The Government of the Czech Republic allows permanent relocation to the Czech Republic for foreigners who can prove their Czech origin (compatriots) in accordance with Resolution No. 1014 of the Government of the Czech Republic of December 8, 2014, based on individually submitted applications for permanent residence in the Czech Republic pursuant to Section 66, paragraph 1, letter b) of Act No. 326/1999 Coll. on the residence of foreigners in the Czech Republic, as later amended and supplemented. Compatriots may therefore apply for permanent residence in the Czech Republic "for other reasons worthy of special consideration," whereby they must prove the purpose of their permanent residence in the Czech Republic by means of a Certificate of Affiliation with the Czech Compatriot Community Abroad (PPKK). Compatriots (PPKK holders) who are subject to a visa requirement when entering the Czech Republic (Schengen area) have (in accordance with Resolution No. 1014 of the Government of the Czech Republic of December 8, 2014) the possibility to apply for a Czech Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days in any 180 days, valid for up to 5 years, provided that they prove the purpose of this short-term stay in the Czech Republic by submitting their PPKK with their application for a Czech Schengen visa.

PPKK is issued to applicants by the Department for Compatriot Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (hereinafter referred to as "KRAJ"). The application is submitted on the prescribed form at the embassy of the Czech Republic according to the applicant's place of permanent residence.

Application form (PPKK) - Certificate of Affiliation with the Czech Compatriot Community Abroad (DOC, 72 KB)

To apply for a PPKK, you must first make an appointment via email (or by phone) with the consular section of the specific Czech embassy where you wish to submit your application. Making an appointment to submit an application is a requirement for submitting an application. The contact details of the consular departments of the Czech embassies are published on the websites of these offices.

Applicants must always submit their PPKK applications in person. When submitting an application for a PPKK, the applicant must always submit the original of their valid travel document with their application. When submitting an application for a PPKK, the applicant must also submit the originals of official documents proving the applicant's Czech national origin and officially certified copies of these documents, accompanied by an official translation into Czech. Applicants must also attach their CV (in Czech), their family tree (in Czech), and a free-form statement about their connections to the Czech language and culture (in Czech) to their application. When applying for a PPKK, applicants are always interviewed. Making an appointment to apply for a PPKK, submitting an application for a PPKK, and the entire process of processing and issuing a PPKK are free of charge, and the applicant does not pay anything at any stage of this process.

The PPKK is declaratory in nature and is attached to the application for permanent residence as proof of the purpose of residence. In addition to this document, a person of proven Czech origin (compatriot) must also submit other documents in accordance with Section 70 of Act No. 326/1999 Coll. on the residence of foreigners in the Czech Republic, as amended by later regulations and laws (e.g., proof of accommodation in the Czech Republic, proof of sufficient funds for permanent residence, extract from the criminal record, etc.). It is also necessary to supplement the application with a written justification, which will include the applicant's CV, in which they will state other reasons worthy of consideration for their application for permanent residence, except for Czech origin. In accordance with the above-mentioned Foreigners Act, the "Confirmation" must not be older than 180 days at the time of submission of the application.

The same type of residence permit may also be applied for by the spouse or minor child of the foreign national, who must submit, in addition to their application, proof of their relationship with the applicant and an officially certified copy or original of their confirmation of membership of the compatriot community. However, the issuance of a permanent residence permit to relatives of a foreigner with proven Czech origin is conditional upon the issuance of a permanent residence permit to that foreigner.

The KRAJ verifies the submitted documents proving the Czech origin of the applicant (registry documents of the applicant and his/her direct ancestors; the commonness of the applicant's name or the names of his/her direct ancestors in the Czech lands or the name occurring in the given expatriate community; the compactness of communities in individual countries; knowledge of the Czech language; official documents indicating the Czech nationality of the applicant or his/her direct ancestors; archival documents; sources preserved in historical and ethnographic institutes; etc.). Belonging to the Czech expatriate community is defined ethnically, not territorially.