In connection with the amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreigners effective from 2. 8. 2021, there are some changes that might interest you. Let´s take a closer look at the most important ones. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us and book your online meeting!
EU citizens – confirmation of temporary residence – registration certificate
- I am an EU citizen and want to prove my residence. Instead of the previous “confirmation of temporary residence”, EU citizens will be issued a registration certificate”. Validity stay the same – 10 years.
- I am an EU citizen and hold a confirmation of temporary residence issued before the amendment. There are no changes needed as the document will be regarded as a registration certificate until its expiry date.
Family members of EU citizens – two categories now
- A close family member of a citizen of the European Union is:
- an EU citizen’s spouse
- parent, if it is an EU citizen under 21 years of age
- descendant under 21 years of age of an EU citizen or descendant of the spouse of an EU citizen
- An extended family member of a citizen of the European Union is:
- a relative of a citizen of the European Union having permanent residence in the territory of the Czech Republic, who
- in his/her country of origin, is supported by the above citizen of the European Union
- in his/her country of origin, is a member of the household of the above citizen of the European Union
- whose serious health condition requires the personal care of the above citizen of the European Union
- in a duly documented permanent partner relationship with a citizen of the European Union
To close family members the same rules still apply. There are no further changes made. A close family member of an EU citizen applying for residence permit is still, as before, required to present:
- a passport
- a photograph
- a health insurance certificate
- proof of accommodation
- a document confirming that they are a family member of an EU citizen
Apart from mentioned above, extended family members are also required to submit
- a document confirming the total monthly income of the family
- proof of travel medical insurance covering comprehensive health care for the entire duration of the family member’s stay.
For citizens of third countries (non-EU citizens) – Exchanging documents
Effective from 2. 8. 2021, documents containing biometric identifiers will be issued to all non-EU citizens. This applies also to family members of EU citizens.
What does this mean?
All nonbiometric documents will expire on 3. 8. 2023! The exchange of current permits for new biometric ones is necessary until this date. Exchanging documents is free of charge.
Attention!
Those considered as extended family members must apply for new biometric documents by 31. 8. 2022 at the latest. Only this way will they not lose their status as close family members.
For both EU and non-EU citizens – New administrative fees
An administrative fee of CZK 200 will be payable for the following applications:
- application made by an EU citizen for a registration certificate (the document used to be called a confirmation of temporary residence, see above)
- application for a temporary residence permit by a family member of an EU citizen
- application for renewal of a residence card or renewal of a residence permit for a family member of an EU citizen
- application for a permanent residence permit for EU citizens and their family members
- application for a change in the residence document of an EU citizen or their family member
Attention!
The administrative fees are only paid using revenue stamps. It is impossible to pay the fee in cash or by card at MOI. Revenue stamps can be bought at the Czech POINT counter of Česká pošta. They cannot be bought at MOI.
Health insurance
Who has an obligation to take out commercial comprehensive health insurance:
- Foreign nationals entering the Czech Republic and staying in its territory for more than 90 days have an obligation to take out commercial comprehensive health insurance within 90 days of entering the Czech Republic.
Attention!
This insurance may be taken out exclusively with Pojišťovna VZP, a.s.
Attention!
An obligation to take out commercial comprehensive health insurance does not apply to:
- EU citizens and their “close family members” (see above)
- foreign nationals covered by the Czech public health insurance system, or whose health care is covered under an international agreement
- who hold a valid EHIC and GHIC health insurance card
Comprehensive health insurance
- For foreign nationals who submitted the application to the Czech Republic’s representative office by or on 1. 8. 2021 a document on travel medical insurance covering only the necessary and urgent care will be sufficient. To these foreign nationals it also applies:
- they do not have an obligation to take out commercial comprehensive health insurance with Pojišťovna VZP, a.s. within 90 days of entering the Czech Republic – with this health insurance company a comprehensive health insurance must be purchased only when they apply for renewal of their existing residence permit or in case they apply for a new residence permit.
Attention!
Foreign nationals entering the Czech Republic on or after 2 .8. 2021 have an obligation to take out commercial comprehensive health insurance with Pojišťovna VZP, a.s. within 90 days of entering the Czech Republic.
- For foreign nationals who submitted the application to the Czech Republic’s representative office on or after 2. 8. 2021 the document on travel medical insurance must be submitted before the long-term visa (or long-term visa for the purpose of accepting residence permit) is indicated in the foreign national’s passport, as follows:
- covering the necessary and urgent care for the first 90 days of residence in the territory of the Czech Republic; for the remaining period of stay, they must also submit the document on comprehensive health insurance contracted with Pojišťovna VZP, a.s.
- or, the foreign national may directly submit the document on comprehensive health insurance contracted with Pojišťovna VZP, a.s. for the entire period of permitted stay in the territory of the Czech Republic.
Attention!
The document on contracted comprehensive travel medical insurance with another insurance company in the Czech Republic may only be submitted if the insurance contract was executed on 1. 8. 2021 at the latest.
Attention!
Foreign nationals entering the Czech Republic on or before 1 .8 .2021 or foreign nationals who have been residing in the Czech Republic based on a long-term visa or long-term residence permit and who have purchased a travel medical insurance covering the necessary and urgent care, or who have purchased a comprehensive health insurance with a health insurance company other than Pojišťovna VZP, a.s. don’t need to change anything for now. The changes will apply to them only when they apply for renewal of their existing residence permit or in case they apply for a new residence permit.
- The applications for a long-term visa or extension of the long-term visa, as well as applications for issuance or extension of a long-term residence permit submitted to the Ministry of the Interior in the territory of the Czech Republic on and after 2. 8. 2021 can only be accompanied with the following documents a proof of travel medical insurance:
- insurance contract on comprehensive health insurance entered into with Pojišťovna VZP, a.s
- insurance contract on comprehensive health insurance entered into with another insurance company active in the Czech Republic, yet only provided that the contract was executed on 1. 8. 2021 at the latest
