Permanent Residence Permit without Previous Residence in the Czech Republic
GENERAL INFO
TO APPLY IN CZECHIA
TO APPLY FROM OUTSIDE CZECHIA
EXTENSION
The Ministry of the Interior issues a permanent residence permit without meeting the requirement of previous continuous residence in the Czech Republic to those third countries citizens who apply for it and meet the requirements stipulated by law.
In what cases can you apply for a permanent residence permit without meeting the requirement of previous continuous residence?
You can apply for a permanent residence permit without meeting the requirement of previous continuous residence:
- on humanitarian grounds – especially as a spouse or a child of a foreigner with granted asylum, or if you were previously a citizen of the Czech Republic;
- for reasons of special consideration,
- if your residence is in the interest of the Czech Republic,
- as a minor child of a foreigner residing in the Czech Republic with a permanent residence permit if family reunification of these foreigners in the Czech Republic is the case.
How long is a permanent residence permit valid for?
The permanent residence permit’s validity is not limited in time, only the permit document’s validity is. A permanent residence permit document is issued for 10 years, in the case of foreign nationals under 15 years of age for 5 years. The validity of the document can be extended repeatedly.
What does a permanent residence permit look like?
What obligations does this residence permit mean?
If you hold a permanent residence permit, you must follow the obligations for foreigners stipulated by law.
What does this residence permit enable you to do?
If you hold a valid residence permit, you can leave and re-enter the Czech Republic repeatedly. You can also travel within the Schengen Area without a visa.
As permanent residence permit holders, you also have free access to the labour market, access to the public medical insurance and a right to social welfare benefits. If you meet the requirements laid down in the Pension Act, you can also receive a retirement pension.
Who can apply for a permanent residence permit without meeting the requirement of previous continuous residence in the Czech Republic?
a) You can apply for a permanent residence permit without meeting the requirement of previous continuous residence in the Czech Republic on humanitarian grounds or for reasons of special consideration if you are staying in the Czech Republic:
- under a visa-free stay, with a visa for a stay no longer than 90 days, a visa for a stay longer than 90 days or a long-term residence permit and, at the same time, you are a child or a spouse of a foreigner with granted asylum, or
- with a visa for a stay longer than 90 days or a long-term residence permit, or
- with a long-term residence permit for the purpose of protection if your cooperation with a law enforcement authority has contributed to proving that a criminal offence of human trafficking was committed or that illegal crossing of the state borders was organised or facilitated.
b) You can apply for a permanent residence permit without meeting the requirement of previous continuous residence in the interest of the Czech Republic if you are staying in the Czech Republic temporarily (that is, for example, also under a visa-free stay).
c) You will find more information on how to apply on behalf of a minor child whose parents hold a permanent residence permit or a child born in the Czech Republic on a special website.
How and where can you apply?
Only in person at one of the Ministry of the Interior offices. Applicants under 15 years of age must submit their applications through a legal representative (most frequently through one of their parents).
What is the administrative fee?
2,500 CZK in the form of stamps. 1,000 CZK in the case of minors under 15 years of age.
What is the time limit to process the application?
60 days. The time limit is not running if the proceedings are suspended or if there is a legal ground for it.
STEPS TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR A PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT WITHOUT MEETING THE REQUIREMENT OF PREVIOUS RESIDENCE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC:
1. Prepare the necessary documents
To apply, you will need:
- Application form
- Travel document
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of funds for the residence (finances)
- Photograph
- Parental consent, if you are under 18 years of age
- Document certifying the purpose of residence – that is, for example, a document showing that you used to be a citizen of the Czech Republic or other supporting documents
- Document similar to an extract from the Penal Register record issued by:
- a country which you are a national of or where you have a permanent address,
- a country in which you have resided continuously for more than 6 months in the last 3 years.
- If this country does not issue such a document, then you shall provide a sworn declaration. It does not apply to foreigners under 15 years of age and foreigners over 15 years of age who have been granted a visa for a stay longer than 90 days for the purpose of leave to remain or a long-term residence permit for the purpose of leave to remain.
If the Ministry of the Interior prompts you to do so, prepare also:
- Consent to disclosure for the Tax Office
- Medical report
If you want your application to be processed as soon as possible, you have to provide all the necessary documents already when submitting the application. If you submit an incomplete application, the Ministry of the Interior can suspend the administrative proceedings, which may lead to prolonging the application processing time (for more information please see the section additions to the application).
Upon application you must pay an administrative fee 2,500 CZK in the form of stamps. 1,000 CZK for minors under 15 years of age.
Please review the formal requirements that the documents must meet.
2. Fill in the application form
You can fill in the application form online. Then print out the filled-in form and sign it.
You can also download a blank application form, print it out and fill it in by hand – it must be filled in legibly, in block capitals, in Latin characters, and in Czech. You can also collect the form free of charge at one of the offices of the Ministry of the Interior.
3. Make an appointment to go to a Ministry of the Interior office
4. Submit the application
You must submit the application for a permanent residence permit in person at a Ministry of the Interior office.
If you submit the application in person, you will receive a slip confirming the submission and a reference number assigned to your application. You need to know the reference number, for example, to be able to track the state of your proceedings.
5. Wait for the decision
The Ministry of the Interior will assess your application in administrative proceedings. If any errors are detected in the attached documents, you will be prompted in writing to remedy such errors. In the notice, the Ministry will explain in detail what the errors are and what you have to do to remedy them. It will also set a time limit for you to do so. When justified and if you apply for it in writing, this time limit can be extended.
The Ministry of the Interior also checks if you meet the requirements to obtain the residence permit you are applying for. In such case you may be invited for an interview.
In the course of the administrative proceedings you can:
- Add additional documents to your application.
- Be represented in the proceedings (a Power of Attorney).
- Ask for access to your file.
- Ask for a stay in the proceedings.
- Withdraw the application (Withdrawal of the Application).
You can track the state of your proceedings online on the website under Status of my Application or in your personal account. If you were prompted to provide documents or to remedy errors, the time limit for processing your application is not running until the errors are remedied or for as long as it is established in the notice.
For more information on the state of your application you can submit a written Application for a Notification on the State of the Proceedings. You can find the most common reasons for why processing may take longer in the Database of Frequently Asked Questions.
6. Learn the result of the administrative proceedings
On the website under Status of my application you can see the following states:
- Being processed: No decision has been taken yet. For more information on what you can do in the course of the administrative proceedings please see the previous section.
- Granted: The Ministry’s decision is affirmative. Please see the following section.
- Rejected: The Ministry rejected your application or closed the proceedings. In such a case you will receive the decision in writing. You can appeal against the decision within 15 days of the date you were notified of the decision.
- The decision to reject the application consists of three basic parts:
- The Statement: It contains specific legal provisions based on which the application was rejected. It may also advise you that you must leave the country, including the time limit in which you must do so.
- The Statement of Grounds: It explains why the application was rejected and what documents and proofs served as grounds for the decision on your application.
- Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the decision.
- The decision to close the proceedings consists of three basic parts:
- The Statement: It contains specific legal provisions based on which the proceedings were closed.
- The Statement of Grounds: It describes the procedure and grounds that led to the proceedings being closed.
- Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the decision.
7. Make your appointment to have your biometric data taken
If the application is granted, make an appointment by phone to have your biometric data taken. Please note that the appointment date is binding and you must follow the Administrative Procedure Code if you request a reschedule or cancellation.
8. Come to have your biometric data taken
Come to your appointment to have your biometric data taken and bring your travel document with you. At your appointment, you will be told when to come and collect your card when it is ready. You will also receive the decision for issuance of a permanent residence permit.
9. Collect your residence permit document (biometric card)
The final step is to collect your residence permit (biometric card). The time limit for collection is 60 days from the date you had your biometric data scanned.
How and where can you apply?
You can also apply for a permanent residence permit without meeting the requirement of previous continuous residence in the Czech Republic on humanitarian grounds or for reasons of special consideration from outside the Czech Republic.
You can only apply in person at one of the Czech Republic’s diplomatic missions:
- in a country that issued you with a travel document or which you are a national of, or
- in a state in which you have been granted a long-term or permanent residence and have been legally residing there continuously for at least 2 years, or
- at any of the Czech Republic’s diplomatic missions if you are a national of one of these countries.
For a list of all the Czech Republic’s diplomatic missions please see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
What is the consular fee?
2,500 CZK paid in EUR, USD or local currency. For a complete list of consular fees, including exceptions for some countries, please see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
What is the time limit to process the application?
180 days.
The time limit is not running if the proceedings are suspended or if there is a legal ground for it.
STEPS TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR A PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT WITHOUT MEETING THE REQUIREMENT OF PREVIOUS RESIDENCE FROM OUTSIDE THE CZECH REPUBLIC:
1. Prepare the necessary documents
To apply, you will need:
- Application form
- Travel document
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of funds for the residence (finances)
- Photograph
- Parental consent, if you are under 18 years of age
- Document certifying the purpose of residence – that is, for example, a document showing that you used to be a citizen of the Czech Republic or other supporting documents
- Document similar to an extract from the Penal Register record issued by:
- a country which you are a national of or where you have a permanent address,
- a country in which you have resided continuously for more than 6 months in the last 3 years.
- If this country does not issue such a document, then you shall provide a sworn declaration. It does not apply to foreigners under 15 years of age and foreigners over 15 years of age who have been granted a visa for a stay longer than 90 days for the purpose of leave to remain or a long-term residence permit for the purpose of leave to remain.
If the Ministry of the Interior prompts you to do so, prepare also:
- Consent to disclosure for the Tax Office
- Medical report
Upon application you must pay a consular fee 2,500 CZK. For a complete list of consular fees, including exceptions for some countries, please see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Please review the formal requirements that the documents must meet.
2. Fill in the application form
You can fill in the application form online. Then print out the filled-in form and sign it.
You can also download a blank application form, print it out and fill it in by hand – it must be filled in legibly, in block capitals and in Latin characters. You can also collect the form free of charge at a Czech Republic’s diplomatic mission.
3. Contact the diplomatic mission where you want to submit your application
Before submitting the application, contact the diplomatic mission and make an appointment. For a list of all the Czech Republic’s diplomatic missions and their contact details please see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
4. Submit the application
You must submit the application in person. In justified cases a diplomatic mission may waive the obligation to submit the application in person.
5. Wait for the decision
The diplomatic mission will turn your application over to the Ministry of the Interior.
The Ministry of the Interior will assess your application in administrative proceedings. If any errors are detected in the attached documents, you will be prompted in writing to remedy such errors. In the notice, the Ministry will explain in detail what the errors are and what you have to do to remedy them. It will also set a time limit for you to do so. When justified and if you apply for it in writing, this time limit can be extended.
The Ministry of the Interior also checks if you meet the requirements to obtain the residence permit you are applying for. In such case you may be invited for an interview.
In the course of the administrative proceedings you can:
- Add additional documents to your application.
- Be represented in the proceedings (a Power of Attorney).
- Ask for access to your file.
- Ask for a stay in the proceedings.
- Withdraw the application (Withdrawal of the Application).
You can track the state of your proceedings online on the website under Status of my Application or in your personal account. If you were prompted to provide documents or to remedy errors, the time limit for processing your application is not running until the errors are remedied or for as long as it is established in the notice.
For more information on the state of your application you can submit a written Application for a Notification on the State of the Proceedings. You can find the most common reasons for why processing may take longer in the Database of Frequently Asked Questions.
6. Learn the result of the administrative proceedings
On the website under Status of my application you can see the following states:
- Being processed: No decision has been taken yet. For more information on what you can do in the course of the administrative proceedings please see the previous section.
- Granted: The Ministry’s decision is affirmative. Please see the following section.
- Rejected: The Ministry rejected your application or closed the proceedings. In such a case you will receive the decision in writing. You can appeal against the decision within 15 days of the date you were notified of the decision.
- The decision to reject the application consists of three basic parts:
- The Statement: It contains specific legal provisions based on which the application was rejected. It may also advise you that you must leave the country, including the time limit in which you must do so.
- The Statement of Grounds: It explains why the application was rejected and what documents and proofs served as grounds for the decision on your application.
- Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the decision.
- The decision to close the proceedings consists of three basic parts:
- The Statement: It contains specific legal provisions based on which the proceedings were closed.
- The Statement of Grounds: It describes the procedure and grounds that led to the proceedings being closed.
- Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the decision.
7. Collect your entry visa at the diplomatic mission
If the application is granted, come to the diplomatic mission in order to collect your entry visa – visa for a stay longer than 90 days for the purpose of collecting a residence permit (D/VR). A diplomatic mission’s employee will contact you beforehand in order to schedule an appointment with you. You do not need a D/VR visa if you can enter the Czech Republic in another way, e.g. without a visa with a biometric passport.
8. Get registered at a Ministry of the Interior office upon your arrival
In case you have been granted a D/VR visa, you have to register at an office of the Ministry of the Interior within 30 calendar days of your arrival to the Czech Republic. If you are able to legally enter the Czech Republic in a different way, for example without a visa while having a biometric passport, you have to register within 3 days of your arrival. You will also receive the decision for issuance of a permanent residence permit.
9. Come to have your biometric data taken
Come to the scheduled biometric data scanning appointment. Take your travel document with you. At the biometric data scanning you will agree on a date to collect your completed biometric card.
10. Collect your residence permit document (biometric card)
The final step is to collect your residence permit (biometric card). The time limit for collection is 60 days from the date you had your biometric data scanned.
Under what conditions can you apply for an extension of the validity of your permanent residence permit?
The permit itself does not need to be extended. What needs extending is only the validity of the permanent residence permit document.