Registration Certificate

A registration certificate is an official record issued to EU citizens, citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and subject to conditions also to some citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who wish to stay in the Czech Republic for a period longer than three months and who apply for the certificate.

Considering the fact that EU citizens can enter the Czech Republic and stay in the country without limitations, obtaining the registration certificate is not a necessary condition for their stay in the country – it is therefore up to their decision if they apply for the certificate or not.

GENERAL INFO

TO APPLY IN THE CZECHIA

EXTENSION

Who can apply for a registration certificate?

EU citizens, citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Also citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland if they were staying in the country by December 31st 2020 (as per the Brexit withdrawal agreement).


How long is a registration certificate valid for?

A registration certificate issued to EU citizens is valid for 10 years. A registration certificate issued to citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who were legally staying in the Czech Republic by December 31st 2020 (as per the Brexit withdrawal agreement) is valid for 5 years. The validity of the registration certificate cannot be extended. This means that when the certificate expires, you must apply for it again or you can apply for a permanent residence permit.


What does a registration certificate look like?


What obligations and restrictions does a registration certificate mean?

During your stay in the Czech Republic you have to follow the obligations for foreigners stipulated by law.


What does a registration certificate enable you to do? 

As part of the registration certificate application process, an employee of the Ministry of the Interior will also apply for a personal identity number for you. This does not apply to the foreigners who have already obtained a personal identity number or to Slovak citizens born before 1993. You need to provide a personal identity number, for example, when buying a car.

If you wanted to apply for a permanent residence permit, a registration certificate helps you to prove how long you have been staying in the Czech Republic. A registration certificate also enables you to vote in municipal and European Parliament elections. A registration certificate makes many administrative processes that you might need to go through during your stay in the Czech Republic significantly easier.