EU citizens and their family members can apply for permanent residence in the Czech Republic after five or two years of temporary stay.
In this article, you will first learn what conditions must be met to obtain permanent residence, how the entire process works, and what advantages permanent residence has compared to temporary residence. The procedure is similar for EU citizens and for family members of EU citizens who come from third countries.
You can apply:
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After 5 years of continuous residence in the Czech Republic.
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After 2 years of temporary residence in the Czech Republic if you have been a close family member of an EU citizen with permanent residence or a Czech citizen with permanent residence for 1 year.
Validity of residence permit:
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10 years
Documents required for the residence application:
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Completed application form – available for download on the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic (MVČR) website.
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Travel document (a copy is sufficient if sent by mail; the original is needed when collecting the certificate).
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Proof of having met the condition of 5 years of temporary residence, or 2 years if you have been a close family member of an EU citizen with permanent residence for 1 year.
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Original document proving the family relationship (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate) if applying as a family member of an EU citizen.
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Proof of accommodation.
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2 photographs.
Additional documents may be requested:
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Certificate of no infectious diseases.
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Criminal record extract.
Documents for applying for permanent residence for a child born in the territory:
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Application form.
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Travel document or ID.
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2 photographs.
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Child’s birth certificate.
Fee:
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CZK 200, paid in revenue stamps.
A key advantage of this type residence is its long validity. The biometric card can be issued for up to ten years. For family members of EU citizens, it is also important that their residence remains valid even if they lose their status as a family member (e.g., due to divorce).
Clients often ask me whether, as EU citizens, they can apply for permanent residence after just two years or how to prove continuous residence. If you contact me, I’ll be happy to answer these questions and help you prepare all the necessary documentation.