Long-term Residence Permit for Health Purposes
A long-term residence permit for health purposes is intended for third countries citizens who want to stay in the Czech Republic to receive a health treatment.
GENERAL INFO
TO APPLY IN CZECHIA
EXTENSION
Who can apply for this type of residence permit?
You can apply for a long-term residence permit for health purposes if you hold a valid long-term visa for health purposes or a long-term residence permit for any purpose and you are going to stay in the Czech Republic to receive a health treatment. That includes e.g.:
- Rehabilitation therapies
- Long-term therapies
- Spa services
Health purposes do not include the practice of professions such as doctors, nurses or other health professionals. In such cases, you can apply for an employee card.
How long is this residence permit valid for?
For a maximum of 2 years.
What does this type of residence permit look like?
What obligations and restrictions does this residence permit mean?
You must fulfil the purpose of your stay for the whole duration of your residence permit. You must also follow the obligations for foreigners stipulated by law.
What does this residence permit enable you to do?
If you hold a valid residence permit, you can leave and re-enter the Czech Republic repeatedly. You can also travel within the Schengen Area without a visa.
Who can apply for a long-term residence permit for health purposes in the Czech Republic?
- Holders of a long-term visa for health purposes, or
- holders of a long-term residence permit issued for any purpose (except for long-term leave-to-remain residence permits when the stay is shorter than 3 years)
If during your long-term residence for the purpose of family reunification in the Czech Republic you wanted to apply for a long-term residence permit for a different purpose (changing the purpose of residence), you can do so only after 3 years of residence in the country, or after reaching 18 years of age, or in the case of a divorce.
How and where can you apply?
Only in person at one of the Ministry of the Interior offices.
When do you have to submit the application?
At the latest the last day of your current long-term residence’s or visa’s validity.
During the time when your application is being processed, you are staying in the Czech Republic legally, even if your current residence permit or visa expires (for more information please see the section Fiction of Residence).
What is the administrative fee?
CZK 2,500, 1,000 for minors under 15 years of age.
The administrative fee can only be paid by credit card at the Ministry of the Interior office.
What is the time limit to process the application?
60 days. The time limit is not running if the proceedings are suspended or if there is a legal ground for it.
STEPS TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC:
1. Prepare the necessary documents
In order to apply you will need:
- Application form
- Travel document
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of funds for the residence (finances)
- Photograph
- Comprehensive medical insurance (information on children under the age of 18 can be found here)
- Proof of the purpose of residence (e.g. regular medical reports, confirmation of the performance of a medical procedure, invitation, confirmation of hospitalisation, etc.)
Upon request also:
- A proof of payment for the insurance stated on the proof of comprehensive medical insurance
Upon application you must pay an administrative fee 2,500 CZK, 1,000 CZK for minors under 15 years of age.
If you want your application to be processed as soon as possible, you have to provide all the necessary documents already when submitting the application. If your application is incomplete, the Ministry of the Interior can suspend the administrative proceedings, which may lead to prolonging the application processing time (for more information please see the section additions to the application).
However, if there is a time limit for submitting the application stipulated by law and you do not have all the necessary documents yet, submit the application anyway, even though it may be incomplete. As if the time limit expires, your right to reside in the Czech Republic may cease to exist along with it.
Please review the formal requirements that the documents must meet.
2. Fill in the application form
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, in Latin characters, and in Czech. You can also collect the form free of charge at one of the offices of the Ministry of the Interior.
3. Make an appointment to go to a Ministry of the Interior office
Book an appointment to submit your application in advance, either online or by phone. Booking an appointment in advance saves your time; however, it is not a necessary condition for submitting the application – without booking an appointment, you will be served in the standard queue order.
The lack of available appointment slots is not a reason for late submission. If the soonest available appointment is later than 60 days from the child’s birth, submit the application without booking an appointment. See the office hours of your locally competent Ministry of the Interior office to learn during which hours you may visit without an appointment.
4. Submit the application
You must submit a long-term residence permit application or an application for a new long-term residence permit (changing the purpose of residence) in person at a Ministry of the Interior office.
Are you not sure whether you must submit the application in person? For more information click here.
If you submit the application in person, 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.
If you have submitted your application within the given time limit, during the time when your application is being processed you are staying in the Czech Republic legally, even if your current residence permit or visa expires (for more information please see the section Fiction of Residence). This is the case, with some exceptions, until a final decision on your application is taken. At the locally competent 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.
5. Wait for the decision
The Ministry of the Interior will assess your application in an administrative procedure. If any errors or missing documents are identified, you will receive a written notice to correct errors in submitted application. The notice will specify:
- what is the error or missing document,
- what must be done to correct it, and
- the period for correction.
In justified cases, this period may be extended upon written request.
The Ministry of the Interior also verifies whether you meet the conditions for issuing the requested residence permit. Related to this, an interview may be conducted with you.
During the administrative procedure you may, for example:
- Supplement the application with additional documents.
- Be represented by a legal representative.
- Request access to your file.
- Request a suspension of the administrative procedure.
- Withdraw your application.
You can track the status of your application online via the Status of your application section on the Information Portal for Foreigners or in your personal account. If you receive a notice to submit supplementary documents or to correct errors, the processing period is suspended until the error is corrected or until the period set in the notice has passed.
For information on the state of your application you may also submit a written Request for a Familiarisation with the Status of the Administrative Procedure. The most common reasons for longer processing are listed in the FAQ section.
6. Learn the result of the administrative proceedings
In the Status of your application section you may see one of these outcomes:
- Being processed: Your application is still being processed. For more information on what you can do during the processing period, see the previous step.
- Preliminarily assessed positively: The Ministry of the Interior has preliminarily assessed your application positively. Proceed to the next step.
- Rejected: The Ministry of the Interior has rejected your application or discontinued the administrative procedure. In such case, you will receive written notification on the decision or resolution. You may appeal against the decision or resolution within 15 days from the day the notification was delivered.
- The decision to reject the application consists of three parts:
- The Statement: Legal grounds on which your application has been rejected. It may also state any obligation to leave the Czech Republic, including the period for departure.
- The Grounds of the statement: It explains why the application was rejected and what documents and proofs served as grounds for the rejection.
- Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the decision.
- The resolution to discontinue the administrative procedure consists of three basic parts:
- The Statement: Legal grounds on which the administrative procedure was discontinued.
- The Reasoning: It explains the processing and grounds that led to the discontinuation of the administrative procedure.
- Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the resolution.
You may have only received a record of the decision to close the proceedings because in your case the proceedings were closed for reasons stipulated by law in which case the applicant does not receive a written decision (Section 169r (2) of Act No. 326/1999 Coll).
7. Make your appointment to have your biometric data taken
If the application is granted, make an appointment by phone to have your biometric data taken. Please note that the appointment date is binding and you must follow the Administrative Procedure Code if you request a reschedule or cancellation.
8. Come to have your biometric data taken
Come to the scheduled biometric data scanning appointment. Take your travel document with you. At the biometric data scanning you will agree on a date to collect your completed biometric card.
9. Collect your residence permit document (biometric card)
The final 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 scanned.
Under what conditions can you apply for an extension of the validity of your residence permit?
You can apply for an extension of the validity of your long-term residence permit for health purposes if you are going to continue to reside in the Czech Republic for the same purpose as you have so far. You can extend a long-term residence repeatedly with a maximum extension period of 2 years.
How and where can you apply?
You can submit the application to extend your residence permit’s validity at a locally competent 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.
When do you have to submit the application?
At the latest the last day of your current long-term residence’s validity, at the earliest 120 days before its expiration.
During the time when the application is being processed, you are staying in the Czech Republic legally, even if your current residence permit expires (for more information please see the section Fiction of Residence).
What is the administrative fee?
CZK 2,500, 1,000 for minors under 15 years of age.
The administrative fee can be paid by bank transfer or by credit card at the Ministry of the Interior office.
What is the time limit to process the application?
60 days.
The time limit is not running if the proceedings are suspended or if there is a legal ground for it.
STEPS TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION OF A RESIDENCE PERMIT’S VALIDITY:
1. Prepare the necessary documents
In order to apply you will need:
- Application form
- Travel document
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of funds for the residence (finances)
- Photograph
- Proof of the purpose of residence (e.g. regular medical reports, confirmation of the performance of a medical procedure, invitation, confirmation of hospitalisation, etc.)
Upon request provide also:
- Medical report
- A proof of payment for the insurance stated on the proof of comprehensive medical insurance
Upon application you must pay an administrative fee 2,500 CZK, 1,000 CZK for minors under 15 years of age.
If you want your application to be processed as soon as possible, you have to provide all the necessary documents already when submitting the application. If your application is incomplete, the Ministry of the Interior can suspend the administrative proceedings, which may lead to prolonging the application processing time (for more information please see the section additions to the application).
However, if there is a time limit for submitting the application stipulated by law and you do not have all the necessary documents yet, submit the application anyway, even though it may be incomplete. As if the time limit expires, your right to reside in the Czech Republic may cease to exist along with it.
Please review the formal requirements that the documents must meet.
2. Fill in the application form
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, in Latin characters, and in Czech. You can also collect the form free of charge at one of the offices of the Ministry of the Interior.
3. You can send the application, or you can make an appointment at a Ministry of the Interior office
You can submit the application at a locally competent Ministry of the Interior office, send it by post, Data Box or by e-mail with an recognised electronic signature, or you can submit it through an authorised representative.
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 an advanced electronic signature, or visit a locally competent Ministry of the Interior office 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. If you post the application at a post licence holder (most commonly a post office) the last day of your current resident permit’s validity, the time limit for submitting the application will be complied with. This applies even in the case that the application is delivered to the Ministry of the Interior after your residence’s validity has expired. We recommend, however, not to leave the submission for the last moment.
If you submit the application in person, 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. If you do not submit the application in person, you can learn the reference number by calling our information hotline. In this case, it is recommended to call the hotline no sooner than a week after the application was sent as it takes a few days to assign a reference number to an application.
If you have submitted your application within the given time limit, during the time when your application is being processed you are staying in the Czech Republic legally, even if your current residence permit or visa expires (for more information please see the section Fiction of Residence). This is the case, with some exceptions, until a final decision on your application is taken. At the locally competent 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.
4. Wait for the decision
The Ministry of the Interior will assess your application in an administrative procedure. If any errors or missing documents are identified, you will receive a written notice to correct errors in submitted application. The notice will specify:
- what is the error or missing document,
- what must be done to correct it, and
- the period for correction.
In justified cases, this period may be extended upon written request.
The Ministry of the Interior also verifies whether you meet the conditions for issuing the requested residence permit. Related to this, an interview may be conducted with you.
During the administrative procedure you may, for example:
- Supplement the application with additional documents.
- Be represented by a legal representative.
- Request access to your file.
- Request a suspension of the administrative procedure.
- Withdraw your application.
You can track the status of your application online via the Status of your application section on the Information Portal for Foreigners or in your personal account. If you receive a notice to submit supplementary documents or to correct errors, the processing period is suspended until the error is corrected or until the period set in the notice has passed.
For information on the state of your application you may also submit a written Request for a Familiarisation with the Status of the Administrative Procedure. The most common reasons for longer processing are listed in the FAQ section.
5. Learn the result of the administrative proceedings
In the Status of your application section you may see one of these outcomes:
- Being processed: Your application is still being processed. For more information on what you can do during the processing period, see the previous step.
- Preliminarily assessed positively: The Ministry of the Interior has preliminarily assessed your application positively. Proceed to the next step.
- Rejected: The Ministry of the Interior has rejected your application or discontinued the administrative procedure. In such case, you will receive written notification on the decision or resolution. You may appeal against the decision or resolution within 15 days from the day the notification was delivered.
- The decision to reject the application consists of three parts:
- The Statement: Legal grounds on which your application has been rejected. It may also state any obligation to leave the Czech Republic, including the period for departure.
- The Grounds of the statement: It explains why the application was rejected and what documents and proofs served as grounds for the rejection.
- Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the decision.
- The resolution to discontinue the administrative procedure consists of three basic parts:
- The Statement: Legal grounds on which the administrative procedure was discontinued.
- The Reasoning: It explains the processing and grounds that led to the discontinuation of the administrative procedure.
- Your rights: It informs you on how to proceed if you wish to appeal against the resolution.
You may have only received a record of the decision to close the proceedings because in your case the proceedings were closed for reasons stipulated by law in which case the applicant does not receive a written decision (Section 169r (2) of Act No. 326/1999 Coll).
6. Make your appointment to have your biometric data taken
If the application is granted, make an appointment by phone to have your biometric data taken. Please note that the appointment date is binding and you must follow the Administrative Procedure Code if you request a reschedule or cancellation.
7. Come to have your biometric data taken
Come to the scheduled biometric data scanning appointment. Take your travel document with you. At the biometric data scanning you will agree on a date to collect your completed biometric card.
8. Collect your residence permit document (biometric card)
The final 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 scanned.