If you are a close family member, in order to apply you will need:

• Application form
• Travel document
• Original of a document proving that you are a family member of an EU citizen (e.g. an original of a marriage certificate, birth certificate, decision of a competent authority on custody or a decision on adoption of a child)
• Proof of accommodation
• Medical insurance
• Certificate of the EU citizen’s residence in the country (it is not required if he/she holds a registration certificate or a permanent residence permit)
• 2 photographs

If you are a distant family member, in order to apply you will need:

• Application form
• Travel document
• Original of a document proving that you are a family member of an EU citizen (e.g. an original of a marriage certificate, birth certificate, decision of a competent authority on custody or a decision on adoption of the child)
• Proof of accommodation
• Medical insurance for the entirety of your stay, otherwise your residence permit’s validity will be shortened
• Certificate of the EU citizen’s residence in the country (it is not required if he/she holds a registration certificate or a permanent residence permit)
• Proof of funds for the residence (finances)
• 2 photographs

In both cases if prompted to, you may also need:

• Medical report
• Document similar to an extract from the Penal Register record

Upon both applications you must pay an administrative fee 200 CZK.

Please review the formal requirements that the documents must meet.

You can fill in the application form online. Then print out the filled-in form and sign it.

You can also download a blank application form, print it out and fill it in by hand – it must be filled in legibly, in block capitals and in Latin characters. You can also collect the form free of charge at one of the offices of the Ministry of the Interior.

Make an appointment online or by phone beforehand in order to submit your application. Although a timely appointment reservation saves your time, it is not a necessary condition for submitting the application – with no appointment reservation you have to wait for your turn.

A lack of free appointment slots will not be considered as a reason for a late application submission. If the offered appointment slot is after your time limit for submitting the application expires, submit the application without an appointment. Please see your office’s (according to your reported address) opening hours to find out when you can visit the office without an appointment.

You must submit the application in person at a Ministry of the Interior office. Applicants under 15 years of age must submit their applications through one of their legal representatives (most frequently through one of their parents). Once you have submitted the application, you will receive a slip confirming the submission and a reference number assigned to your application. You need to know the reference number, for example, to be able to track the state of your proceedings.

During the time when the application is being processed, you are staying in the Czech Republic legally (for more information please see the section Fiction of residence). At the Ministry of the Interior offices you can also apply for a certificate confirming permission for your residence (bridging visa). A bridging visa allows you, for example, to leave the Czech Republic and return again during the time when your application is being processed.

The Ministry of the Interior will assess your application in administrative proceedings. If any errors are detected in the attached documents, you will be prompted in writing to remedy such errors. In the notice, the Ministry will explain in detail what the errors are and what you have to do to remedy them. It will also set a time limit for you to do so. When justified and if you apply for it in writing, this time limit can be extended.

The Ministry of the Interior also checks if you meet the requirements to obtain the residence permit you are applying for. In such case you may be invited for an interview or a residence check can be carried out at your place. A residence check is carried out in order to verify that the foreigner is really staying at the address stated in the temporary residence permit application.

In the course of the administrative proceedings you can:

• Add additional documents to your application
• Be represented in the proceedings (a power of attorney)
• Ask for access to file
• Ask for a stay in the proceedings
• Withdraw the application (withdrawal of the application)

You can track the state of your proceedings online on the website under Application submitted or in your personal account. If you were prompted to provide documents or to remedy errors, the time limit for processing your application is not running until the errors are remedied or for as long as it is established in the notice.

On the website under Application submitted you can see the following states:

a) Being processed: No decision has been taken yet. For more information on what you can do in the course of the administrative proceedings please see the previous section.

b) Granted: The Ministry’s decision is affirmative. Please see the following section.

c) Rejected: The Ministry rejected your application and closed the proceedings. In such case you will receive the decision in writing. You can appeal against the decision within 15 days from the date you were notified about the decision. If you need help, you can turn to the Integration centre or other NGOs.

The decision to reject the application consists of three basic parts:

1. The Statement: It contains specific legal provisions based on which the application was rejected. It may also advise you that you must leave the country, including the time limit in which you must do so.
2. The Statement of Grounds: It explains why the application was rejected and what documents and proofs served as grounds for the decision on your application.
3. Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the decision.

The decision to close the proceedings consists of three basic parts:

1. The Statement: It contains specific legal provisions based on which the proceedings were closed.
2. The Statement of Grounds: It describes the procedure and grounds that led to the proceedings being closed.
3. Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the decision.

If the application is granted, make an appointment by phone to have your biometric data taken. Please note that the appointment you have made is binding and you must follow the Administrative Procedure Code when requesting a reschedule or cancellation.

Come to your appointment to have your biometric data taken and take your travel document with you. At your appointment you will be told when to come and collect your card when it is ready.

The last step is to collect your residence permit (biometric card). The time limit for collection is 60 days from the date you had your biometric data collected.

If you are a close family member, in order to apply you will need:

• Application form
• Travel document
• Original of a document proving that:
  • you are still a family member of an EU citizen (e.g. an original of a marriage certificate, birth certificate, decision of a competent authority on custody or a decision on adoption of a child), or
  • you are residing in the country together with an EU citizen (lease agreement), or
  • an exception applies to you and you can keep on staying in the country even if your relation to the EU citizen has ceased to exist
• Proof of accommodation
• Medical insurance
• 2 photographs if your appearance has changed

If you are a distant family member, in order to apply you will need:

• Application form
• Travel document
• Original of a document proving that:
  • you are still a family member of an EU citizen (e.g. an original of a marriage certificate, birth certificate, decision of a competent authority on custody or a decision on adoption of a child), or
  • you are residing in the country together with an EU citizen (lease agreement), or
  • an exception applies to you and you can keep on staying in the country even if your relation to the EU citizen has ceased to exist.
• Proof of accommodation
• Medical insurance for the entirety of your stay, otherwise your residence permit’s validity will be shortened
• Proof of funds for the residence (finances)
• 2 photographs if your appearance has changed

In both cases if prompted to, you may also need:

• Medical report
• Document similar to an extract from the Penal Register record

Upon both applications you must pay an administrative fee 200 CZK.

Please review the formal requirements that the documents must meet.

You can fill in the application form online. Then print out the filled-in form and sign it.

You can also download a blank application form, print it out and fill it in by hand – it must be filled in legibly, in block capitals and in Latin characters. You can also collect the form free of charge at one of the offices of the Ministry of the Interior.

You can submit the application at a Ministry of the Interior office, send it by post, Data Box or by e-mail with a recognised electronic signature, or you can submit it through an authorised representative. Applicants under 15 years of age must submit their applications through one of their legal representatives (most frequently through one of their parents).

If you wish to submit the application in person, please make an appointment online or by phone beforehand. Attention: a lack of free appointment slots will not be considered as a reason for a late application submission. If the offered appointment slot is after your time limit for submitting the application expires, send the application by post, Data Box or by e-mail with a recognised electronic signature, or visit a Ministry of the Interior office during opening hours without an appointment – with no appointment reservation you have to wait for your turn.

If you are not going to submit your application in person, the date of its posting or the date of its sending by Data Box or email is important for complying with the given time limit.

The Ministry of the Interior will assess your application in administrative proceedings. If any errors are detected in the attached documents, you will be prompted in writing to remedy such errors. In the notice, the Ministry will explain in detail what the errors are and what you have to do to remedy them. It will also set a time limit for you to do so. When justified and if you apply for it in writing, this time limit can be extended.

The Ministry of the Interior also checks if you meet the requirements to obtain the residence permit you are applying for. In such case you may be invited for an interview or a residence check can be carried out at your place. A residence check is carried out in order to verify that the foreigner is really staying at the address stated in the temporary residence permit application.

In the course of the administrative proceedings you can:

• Add additional documents to your application
• Be represented in the proceedings (a power of attorney)
• Ask for access to file
• Ask for a stay in the proceedings
• Withdraw the application (withdrawal of the application)

You can track the state of your proceedings online on the website under Application submitted or in your personal account. If you were prompted to provide documents or to remedy errors, the time limit for processing your application is not running until the errors are remedied or for as long as it is established in the notice.

On the website under Application submitted you can see the following states:

a) Being processed: No decision has been taken yet. For more information on what you can do in the course of the administrative proceedings please see the previous section.

b) Granted: The Ministry’s decision is affirmative. Please see the following section.

c) Rejected: The Ministry rejected your application or closed the proceedings. In such case you will receive the decision in writing. You can appeal against the decision within 15 days from the date you were notified about the decision. If you need help, you can turn to the Integration centre or other NGOs.

The decision to reject the application consists of three basic parts:

1. The Statement: It contains specific legal provisions based on which the application was rejected. It may also advise you that you must leave the country, including the time limit in which you must do so.
2. The Statement of Grounds: It explains why the application was rejected and what documents and proofs served as grounds for the decision on your application.
3. Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the decision.

The decision to close the proceedings consists of three basic parts:

1. The Statement: It contains specific legal provisions based on which the proceedings were closed.
2. The Statement of Grounds: It describes the procedure and grounds that led to the proceedings being closed.
3. Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the decision.

If the application is granted, make an appointment by phone to have your biometric data taken. Please note that the appointment you have made is binding and you must follow the Administrative Procedure Code when requesting a reschedule or cancellation.

Come to your appointment to have your biometric data taken and take your travel document with you. At your appointment you will be told when to come and collect your card when it is ready.

The last step is to collect your residence permit (biometric card). The time limit for collection is 60 days from the date you had your biometric data collected.