Study
Long-term residence permits for the purpose of study are required for citizens of the so-called third countries who will study in the Czech Republic in one of these study programs (usually for longer than one year): study at university, incl. language and expert preparation for subsequent studies; stipend program; internship or expert training; European voluntary service and some others – see definition of study below.
Holders of long-term residence permits for the purpose of study in another EU Member State within (1) EU program, (2) multilateral mobility program, or (3) inter-university agreement can study in CZE for up to one year WITHOUT A VISA. A note “STUDY MOBILITY” or an equivalent / translation must be stated on the residency card in order to qualify for a visa-free stay.
KINDLY FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
1. FIND A CONSULATE WHERE YOU WILL LODGE YOUR APPLICATION.
2. SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.
Consulates schedule their own appointments, mostly by e-mail or phone – refer to consulates´ websites for guidance.
Applications are lodged in person. An interview is held and fingerprints are collected.
Children younger than 12 do not submit fingerprints and do not need to visit the consulate. Children between 12 and 15 must come accompanied by their parents / legal guardians who lodge visa applications on their behalf.
Check if you can lodge your application using the STUDENT FACILITATION (REŽIM STUDENT) PROGRAM.
3. LODGE THE APPLICATION PRESENTING THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
● PASSPORT
● APPLICATION FORM – Application for long-term residence permit (green form)
● 2 PHOTOS
● BIOMETRIC DATA (FINGERPRINTS)
● SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ON
○ PURPOSE OF STAY – most frequently acceptance letter or similar confirmation
○ FINANCIAL MEANS – OR proof that the student disposes of financial amount that would constitute real housing expenses OR proof that all the expenses will be covered by a third party (state institution, legal person or hosting organization) – for example a stipend OR grant
● PARENTAL CONSENT FOR CHILD´S TRAVEL – written in a free form and signed by both parents / legal guardians (signature does not need to be officially verified); parental consent is not required from a parent / legal guardian who (1) lodges the application on behalf of a child younger than 15 – only signature of the second parent / legal guardian is required in such a case, (2) already resides in the Czech Republic and the child will reside here with him / her – only signature of the second parent / legal guardian is required in such a case, or (3) provides a proof that he / she cannot submit such a content due to reasons beyond his / her influence.
● FEE
● TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE – only if visa approved, not when applying
DO NOT OVERLOOK:
-Supporting documents may not be older than 180 days with the exception of a passport and photo (if reflecting current appearance).
-Supporting documents must be submitted in Czech. Documents in another language must also be submitted in official translation into Czech.
-Foreign public documents must be legalized, i.e. equipped by an apostille or superlegalized.
-The following documents must always be submitted in their originals: passport, supporting documents on purpose of stay (in this case acceptance letter or other similar confirmation), and parental consent. These originals will be returned to the applicant should he / she wish to keep them. Passport is always returned to the applicant and is submitted again when issuing the visa.
-Other supporting documents may be submitted as originals or officially verified copies.
-We kindly request that applicants also prepare a set of copies of all the requirements.
-SUBMIT ONLY COMPLETE APPLICATIONS CONTAINING ALL THE DOCUMENTS.
-INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE PROCESSED => PROCESSING OF INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS NEEDS TO BE SUSPENDED UNTIL THE APPLICANT ADDS THE MISSING DOCUMENTS (§ 169i + § 169r. 4 of Act on Residence of Foreign Nationals). THIS PROLONGS THE OVERALL PROCESSING!
4. AWAIT THE DECISION.
The legal processing time of long-term residence permit for the purpose of study is 60 days.
5. GET TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE WHEN VISA APPROVED.
Foreign nationals are required to take out a travel medical insurance for their stay in the Czech Republic. When picking up your visa, do submit an officially verified translation of the insurance policy and general conditions into Czech to prove that you possess such an insurance and in what extent.
Upon request, do submit the proof of payment for the insurance.
6. PICK UP YOUR VISA IF APPROVED OR REFUSAL FORM IN CASE OF VISA REFUSAL.
Applicants can pick up their passports themselves or they can authorize someone else to do so on their behalf. A certified power of attorney needs to be presented when picking up the passport on somebody´s behalf. If the applicant notifies the consulate about this arrangement when lodging the application, no power of attorney is necessary.
NOTE: Visa issuance does not automatically grant the right of entry to the Czech Republic or the Schengen Area. Visa holders are required to fulfill entry conditions specified in the Schengen Border Code when crossing the external borders and, upon request, present documents related to the planned stay.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF THESE APPLICATIONS, “STUDY” COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES:
●university studies in accredited study programs
●language or expert preparation for study in accredited study programs at universities organized by a public university (applicant must submit a confirmation that he/she will undertake preparation for study in a specific accredited university program; if the student will study in several programs, at least on accredited study program must be identified in acceptance letter/confirmation)
●language or expert course organized under an EU program or an international agreement
●higher professional education at a higher professional school registered in a Register of Schools that is realized as part of an exchange program in a domestic host organization
●secondary school education at a secondary school or conservatory registered in a Register of Schools that is realized as part of an exchange program in a domestic host organization
●stipend studies realized under (1) international agreements implemented by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, (2) stipend program of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, (3) stipend program of the EU or (4) decision of the government of the Czech Republic
●internship (professional training) – if not financially rewarded – intended to impart knowledge, practice and experience at a host organization in the Czech Republic during the course of studies at an university abroad or up to two years after finishing the studies at an university, which is organized and coordinated by (1) university in the Czech Republic, (2) Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, (3) legal person registered in the Czech Republic or legal person registered outside of the Czech Republic but with an organizational body in the Czech Republic – these legal persons must be accredited for these purposes by the Ministry of the Interior or the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
●European Voluntary Service of a foreign national 18-30 years old or voluntary service intended to acquire practical and professional experience – at a host organization in the Czech Republic as part of programs and initiatives of the EU, or similar state program of the Czech Republic and must be organized and coordinated by a legal person registered in the Czech Republic or legal person registered outside of the Czech Republic but with an organizational body in the Czech Republic – these legal persons must be accredited for these purposes by the Ministry of the Interior or the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
●exchange of experience and stipend studies of persons responsible for education and human resources development, if these activities are carried out as part of programs or initiatives of the EU or in accordance with international agreements
Other types of study stays in the Czech Republic extending beyond three months should be covered by a long-term visa for the purpose of study (study at a secondary school, higher professional school or conservatory that is not realized as part of exchange programs, or language and other courses)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PERMITS FOR THE PURPOSE OF STUDY:
Long-term residence permit applications can be lodged by citizens of the so-called third countries, i.e. states outside of the EU, Island, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Citizens of these countries nor their family members (in the extent of a definition of a family member as per § 15a and § 180f of Act on Residence of Foreign Nationals) do not need a long-term residence permit to stay in the Czech Republic.
Holders of long-term residence permits for the purpose of study in another EU Member State in the framework of (1) program of the EU, (2) multilateral mobility program or (3) agreements among universities can stay in the Czech Republic based on this residence permit WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL VISA for up to one year. Please note that to qualify, the word "study" or its translation must appear on the residence card.
Long-term residence permit applications are lodged at diplomatic missions of the Czech Republic according to the local territorial competence. They forward the applications to the Ministry of the Interior, which examines them and decides on them. If approved, the diplomatic mission, at which the application was lodged, issues a long-term visa for the purpose of collecting a long-term residence permit for the purpose of study. This visa is issued as single entry for 60 days. During this period, the applicant visits the local branch of the Ministry of the Interior according to the place of stay, which subsequently – after submission of biometric data – issues a residence card.
If the purpose of stay lasts, the applicant can request – before expiry of the residence card – an extension at the local branch of the Ministry of the Interior.
Long-term residence permit grants its holder a right of free movement in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within any 180 days for non-gainful purposes (in this respect, it fulfills the function of a short-tem Schengen visa).
Legal sources:
○ Act No 326/1999 Coll., on Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Czech Republic and Amending Certain Acts (available in Czech)
- -territorial competence: § 169g
- -scheduling appointment to lodge application: § 169f
- -lodging application in person: § 169d
- -requirement to submit documents: § 168.2
- -submitting fingerprints: § 55.3
- -definition of study: § 64
- -residence permit for the purpose of study + supporting documents: § 42d
- -long-term visa: § 30
- -long-term visa supporting documents: § 31, § 42.6
- -supporting documents – requirements (within 180 days, originals): § 55.1
- -unacceptability of application: § 169h
- -suspension of processing: § 169i, § 169r.4; § 169.2 (supporting documents not in Czech)
- -legal processing period: § 169t.6.a).2
- -travel health insurance: § 180j
○ Act No 500/2004 Coll., Administrative Code (available in Czech)
- -requirement to submit documents in Czech: § 16.1 + 2
○ Act No 111/1998 Sb., on Universities and Amending Certain Acts (available in Czech)
○ Act No 561/2004 Coll., on Preschool, Elementary, Secondary, Tertiary and Other Education (available in Czech)
○ Act No 198/2002 Coll., on Volunteering (available in Czech)
○ Decree from December 21, 2010, No 429/2010 Coll., on Establishing Exceptions from Foreigner´s Obligation to Apply for a Visa or Residence Permit at a Diplomatic Mission According to Local Territorial Competence (available in Czech)
○ Decree from February 5, 2020, No 35/2020 Coll., on Establishing Territorial Districts of Diplomatic Missions for Purposes of Lodging Visa and Residence Permit Applications (available in Czech)
○ Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2016 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing
○ Regulation (EU) No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) – mainly Title II – External Borders, Chapters I and II
Useful links:
○ Ministry of the Interior – Long-Term Residence - The Purpose Study, Contacts, Application Requirements, Submitting Application and on-the-spot Error Removal, Course of the Proceedings, Status of Application, Conditions of Entry and Basic Requirements after Entry to the Czech Republic, Information for Schools and Students
○ Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports – Recognition of Education, Study at Institutions of Higher Education, Register of Schools
○ Ministry of Justice – Court Certified Translators (in Czech)