Visa
Students from EU countries (plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) are not required to have any kind of visa or residence permit to travel to the Czech Republic (or other Member States of the European Union) to study.
Students from non-EU countries are required to have a long-term VISA for the purpose of studies or a long-term RESIDENCE PERMIT for the purpose of studies to travel to the Czech Republic (or other Member States of the European Union) to study.
(Please note that citizens of the following countries are exempt from the visa requirement for coming to the Czech Republic as tourists for a period shorter than 90 days)
However, students usually come for at least one semester, which invariably lasts longer than three months, and therefore they need a long-term VISA for the purpose of studies or a long-term RESIDENCE PERMIT for the purpose of studies.
Where to apply for a long-term VISA or a long-term RESIDENCE PERMIT?
- At the Embassy or Consulate General of the Czech Republic that provides visa services in your home country.
- Please check the list of Czech embassies and consulates on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Please check the list of Czech embassies and consulates on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
When to apply?
- As soon as possible, after reading all the instructions properly and preparing all required documents.
- The process of obtaining a long-term VISA or a long-term RESIDENCE PERMIT can take up to 60 to 90 days.
You can check the status of your application online here.
How to apply?
The registration procedure for an appointment to file the application for a long-term VISA or a long-term RESIDENCE may differ from one Embassy and Consulate to another. Therefore, please visit their webpage or contact the Embassy or Consulate directly to find out what procedure applies to you. This information can be usually found under the section Visa and Consular Information.
What to apply for? A long-term VISA or a long-term RESIDENCE PERMIT.
Long-term VISA for the purpose of studies
- The form is available here
- The visa fee is CZK 2,500 and most often it is collected in EUR or local currency. Please check the relevant Embassy or Consulate information to find out which applies
- The required Emergency travel medical insurance is cheaper (around 100 Euro per 6 months for students under 26 years of age, depending on the insurance company) than the Comprehensive/complex travel medical insurance required in case of applying fo a residence permit (please read the guidelines "Travel medical insurance for incoming students").
- VISA must be picked up before your departure personally by the student at the Embassy or Consulate of the Czech Republic in your home country.
A long-term VISA is intended for exchange students whose period of stay lasts from 3 months to 1 year. - Detailed information on the requirements for an application for a long-term VISA can be found here:
On the webpages of the Ministry of Foreign Affair
On the webpages of the Ministry for the Interior
Long-term RESIDENCE PERMIT for the purpose of studies
- The form is available here
- The long-term residence permit fee is CZK 2,500 and most often it is collected in EUR or local currency. Please check the relevant Embassy or Consulate information to find out which applies.
- The required Comprehensive/complex travel medical insurance is more expensive (around 200 Euros per 6 months for students under 26 years of age, depending on the insurance company) than the Emergency travel medical insurance required in case of applying for a long-term visa (please read the guidelines "Travel medical insurance for incoming students").
- Within 3 working days after your arrival in the Czech Republic you have to get registered with the Department for Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior at the following address Tuřanka 1554/155b, 627 00 Brno - Slatina. If the capacity of the MOI office allows it, biometric data are taken during the visit. Otherwise, you will be assigned a new appointment. After providing your biometric data you will be given the date when you can pick up your long-term residence permit card in the form of a biometric card.
- A long-term RESIDENCE PERMIT is intended for students whose period of stay exceeds 3 months and usually also 1 year.
- Detailed information on the requirements for an application for a long-term RESIDENCE PERMIT for the purpose of studies.
On the webpages of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On the webpages of the Ministry for the Interior
