permit document is given to the student at an Embassy of the Czech Republic abroad when the visa for 60 days is issued for the purpose of collecting a residence permit. Within 60 days from the day on which the biometric data was provided, students are invited to collect the residence permit document. The fee for the issuance of the document is CZK 2,500.
■ Insurance
To pick up the visa/resp. residence permit, you must present proof of at least a «basic health insurance» (the indemnity limit must be at least 60.000 EUR) for the entire duration of stay (resp. the period for which the visa was issued, i.e. 12 months at the longest). However, we recommend that all students enter into a contract for «comprehensive health insurance» for the period for which the visa was issued, i.e. 12 months.
■ The deadline for obtaining the visa after submitting the application
The procedure for obtaining a long-term residence is governed by the Administrative Code of the Czech Republic. Administrative proceedings can , for instance, be interrupted in the event that the Ministry of Interior requests the submission of other documents, missing verification or invites the student to another interview etc. It is therefore necessary to take into account the possibility that it might take longer to obtain. The standard deadline for obtaining a long-term residence lasts 60 days, but under certain circumstances (see above), obtaining a long-term residence may even take 3-5 months. Therefore, only students who submit an application in advance should consider applying for long-term residence (preferably at least 4-5 months before the beginning of the course!).
■ Movement within the Schengen area The long-term residence permit is also valid for entry into other Schengen states, but only for 90 days in the course of 6 months.
The list of documents for submitting a visa application: http://www.mvcr.cz/clanek/vizum-k-pobytu-nad-90-dnu-dlouhodobe.aspx?q=Y2hudW09Mg%3d%3d