Who
Needs A Czech Visa and How to Apply?
To
live, work and/or do business in the Czech Republic as a foreigner, you need to
apply for the correct Czech visa or Residence Permit that matches your status.
Without a Czech
Republic visa or residence permit, you will not be able to remain in the country
more than a few months, (the time limit varies by nationality - for example, U.S.
citizens are allowed 90 days), and you will not legally be able to work at all. If
you are an SRO owner, this is by far the easiest way to qualify for a visa if
you are not an EU citizen, and the visa application can be done from your home
country.
Czech "visas" for EU Citizens:
EU
citizens do not need a visa to live and work in the Czech Republic. A
Residence Permit is not mandatory, but it is highly advisable to get one as it
is generally required to establish certain services for foreigners living in this
country, and you will definitely have need of it if you intend to live and work
in the Czech Republic. It is your only real proof that you are "officially
registered" to live and work here. Please
be advised:
At Prague
Consult we offer to assist new EU arrivals with getting
their residency permit. Please be aware that application for
a residency permit at an embassy could take up to 6 months while
applying directly to the Foreign Police within the country obligates
them to process your application within 3 months.
Czech visas for NON-EU Citizens:
(Please note that this information applies to long-term visas and not to tourist
visas)
If you
are not an EU citizen, the visa process is far more complex and requires diligence,
patience, and typically several attempts before you get it right. The
visa process takes a lot of time.
Despite
of a lot of claims to the contrary, the truth is that there
is no way to accurately tell how long your visa application
will take. Therefore, do not formulate any plans that absolutely
depend upon getting your visas on or by a certain date.
The visa
process is nearly always subject to a lot of delays and mistakes.
The process itself can be confusing, even nonsensical at times,
and will generally cause you a lot of stress and expensive delays
to your plans, especially if you have not allowed yourself enough
time to complete the process and actually receive the visa.
Generally,
we advise everyone to allow at least SIX MONTHS to collect the
required paperwork, apply, and receive your Czech visa.
The process
may of course end up taking less time, but this is generally
a very good guideline, and you should plan accordingly. This
is because the entire visa application process includes detailed
instructions which must be followed exactly, and each of the
many offices you must contact in order to complete the process
may give you different and occasionally conflicting instructions.
In
addition, you cannot actually apply for the visa from within the Czech Republic.
Instead, you must travel outside the country to the nearest Czech Embassy to apply,
and this will could entail several trips and a lot of waiting in lines. Note:
The only difficult thing about doing this from your home country is that
you will need proof of your residence or accommodation. For this they will typically
ask for a rental contract as well as the Land Registry documents proving the address
as well as the owner.
The Application Process - Step by Step:
We've
tried to explain the entire process for you as completely, and understandably,
as possible on this page.
Please read
this entire page carefully how to go through the entire application
process correctly on your own, or with assistance.
Please
Note: It is
very common to have your Czech visa application rejected several times before
you get it right, or at least that they will hold your application with existing
paperwork as they request more, resulting in numerous lengthy delays.
Please begin
your visa application process at least 6 months prior to when
you will need the visa.
Double check
with whichever Czech embassy you are using to submit your application,
to insure that all the necessary paperwork is exactly as the
Embassy specify.
The Correct Czech Visa Is Critical to Your Plans:
Remember
that your visa is critical for both your job and business, and
your ability to stay in the Czech Republic after you move here
if you are not an EU citizen. If your visa is late - or denied
- you could lose your job, your ability to rent an apartment,
or even be forced to leave the country if you do not have your
visa by the required date.
Please
be advised that one of the most common reason we have seen foreign citizens fail
in this country is due to visa delays! The
standard waiting period quoted by the embassy is not always correct, and serious
delays can arise if there are any problems or mistakes in the paperwork which
need to be corrected and resubmitted.
It is very
common for your visa to arrive several months after the day
you agreed to start your job. Thus, often your employer will
be forced to give the job to someone else.
Especially
for young people looking only to teach English for a year in
the Czech Republic, this is very common situation. It is enough
to force them to cancel their plans and return home.
More On Czech Republic Visa Requirements:
Sometimes
your Czech employer will be able to help you prepare and submit your paperwork,
and it pays to ask if this assistance is available, but assume that most often
you will simply be on your own once you arrive in the country, despite promises
to the contrary in some cases.
In addition,
keep in mind that you will need both a job (with a written contract
translated into Czech and notarized) and an apartment or flat
(with a written lease translated into Czech and notarized) before
you will be able to apply for your visa. This is equally important
to remember that you cannot apply for your visa from within
the Czech Republic itself.
All Czech
Republic visa applications must be to either the Czech embassy
in your home country, or in person at an Embassy nearest to
your country if there is no Czech embassy in your country.
If
your visa is approved, (normally you will receive an initial answer within 30-60
days), you will also have to return to the embassy, in person, to receive it.
You need
a job and rent an apartment before you can even apply for your
visa.
Furthermore,
all paperwork must be translated into Czech, and some office
personnel you will deal with during the lengthy application
process may speak Czech only. If this all sounds like a bit
of work, it is and you need to be thoroughly prepared for every
contingency!
If
you make any mistakes during the application process, your visa can be substantially
delayed, endangering your employment contract - putting a serious dent in your
planned arrival dates and living arrangements - even preventing you from staying
in the country.
Common mistakes that may cause your
visa to be denied include:
Not printing
your visa application forms in RED ink, on A-4 sized paper (called "legal
size" in the USA), and filling it out in BLUE ink.
Not registering with the Czech Immigration Police - at the correct location and
in the correct district - within 3 days of entering the country after taking possession
of your temporary visa from the embassy where you filed your application.
The
temporary visa is required to be filed within 3 days of reentering the country
in order to receive your standard one-year visa.
Not having your documents translated into Czech and certified by the Czech Consulate,
Czech Embassy or a licensed court translator and notary in the Czech Republic.
Common
sources of confusion about the Czech Republic visa process: If
approved, your visa will allow you to live and work legally in the Czech Republic.
This visa is in addition to the Czech Work Permit which your employer will have
to arrange for you after you arrive, but before you apply for your visa, in order
to have permission to hire you as a foreigner.
Should you lose your job for any reason, you will lose your visa and be required
to leave the country within 30 days.
The visa
is emphatically not a "right to live and work anywhere"
in the Czech Republic - it is only for the specific job you
apply and qualify for. If you apply for a new job, you must
reapply for a new visa. Lose the job, lose the visa, lose the
right to stay!
|