About us
What is the purpose of this website?
The Official Information Portal for Foreigners was established to provide foreigners with clear and comprehensive information regarding visa and residence permits.
The information published on this website is intended to provide advice on the steps required to correctly apply for or extend current visa or residence permit, report changes or to carry out any other administrative procedure related to visa or residence permits.
For more information regarding the residence permits in the Czech Republic, go through our Guide for foreigners. Depending upon the purpose of residence, different types of residence permits are to be applied for.
The Department of Asylum and Migration Policy is governed by the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Territory of the Czech Republic No. 326/1999 Coll., which is also the main source of information contained on the Official Information Portal for Foreigners. Other sources are for example the Act on Asylum No. 325/1999 Coll., and the Administrative Act No. 500/2004 Coll. The section which deals with the Temporary Protection of Foreign Nationals is based on the act called Lex Ukraine.
The Official Information Portal for Foreigners provides the most important and the most frequently searched information on residence permits. However, it is not a literal and complete wording of the relevant laws. For complete information refer to the literal text of the specific legislations.
We are not the Foreign Police. Who are we and what do we do?
The Department of Asylum and Migration Policy is one of the department of the Ministry of the Interior. Our employees deal with the following issues:
- Entrance and residency of foreigners in the Territory of the Czech Republic,
- Coordination of the Foreigners’ integration ,
- International and European cooperation in asylum and migration issues,
- Schengen Area cooperation,
- International Protection,
- Borders protection,
- Return policy and Repatriation.
The department cooperates with the state organization Refugee Facilities Administration of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. Furthermore, it submits proposals for changes in the design of the asylum centers and facilities for Foreigner’s detention.
How were we established?
The Department of Asylum and Migration Policy came into existence in the year 2000 through the merger of the Agency for Refugees and the Agency for Migration and Protection of State Borders. The greatest expansion of the department occurred in 2009 and 2011, when, following the example of other EU states, the Ministry of the Interior took over residence permits agenda from the Police of the Czech Republic.
On January 1st, 2009, the department took over the agenda of the permanent residence. In 2011, it has also taken over the temporary residence (long-term residence and long-term visa).
Where will you find us?
Issues regarding residencies are dealt with at the offices of the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior.