Change of the Purpose of Residence
If you are a holder of a long-term residence permit and wish to reside in the Czech Republic for a different purpose, you must submit an application for the granting of a new long-term residence permit, to which specific rules may apply1.
What is a change of purpose and how does it work?
If, for example, you hold a long-term residence permit for sports purposes and you want to apply for a long-term residence permit for family purposes, you must apply for the granting of a new long-term residence permit. The procedure differs from an application to extend the validity of a long-term residence permit for the same purpose.
- You must submit the application exclusively in person at a locally competent Ministry of the Interior office.
- You may submit the application at any time before the expiration of your currently valid residence permit2.
- The processing period for this application is 60 days.
What are the restrictions on changing the purpose of residence?
- You may apply for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of doing business after residing in the Czech Republic for at least 5 years. This does not apply if:
- you hold a long-term visa for the purpose of doing business, or
- you hold a long-term residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment or starting a business, or
- you entered the Czech Republic for the purpose of family reunification and you hold a long-term residence permit for this purpose (more information below).
- You may apply for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment or starting a business if you hold a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies in an accredited university study programme or for the purpose of scientific research, and your studies or research has ended.
- If you entered the Czech Republic for the purpose of family reunification and you hold a long-term residence permit for this purpose, you may apply for a residence permit for a different purpose after residing in the Czech Republic for 3 years or after reaching 18 years of age. The exceptions are as follows:
- You may apply for a long-term residence permit for a different purpose if you are a surviving family member of the person you were reunited with under family reunification and, on the day that person has deceased, you had resided continuously in the Czech Republic for at least 2 years; or if the person deceased as a result of a work-related injury or occupational disease.
- You may also apply for a long-term residence permit for a different purpose in the event of a divorce if, on the day of the divorce, you had resided in the Czech Republic for at least 3 years.
- If you hold a long-term residence permit for the purpose of tolerated stay, you may apply for a long-term residence permit for a different purpose provided that you had resided continuously in the Czech Republic for at least 3 years