How to apply for a long-term residence permit in the Czech Republic
If you’re reading this article, you’re most likely currently living in the Czech Republic, and your long-term visa is soon to expire. If you’re looking to extend your stay in the country, the good news is you’re eligible to apply for a long-term residence permit which can be issued for up to two years. The bad news is, it can be an arduous task to do on your own. Before you begin the application process, we strongly recommend seeking professional legal assistance from reputable law firms like Legans to ensure you meet all the qualifications and submit everything on time without setbacks or hassle.
What exactly is a long-term residence permit, you ask? Well, basically, unlike the long-term visa, the temporary residence permit is no longer a sticker in your passport; instead, it is a plastic card (kind of a Czech ID) with your digital photo and fingerprints on it.
Before you apply for the permit, which we recommend doing so 60 days before the expiry date of your current visa, you need to meet some conditions to qualify for the long-term residence permit, which are as follows:
- You must have a reliable, consistent income that you can prove with invoices, bank statements, and tax documents.
- You must have no debts in social security, income tax, health care, and customs. All of the above need to be paid in full and on time without any delays for the duration of your stay in the country.
If you meet the above criteria, the next step is providing a fair amount of paperwork to the Ministry of Interior (MOI), which, as we warned you, can be a bit of a hassle to put together.
Nonetheless, the documents are as follows:
- application form
- passport
- One passport-sized photo
- proof of accommodation
- trade license extension
- proof of funds
- proof of having no debts in social security
- proof of having no debts in health care
- proof of having no debts with the Tax Office
- proof of having no debts in customs
- 2 500 CZK administrative fee for the MOI paid in revenue stamps
There are a few other steps and documents that may be required of you depending on your situation. However, we don’t want to overcomplicate things, so if you need further clarification about the application process, contact Legans. They will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Before we wrap up, there are a few more important things to mention:
- The application for your long-term residence permit has to be submitted to the MOI in your district.
- Once you submit your application, you will need a bridging visa to stay in the Czech Republic while your application is being processed.
- While you’re waiting for your permit, make sure you extend your trade license and keep working. A trade license will allow you to travel under some conditions.
- Once you receive notice that your long-term residence permit is approved, you will make an appointment to go back to the MOI to give your biometric data (fingerprints and photos).
- Once you give the biometric data, it will take about 2-3 weeks for your card to be ready for pick-up.
- Don’t forget to submit the new card to the trade license office in time, so they extend your trade license for two years.
We hope that this article has been as straightforward as possible and that you have a basic understanding of applying for a long-term residency permit in the Czech Republic. As we mentioned before, if you have any questions (and you’ll probably have many) or want someone to help you take care of the whole process for you (and trust us, you do), please get in touch with Legans! We promise you won’t regret it.
Article by Chantelle Switzer Tuma
