Residency & Citizenship

EU citizens can (but are not obliged to) apply for temporary residence if they intend to stay in the Czech Republic longer than 3 months.

From August 2nd, 2021, the certificate of temporary residence is called the Registration Certificate (= osvědčení o registraci). Step-by-step instructions can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior (= Ministerstvo vnitra). For more details, please have a look and download the application form.

You can submit your application in person at the MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR “MOI” (Department for Asylum and Migration Policy) – Výstavní 55, Ostrava. Or you can also send it by post.

Opening hours: Mo, We: 8am – 5pm; Tu, Th: 8am – 12am. We strongly advise you to make an online appointment*, or by phone at +420 974 801 801 (also in English).

• * If you don’t have a valid residence permit/visa yet and this is going to be your 1st visit to the MOI office, you must phone for an appointment (+420 974 801 801). The online reservation system works only for those who already have registered residence/visas.
• The official language of the “MOI office” is Czech (solely and compulsory) so you cannot expect the clerks to use English in communication with you. A good idea is to bring along an interpreter, a friend or, which is a very elegant solution, to come on Monday or Wednesday morning where there are social workers provided by CPIC, the governmental agency. They speak English and will help you with the paperwork.
• Please keep in mind that all documents must be originals or notarized copies (read how to obtain verified copies here), sometimes an Apostille is required.
• Also, once you have a residence permit, you are obliged to report a change of your home address, passport number, family status or surname within 15 days (30 days in the case of a change of address). For issuing a new residence permission and further reporting of any changes, you will also need a 200 CZK revenue stamp (= kolek) which you have to buy in advance at any Czech Post office.

What are the benefits of a Registration Certificate?

With the Registration Certificate, you will gain access to services that are otherwise less accessible or not available at all. You will also automatically get a Czech Birth number. It is mainly about:

• Easier communication with state authorities, banks, and other institutions
• Possibility to register a car (new or imported)
• Replacement of driving licence
• Opening a bank account, contract with mobile operators or internet providers
• Easier access to a loan or mortgage
• The right to vote in selected elections
• Help with family reunification from 3rd countries (in this case, an EU citizen must have a registered residence so that his non-EU family members can obtain temporary residence)

There are special conditions for a family member of an EU citizen who is not an EU citizen himself/herself (see who is “family member”). Step-by-step instructions can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior (= Ministerstvo vnitra). For more details, please have a look and download the application form.

You can submit your application in person at the MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR “MOI” (Department for Asylum and Migration Policy) – Výstavní 55, Ostrava. Or you can also send it by post.

Opening hours: Mo, We: 8am – 5pm; Tu, Th: 8am – 12am. We strongly advise you to make an online appointment*, or by phone at +420 974 801 801 (also in English).

• * If you don’t have a valid residence permit/visa yet and this is going to be your 1st visit to the MOI office, you must phone for an appointment (+420 974 801 801). The online reservation system works only for those who already have registered residence/visas.
• The official language of the “MOI office” is Czech (solely and compulsory) so you cannot expect the clerks to use English in communication with you. A good idea is to bring along an interpreter, a friend or, which is a very elegant solution, to come on Monday or Wednesday morning where there are social workers provided by CPIC, the governmental agency. They speak English and will help you with the paperwork.

• Please keep in mind that all documents must be originals or notarized copies (read how to obtain verified copies here), sometimes an Apostille is required.
• Also, once you have a residence permit, you are obliged to report a change of your home address, passport number, family status or surname within 15 days (30 days in the case of a change of address). For issuing a new residence permission and further reporting of any changes, you will also need a 200 CZK revenue stamp (= kolek) which you have to buy in advance at any Czech Post office.

You can request Permanent residence after 5 years of continuous residence in the Czech Republic. The process is very similar to the application for temporary residence. It is advised to follow the step-by-step instructions on the website of the Ministry of the Interior. Additionally, there is one more thing to do: Confirmation of accommodation which is not the original contract between you and your landlord, but one more extra document. For more details, please have a look and download the application form.

You can submit your application in person at the MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR “MOI” (Department for Asylum and Migration Policy) – Výstavní 55, Ostrava. Or you can also send it by post.

Opening hours: Mo, We: 8am – 5pm; Tu, Th: 8am – 12am. We strongly advise you to make an online appointment*, or by phone at +420 974 801 801 (also in English).

• * If you don’t have a valid residence permit/visa yet and this is going to be your 1st visit to the MOI office, you must phone for an appointment (+420 974 801 801). The online reservation system works only for those who already have registered residence/visas.
• The official language of the “MOI office” is Czech (solely and compulsory) so you cannot expect the clerks to use English in communication with you. A good idea is to bring along an interpreter, a friend or, which is a very elegant solution, to come on Monday or Wednesday morning where there are social workers provided by CPIC, the governmental agency. They speak English and will help you with the paperwork.

• Please keep in mind that all documents must be originals or notarized copies (read how to obtain verified copies here), sometimes an Apostille is required.
• Also, once you have a residence permit, you are obliged to report a change of your home address, passport number, family status or surname within 15 days (30 days in the case of a change of address). For issuing a new residence permission and further reporting of any changes, you will also need a 200 CZK revenue stamp (= kolek) which you have to buy in advance at any Czech Post office.
• You can apply for Czech citizenship usually after another 3 years.

What are the benefits of Permanent Residence?

• Easier communication with state authorities, banks, and other institutions
• Possibility to register a car (new or imported)
• Replacement of driving licence
• Opening a bank account, contract with mobile operators or internet providers
• Easier access to a loan or mortgage
• The right to vote in selected elections
• Help with family reunification from 3rd countries (in this case, an EU citizen must have a registered residence so that his non-EU family members can obtain temporary residence)

Please remember that once you have permanent residence, you must always be covered by public health insurance.

There are special conditions for a family member of an EU citizen who is not an EU citizen himself/herself (see who is “family member”). As a non-EU citizen who is a family member of an EU citizen with permanent residence in the Czech Republic, you can apply after 2 years of continuous residence in the Czech Republic if you have been a family member of an EU citizen for at least 1 year. Step-by-step instructions can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior (= Ministerstvo vnitra). For more details, please have a look and download the application form.

You can submit your application in person at the MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR “MOI” (Department for Asylum and Migration Policy) – Výstavní 55, Ostrava. Or you can also send it by post.

Opening hours: Mo, We: 8am – 5pm; Tu, Th: 8am – 12am. We strongly advise you to make an online appointment, or by phone at +420 974 801 801 (also in English).

• The official language of the “MOI office” is Czech (solely and compulsory) so you cannot expect the clerks to use English in communication with you. A good idea is to bring along an interpreter, a friend or, which is a very elegant solution, to come on Monday or Wednesday morning where there are social workers provided by CPIC, the governmental agency. They speak English and will help you with the paperwork.
• Please keep in mind that all documents must be originals or notarized copies (read how to obtain verified copies here), sometimes an Apostille is required.
• Also, once you have a residence permit, you are obliged to report a change of your home address, passport number, family status or surname within 15 days (30 days in the case of a change of address). For issuing a new residence permission and further reporting of any changes, you will also need a 200 CZK revenue stamp (= kolek) which you have to buy in advance at any Czech Post office.
• Please remember that once you have a permanent residence you must always be insured with the public health insurance.
• You can apply for Czech citizenship usually after another 3 years.