RESIDENCY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

INfoRmaTIoN foR CITIZENS of THE EURoPEaN UNIoN CoUNTRIES aND THEIR famILY mEmBERS

This information leaflet is intended for EU citizens and their family members and provides information regarding residence in the Czech Republic. It serves for basic orientation in the current Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Czech Republic (CR) (act No. 326/1999 Coll., on the residence of foreign nationals in the territory of the Czech Republic and on the amendment to some laws, as amended hereinafter the act).

CoNTENT:
Obligations after arriving in the Czech Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 EU citizen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Certificate of temporary residence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Permanent residence permit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Family member of an EU citizen third-country national . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Temporary residence permit of a family member of an EU citizen . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Permanent residence permit for a family member of an EU citizen . . . . . . . . . . 14 Travel of family members of EU citizens to other EU/Schengen states . . . . . . . 15 Practical information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Further information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

for most matters connected with your residence in the CR, the competent body is the Ministry of the Interior, or its regional offices (foreign Nationals Residence Departments) hereinafter the ministry.

Who is an EU citizen? according to the act, nationals of the following states fall into the category of EU citizen: EU member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, finland, france, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, malta, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, austria, Romania, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland Who is a family member of an EU citizen? ( 15a) thespouseorpartnerwithwhomanEUcitizenhasenteredintocivil partnership anEUcitizenschildunder21yearsofageorsuchachildoftheEU citizensspouse aparentofanEUcitizenunder21yearsofagewhomtheparent supports and with whom the parent lives in a common household adependentdirectrelativeinthedescendingorascendinglineor such a relative of the spouse of an EU citizen (i.e. dependent parents, grandparents etc. and dependent children, grandchildren etc.) a person is considered dependent if he/she is supported by an EU citizen or by the spouse of such and meets other conditions of the act as follows: he/sheisnotover26yearsofageandispreparingfull-timefor his/her future career or is unable to prepare for a future career or perform gainful employment due to an illness or injury, or he/sheisunabletoperformfull-timeworkforreasonsofalongterm poor state of health. You shall also be considered a family member if you can reliably prove that: youarerelatedtoanEUcitizen(otherthanthosespecifiedabove)and you meet other conditions stipulated by the act, e.g. you are supported by an EU citizen or are unable to care for yourself without the personal assistanceofanEUcitizenduetoalong-termpoorstateofhealth youareinapermanentrelationshipwithanEUcitizensimilartoafamily relationship and you live with him/her in a common household.
attention If you are a family member of a Czech citizen in the above category, the legal rules laid down for family members of EU citizens also apply to you. 4

oBLIGaTIoNS afTER aRRIvING IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

after arriving in the Czech Republic you are required to report your place of residence in the Czech Republic if the expected duration of your stay is longer than 30 days ( 93). In this case you are required to report in person to the office of the Foreign Police local to your place of residence in the CR and complete the relevant form within the following time limits: within 30 days of the date on which you entered the territory of the CR: ifyouareanEUcitizen,or ifyouareafamilymemberathird-countrynationalandtheEUcitizen, of whom you are a family member is resident in the CR within 3 working days of the date on which you entered the territory of the CR: ifyouareafamilymemberathird-countrynationalandtheEUcitizen, of whom you are a family member is not resident in the CR The above obligation does not apply to you if the period of your stay in the CR does not exceed 30 days, or if the person accommodating you reports your place of residence. The reporting duty is also not applicable to citizens under 15 years of age and to special categories of persons (e.g. personnel of foreign diplomatic missions or of international organisations accredited in the CR etc.).

EU CITIZEN
You may stay in the territory of the CR without any special permission simply with a valid travel document or national identity card. In other words, you do not require any visa or residence permit. If you intend to stay in the CR for longer than 3 months, you are entitled, but in no way obliged, to apply for a certificate of temporary residence in the CR. This certificate can simplify your stay in the CR in many ways for instance, when buying property, opening building savings or arranging pension insurance; it can also help in proving the length of residence in the CR for the purpose of a future application for permanent residence. at the request of the police you are required to identify yourself by presenting: atraveldocument,nationalidentitycardorotherdocumentproving your identity, including your citizenship of one of the other EU member states, or apermanentresidencepermitforEUcitizens(103/d). If you move to a new address and intend to stay there for a period longer than 180 days, you are required to report this change of address in the CR to the Ministry within 30 days of it occurring. If you intend to terminate your stay in the CR, announce this fact in the same way as announcing a change of address. If you hold a document of residence in the CR (see below), you are required to return this document to the ministry at latest 3 days before leaving the territory of the CR ( 103/i).

Certificate of temporary residence If you decide to apply for a certificate of temporary residence in the CR, do so at a ministry office by submitting: acompletedapplicationform avalidtraveldocument(oranEUcitizensnationalidentitycard) adocumentconfirmingthepurposeofstay,ifforcontractual employment, business or other gainful employment or studies (not applicable if you are applying as a family member of an EU citizen) 1passport-typephotograph proofofhealthinsurance;thisdoesnotapplyifthepurposeofstayisfor contractual employment, business or other gainful employment proofofaccommodationintheCR adocumentconfirmingthatyouareafamilymemberofanEUcitizen (if you are applying as a family member), and if you are a family member under 15a/1/d, i.e. a dependent direct relative in the descending and ascending line or such a relative of the spouse of an EU citizen (i.e. dependent parents, grandparents etc. or children, grandchildren etc.), then a document confirming that you are a dependent. as EU citizen, you may apply for this certificate at any time; the act does not specify any time limits. You can prove your residence in the CR with this certificate of temporary residence, whereas the details appearing in it must be correct. You are required to report any changes within the specified periods to the ministry which will issue a new certificate of temporary residence ( 87v/3). If you lose the certificate or it is destroyed, stolen or damaged, you are required to report this fact within 3 working days ( 103/j) to the ministry which will issue a new certificate you are required to submit your travel document(orEUcitizensnationalidentitycard)alongwiththisapplication as well as, if damaged, the existing certificate ( 87v/1).

Permanent residence permit You may apply for a permanent residence permit upon meeting the conditions stipulated by the act ( 87g)1, mainly after 5 years of continuous temporary residence in the territory of the CR. If you are applying as a family member of an EU citizen, you may submit your application as early as after 2 years of continuous temporary residence in the territory of the CR, if, for at least 1 year, you have been a family member of a CR citizen who is registered for permanent residence in this country, or a family member of an EU citizen who holds a permanent residence permit in the territory of the CR. Your application for permanent residence should be filed at a ministry office. When applying you are required to submit: acompletedapplicationform avalidtraveldocument(oranEUcitizensnationalidentitycard) adocumentconfirmingthesatisfactionofthelegalconditions ( 87g or 87h), proving in particular the length of your residence in the territory of the CR and, if applicable, a document confirming that you have been a family member of an EU citizen for at least 1 year 2passport-typephotographs proofofaccommodation adocumentconfirmingthatyouareafamilymemberofanEUcitizen (if you are applying for this permit as a family member). If you meet the conditions, you will be issued a permanent residence permit in the form of a permanent residence card for EU citizens (prkaz o povolen k trvalmu pobytu obana EU); with this card you will also receive a confirmation of permitted residence in the territory. The card is issued as an independent document with a validity of 10 years. The validity of the card can be extended by 10 years, even repeatedly ( 87r).

while if you apply for permanent residence as a family member of an EU citizen and you yourself are an EU citizen, 87h also applies

You are required to apply for an extension of validity of the card within 15 days of its expiry; in this case you are required to submit your travel document and 2 photographs if your appearance has changed ( 87s). In addition to an application for a change of details appearing in the card, you are required to submit your travel document, residence card and a document proving the required change ( 87v/3). If the required change cannot be marked into the card, a new card will be issued; in this case you will be required to submit 2 photographs. If you lose your card or it is destroyed, stolen or damaged, you are required to report this fact within the stipulated time limit to the ministry ( 103/j) which, on your request, will issue a new card in this case you are required to submit 2 photographs, your travel document and, if damaged, the existing permit ( 87v /2).
offICES of THE mINISTRY of THE INTERIoR PRaCovIT mINISTERSTva vNITRa offICES of THE foREIGN PoLICE PRaCovIT CIZINECK PoLICIE

Nad tolou 3, Praha 7

6 1

Praha v

8 7

olansk 2, Praha 3 Konvova 188/32, Praha 3

9

Praha

Praha Iv
10

3 2

Zborovsk 1505/13, Praha 5 Zborovsk 1505/13, Praha 5

Praha II

5 4

Nad vrovskou horou 88/4, Praha 10

Praha I

Cignkova 1861/2, Praha 4

Praha III

offICES of THE mINISTRY of THE INTERIoR PRaCovIT

offICES of THE foREIGN PoLICE PRaCovIT CIZINECK

Nm. E. Benee 58

Liberec

masarykova 27 masarykova 29 Beethovenova 5689 Beethovenova 5689 Krymsk 47/1598 Zvodu mru 16

st n. L.

Podho

Jab

Chomutov

Karlovy vary Praha

tefnikova 13 tefnikova 13

ml. Bolesl

17. listopadu 2108/40 17. listopadu 2103/40

Cheb

Dukelskch hrdin 2319 Dukelskch hrdin 2319

Rakovnk

Slovansk alej 2046/26 Slovansk alej 2046/26

Plze

eick 498 eick 498

Pbram

Jirskova 801 Jirskova 801

Beneov

Hornic Hornic

Kutn

Randova 34 Nb. Kpt. Nlepky 412

Klatovy

Na vstaviti 377 Na vstaviti 377

Psek

vrchlickho 2627/46 vrchlickho 2627/46

Jihlava

Janderova 14 Janderova 14

Jindich

Prask tda 1257/23 Prask tda 1257/23

esk Budjovice

T mINISTERSTva vNITRa

K PoLICIE

84/24

blonec nad Nisou Trutnov

orsk 564/62

304 304

lav

Horsk 78 Horsk 78

Ulrichovo nm. 810/4 Ulrichovo nm. 810/4

Hradec Krlov

n Hora

Boeny Nmcov 2625 letit Pardubice

Pardubice

Havlkova 2913/8 Havlkova 2913/8

umperk

ck 642 ck 642

tflova 2003 Ndran 59

Havlkv Brod

vrchlickho 2245/44 Purkyova 2

Svitavy

vstavn 55/117 vstavn 55/117

ostrava

U vstavit 3183/18 U vstavit 3183/18

Perov

Frdek-Mstek
Beskydsk 2061 Beskydsk 2061

6 6 Bezinova 2819

Krom

47/II 47/II

v Hradec

Hnvkovskho 30/65 Cejl 62 b

Brno

Pod vrkem 5360 Tda Tome Bati 44

Zln

Hlsenka 1516

vsetn

Prask 59 Prask 59

Znojmo

Pod Zmkem 922

valtice

velehradsk tda 537

Uhersk Hradit

Nrodnch hrdin 18/15

Beclav

famILY mEmBER of aN EU CITIZEN THIRD-CoUNTRY NaTIoNaL

You may stay in the territory for up to 3 months if you are in possession of a valid travel document and if you are subject to visa requirements: avalidvisaissuedbytheCRoranotherSchengenstate,or withoutavisaifyouholdavalidtemporaryorpermanentresidence permit issued by another EU state ( 18/d/7), or withoutavisaifyouareresidentintheCRtogetherwiththeEU citizenandyourshort-stayvisahasexpired(18/e). You may stay in the CR for a period longer than 3 months if you are in possession of a valid travel document and avalidresidencepermit/cardforafamilymemberofanEUcitizen issued by the CR, or avalidpermanentresidencecardissuedbytheCR. Upon a request of the police, you are required to identify yourself by presenting the documents mentioned above. If you do not have the document or permit/card with you, you may identify yourself with a different document, but at the same time you must prove that you are a family member of an EU citizen. attention: a residence permit for a family member of an EU citizen will be issued up until 31. 12. 2012 at longest, when it will be replaced by a new document called a residence card for a family member of a European Union citizen (pobytov karta rodinnho pslunka obana Evropsk unie). Temporary residence permit of a family member of an EU citizen If you intend to stay in the CR for a period longer than 3 months together with an EU citizen, you are required to apply for a temporary residence permit within 3 months of your entry into the territory of the CR. The application should be made to a ministry office.
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When applying you are required to submit: acompletedapplicationform avalidtraveldocument 2passport-typephotographs proofofhealthinsurance;notapplicableifthepurposeofstay is contractual employment, business or other gainful employment proofofaccommodationintheCR adocumentprovingthatyouareafamilymemberofanEUcitizen ifyouareadependentdirectrelativeininthedescendingand ascending line or such a relative of the spouse of an EU citizen (i.e. dependent parents, grandparents etc. or children, grandchildren etc.), then a document confirming this. If you meet the conditions of a temporary residence permit, you will be issued a residence permit of a family member of an EU citizen (prkaz o pobytu rodinnho pslunka obana EU), or a residence card of a family member of an EU citizen (pobytov karta rodinnho pslunka obana EU). This permit/card is issued as an independent document with a validity corresponding to the expected length of residence of the EU citizen, however, at longest, for 5 years. Its validity may be extended, even repeatedly ( 87o). You may apply to the ministry for an extension of validity of the permit/ card. You must, however, do so before the expiry of the permit/card and must present your travel document, proof of health insurance (not applicable if the purpose of residence is contractual employment, business or other gainful employment), proof of accommodation and a document confirming that you are staying in the CR together with an EU citizen. In the event that your appearance has changed, you must also submit 2 photographs ( 87p). In addition to an application for a change of details appearing in the permit/card, you are required to submit your travel document, permit/card and a document proving the required change ( 87v/3).
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If you lose your permit/card or it is destroyed, stolen or damaged, you are required to report this fact within the stipulated time limit to the ministry ( 103/j) which, on your request, will issue a new permit/card in this case you are required to submit 2 photographs, your travel document and, if damaged, the existing permit/card ( 87v/2). Permanent residence permit for a family member of an EU citizen You may apply for a permanent residence permit upon meeting the conditions stipulated by the act ( 87h) only after 5 years of continuous temporary residence in the territory of the CR or after 2 years of continuous temporary residence in the territory of the CR, if, for at least 1 year, you have been a family member of a CR citizen who is registered for permanent residence in this country, or a family member of an EU citizen who holds a permanent residence permit in the territory of the CR. Your application for permanent residence should be made at a ministry office. When applying you are required to submit: acompletedapplicationform avalidtraveldocument(oranEUcitizensnationalidentitycard) adocumentconfirmingthesatisfactionofthelegalconditions(87h/1), proving in particular that you have been a family member of an EU citizen for at least 1 year and, if applicable, documents confirming the length of your residence in the territory of the CR 2passport-typephotographs proofofaccommodation. a permanent residence permit is issued in the form of a permanent residence card (prkaz o povolen k trvalmu pobytu); with this you will also receive a confirmation of permitted residence in the territory. The conditions for the validity and extension of the card, as well as obligations for reporting changes, loss or damage to the card, are the same as for EU citizens who have been issued a permanent residence card for EU citizens.

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Travel of family members of EU citizens to other EU/Schengen states These rules are governed by EU legislation, in particular by: DirectiveNo.2004/38/EC(ontherightofcitizensoftheUnionandtheir family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the member States) RegulationNo.562/2006(SchengenBordersCode) RegulationNo.810/2009(VisaCode). If you hold a valid residence permit/card for a family member of an EU citizen issued by the CR and a valid travel document, you may travel: to other EU countries and remain in their territory for up to 3 months duringanysix-monthperiodundertheconditionthatyouare accompanying or joining your EU citizen (if you are travelling alone and are subject to visa obligations, you need a visa) to other countries in the Schengen area and spend up to 3 months intheirterritoriesduringanysix-monthperiod(theconditionof accompanying or joining your EU citizen does not apply in this case). If you hold a valid permanent residence permit issued by the CR and a valid travel document, you may travel to other countries in the Schengen area and remain in their territory for up to 3 months during any six-monthperiod.

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PRaCTICaL INfoRmaTIoN
all documents accompanying your application may not be older than 180 days, with the exception of your travel document, birth certificate, marriage certificate and other registry documents and photographs, as long as they correspond with your actual appearance ( 87w). all components of the application or other documents submitted with the application not in the Czech or Slovak languages must be officially translated into the Czech language. If you do not wish to submit an original, we recommend you first have a certified copy made, thereafter officially translated into Czech. Administrative fees official acts connected with your residence in the CR are performed free of charge. Exceptions to this are fees connected with issuing: anewresidencepermit/cardinreplacementofadamaged,destroyed, lost or stolen permit/card: CZK 100 anadditionalpermanentresidencepermit/card,thisbeingapermanent residencepermit/carddisplayingarecordofresidenceofalong-term resident EC (if this status was recognised at your request after meeting the conditions of 83/1): CZK 500 fees are collected upon issuing the permit/card in the form of revenue stamps, which may be purchased at every post office. Obligation to report certain facts Under the act ( 103/e), you are required to report a change of surname, marital status, travel document details and of details appearing in your residence permit/card for the CR (i.e. certificate of temporary residence in the CR, permanent residence card for EU citizens, residence permit/card of family members of an EU citizen, or permanent residence permit) to the ministry within 15 working days from the date the change occurred.
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In the event of changing address, the time limit is 30 working days, while only changes of address with an expected duration of more than 180 days need to be reported ( 98). Loss, destruction, theft of or damage to a CR residence permit/card In the event of loss, destruction, theft of or damage to a CR residence permit/card, you are required to report this to the ministry within 3 working days from the date when this incident occurred. Similarly, you are required to report the rediscovery or recovery of a document whose loss or theft you had previously reported ( 103/j). Proof of health insurance for residence purposes of EU citizens and their family members, proof of health insurance is not expressly defined. If you are required to present such proof, you may present in particular: apolicyholderscardissuedbyaninsurancecompanyauthorised to perform such activities in the CR, or aEuropeanHealthInsuranceCardoraconfirmationtemporarily replacing this card, or anyofthefollowingforms:E106,E109,E112,E120,E121, or else a confirmation of registration issued on the basis of any of these forms, an EU policy holder card for a person staying in the CR or a policy holder card for a person resident in the CR. If you are not in possession of any of the above documents, you should submit a different document proving the validity of your health insurance (the specific scope of such insurance is not stipulated by the act). This can mean any insurance whereby payment of possible provision of medical care is ensured (therefore even travel medical insurance in accordance with 180/j of the act which does not otherwise apply to EU citizens and their family members).
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Proof of accommodation The fact that you have accommodation can be proved by submitting: proofthatyouaretheowneroftherelevantflatorhouse,or proofthatyouareentitledtousetherelevantflatorhouse(e.g.rental agreement), or confirmationfromtheownerorentitleduseroftheflatorhousethat he/she consents to your accommodation there. If you are applying for a permanent residence permit, the signature on the confirmation must be officially certified or the confirmation must be signed in front of a ministry employee, or in the case of electronic submission, the confirmation must be signed by a guaranteed electronic signature on the basis of a qualified certificate issued by an accredited provider of certification services, or else the confirmation must be delivered via the data box of the person accommodating you. accommodation may only be provided in a building intended for housing, accommodation or recreation.

fURTHER INfoRmaTIoN:
Info line: 974 832 418, 421 (mofr: 8.0016.00) E-mail:pobyty@mvcr.cz Anti-corruptionhotline:974 847 704 Web: www.mvcr.cz/cizinci For business hours and contacts of the offices of the Ministry of the Interior and Foreign Police go to www.mvcr.cz/cizinci (Kontakty).

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Published by the ministry of the Interior april 2011 www.mvcr.cz/cizinci