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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

(This article expired 21.01.2011 / 01:00.)

This article offers general information and guidelines assisting visa applicants in preparing their visa application. Further information can be found at www.mzv.cz, www.mvcr.cz and in the Act on the Residence of the Aliens in the Czech Republic (No. 326/1999 Coll.).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This article offers general information and guidelines assisting visa applicants in preparing their visa application. Further information can be found at http://www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/information_for_aliens/index.html,www.mvcr.cz and in the Act on the Residence of the Aliens in the Czech Republic (No. 326/1999 Coll.).

1. What type of visa I can apply for?

Basically, after April 5, 2010, it is possible to distinguish betweenSchengen visas (short-term visas with the period of stay in the Schengen area up to 90 days) and long-term visas (the period of stay exceeds 90 days).

Schengen short-term visas (type C) which can be further distinguished to airport transit visas and visas for stay up to 90 days are issued by diplomatic missions.

Schengen (short-term) visa issued by a diplomatic mission of the Czech Republic or of another Schengen state entitles its holder to stay in the territory of the Czech Republic/Schengen area for the period indicated in the visa. Holder of a Schengen (short-term) visa can stay on the territory of the Czech Republic, unless the Czech Republic has been excluded from the territorial validity of the visa.

Long-termvisa for a stay over 90 days – type D – allows its holder during the first three months of its validity free movement around all states of the Schengen Area, including the Czech Republic. After the expiration of the first three months of the validity of this visa, its holder may stay only in the territory of the Czech Republic throughout the period designated in it.   

2. What is the validity of a short-term visa visa?

S - Single entry visa for a period of stay not exceeding 90 days. (From - starting date of the visa; Until – date of expiry of the visa)

M - Multiple entry visa for a period of stay not exceeding 90 days (the holder can travel to the Czech Republic (Schengen country) any number of times within the validity of the visa)

3. What is the visa processing time?

The statutory term for processing short-term visa applications at the Czech Embassy is 15 days. The Embassy does its best to expedite the process, and usually processes applications within 10 working days.

Processing time for long term visa is 120 calendar days (real processing time does not depend on the Embassy of the Czech Republic).
Processing time for a student visa for over 90 days is 60 calendar days (real processing time does not depend on the Embassy of the Czech Republic).  

4. If I travel to more than one Schengen state, where do I submit visa application?

Submit the visa application at the diplomatic mission of that state, in which the only or the main purpose of your trip is located. If the main purpose of the trip cannot be determined, submit the visa application at the diplomatic mission of that state, where you will stay the longest. Only if this formula cannot be used, submit the visa application at the diplomatic mission of that state, through which you will enter the Schengen area – i.e. at the diplomatic mission of that state, which you will visit first.

5. What do I need to submit upon filing visa application?

The nature of supporting documents depends on the type of visa for which the application is filed. The basic requirements, which generally need to accompany visa application, are the following:

·        form – filled out completely and legibly (filled in English and typed in capitals)

·        photograph;

·        travel document – valid in all Schengen states and more than 3 months after the intended departure;

·        proof of accommodation (hotel voucher, confirmation of accommodation provider);

·        proof of financial means (bank statement, internationally accepted credit card, receipts, cash);

·        proof of means for return (normally an airplane/other transportation ticket reservation).

It is further required to substantiate the purpose of stay, for example by the following documents:

·        Invitation – official invitation on prescribed form authorized by Alien Police (due to its formal nature it replaces some or all supporting documents stated in points 4-6);

·        invitation letter;

·        confirmation of study, employment, travel agency documents, confirmation of medical or spa treatment and other.

Consular officer can accept the visa application only if it is “admissible,” i.e. if (1) it is filled  less than 3 months before the planned trip or before the expiry of a multiple Schengen (short-term) visa issued for at least 6 months; (2) filled out form, travel document and photograph are submitted; and (3) fee for filling the visa application is paid.

6. How can I arrange for official Invitation?

Form of the official Invitation and its authorization will be provided by the Alien Police. Alien Police will also provide information about the procedure and the fee. For further information, see the web site of the Ministry of the Interior (www.mvcr.cz).

The invitation letter verified by Czech Immigration Police (Alien Police) is an official invitation form issued by the local Immigration Police branch. The inviting person fills in data relating to him/herself as well the invited person, and these data must be officially verified by the Immigration police before the document becomes valid. The submission of verified invitation letter (like with all other documents enclosed with a visa application) is the responsibility of the visa applicant, not the inviting person.

It is in all cases advisable for the applicant to obtain and enclose as a supportive document with the application a hand-signed letter from the inviting person, written in plain text form and explaining the reasons for the invitation.

7. When do I submit travel health insurance?

Travel health insurance is submitted before the visa is issued, i.e. in case the visa application has been reviewed positively. Nevertheless, it is recommended to submit the travel health insurance already upon submitting the visa application.

For long-term visa applications, travel medical insurance must be purchased from an accredited insurance company in the Czech Republic. A copy of the insurance policy including a copy of the official receipt / confirmation of payment of the insurance policy purchased must be provided upon confirmation of the issuance of the long-term visa.

8. How much in advance should I fill my visa application?

Schengen (short-term) visa (applicable after April 5, 2010)

Application for a Schengen (short-term) visa can be filed within 3 months of the planned trip. It is recommended not to fill a visa application later than 15 days before the trip, as it cannot be otherwise guaranteed it will be reviewed in time. In most cases, visa applications are processed within 15 days. In individual cases, the review period can be extended up to 30 days and in exceptional cases up to 60 days. Holders of multiple Schengen (short-term) visa can fill a visa application before this visa has expired, provided it has been valid for at least 6 months.

Long-term visa

Allow several months for processing of long-term visa applications and it is therefore highly recommended to fill a long-term visa application sufficiently in advance. The legal period, during which the Alien Police must review the application, depends on the purpose of stay:

2 months: study, research

3-4 months: employment, entrepreneurship, participation in a legal entity, family unification

9. Is the applicant required to submit a visa application personally?

Yes, this is a general requirement. In addition, the applicant may be required to attend a personal interview at the Embassy. With long-term visa applications, a personal interview is required in all cases. Even though the personal interview is mostly carried out when submitting the application for a long-term visa both dates may differ.

10. How do I find out if I have obtained the visa?

In general, information about the outcome of the visa review is provided by the diplomatic mission where you have filled the visa application. Information can only be given to the applicant or to a person, which the applicant has provided with power of attorney. Information cannot be given to any other person. Ask the consular officer upon filling the visa application form how you will be informed about the visa review outcome – if the diplomatic mission will contact you, or if you should contact the diplomatic mission, when and how.

11. After the application is processed, does the applicant have to collect the passport in person?

No. Any person representing the applicant may collect the passport, on the condition that they present the original receipt issued by the Embassy upon the passport’s submission.

12. What is the mode of payment of visa fee?

The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tehran accepts fees only in cash (Iranian Rials), payable upon the submission of the application form (information on current visa fees is always available at the Embassy).

13. What is the address of the Visa Office and the office hours?

Address: Lavasani Str. No 56 (between Yas and Sonbol), Tehran

Sunday – Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

14. What are the reasons for a visa rejection?  

An applicant whose visa has been rejected will receive a written document stating the reason for rejection along with the passport. The reasons for rejection are stated in terms of Community Code on Visa or Section 56 of Act No. 326/1999 Coll.

15. Is it possible to submit new application after visa refusal?

A rejected applicant is at any time entitled to submit a new application accompanied by the required documents. He/she can do so immediately after his/her previous application has been rejected.

MISC:

16. Does establishing / buying a business company in the Czech Republic mean that the visa has to be granted by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tehran?

The establishment or purchase of a business company in the Czech Republic does not guarantee that a visa will be granted. There is no legal entitlement to visa issuance.

17. What shall I do with my documents if I want to use them abroad? Legalisation or Superlegalisation?

You were told that the public document you have, needs to be legalized before you send it abroad and you have little or no idea what that means:

Legalization is a verification process, where the validity of a document is verified (a proof that the document is not a fake). Basically, if you sign a power of attorney, your lawyer or a notary public verifies your signature, so the recipient/addressee of this power of attorney knows that it was really you, who signed it.

Legalizing of public documents is in general quite alike, it is a verification of a stamp and a signature of the authority, who issued the document. Now, you need the document to be recognized as a valid one abroad. Obviously, no authority abroad has a full list of all specimen stamps and signatures from all countries around the world. Here in Iran, the document is stamped by the highest authority in the country, which is Ministry of Foreign Affairs (this process is called authentification) and then by the diplomatic or consular representative of the country, where you want to use the document (this process is called superlegalization). This principle applies to all public documents, like Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates, Criminal Records, Divorce Certificates and other public documents. We would like to stress, that it is always necessary to verify the original document, not its legalized copy.