If you have been accepted for university studies in the Czech Republic, you should check whether you need a visa to enter the country. This depends on your nationality. Our website provides general information about entry formalities. It is not within Study in competence to expedite the visa issuance / appointment process. Long-term visa and residence permits processing is solely under the authority of our Embassies abroad and the Czech Ministry of the Interior which follows a rigorous process.
Students from EU/EEA and Switzerland
Students from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland are exempt from student visa requirements. To enter the Czech Republic, EU students only need a valid passport or national ID card.
EU students have, however, a reporting duty after their arrival if the intended stay in the Czech Republic is longer than 30 days. In this situation, within 30 days of entering the Czech Republic, a student is required to report his/her presence to the Foreign Police Department in the location of his/her stay in the Czech Republic. This obligation does not apply if the person providing accommodation submits the registration forms on behalf of the student, i.e. in case of stays in student dormitories.
For more information regarding the stay of EU citizens and their family members in the Czech Republic click here. Information leaflets for EU citizens and their family members are available here.
Students from countries outside the EU
Students from countries outside the EU have to turn to the local Czech embassy or consulate and apply for a student visa. Please note, that the whole procedure requires some paperwork and can take up to 60 days, so it is recommended to apply for the visa well in advance. The regulations for obtaining visas change from time to time, so the information listed here should be considered as guidelines only. You should always consult your local Czech embassy or consulate or check the website of the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic for the latest information regarding visa requirements.
There are short-term visas (for stays up to 90 days) and long-term visas (for stays over 90 days). Students arriving for a period longer than one year should apply for a long-term residence permit for study purposes.
The following documents are mainly required for receiving a student visa or a residence permit:
- application form
- letter of acceptance for studies
- a valid passport and passport photos
- proof of financial resources for the stay (e.g. in the form of a bank account statement or confirmation of being beneficiary of a grant)
- confirmation of guaranteed accommodation
- valid international health insurance
- abstract from the Register of Criminal Records
Please note that some documents (e.g. the abstract from the Register of Criminal Records) must be translated into the Czech language by a translator with an official rubber stamp.
The Foreign Police examines the visa applications and notifies the Czech embassy or consulate to issue the visa.
In case of applying for a short-term language/preparatory courses, students should apply for a short-term visas (for stays up to 90 days), in case of long-term language/preparatory courses, students should apply for a visa to stay over 90 days (long-term) or a long-term residence - for the purpose of studies (at public higher education institutions) / for the purpose of other (at private higher education institutions). More information can be found here.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Information for university students - 3rd country nationals regarding Visa free stay, applying for Long-term stay for study purpose at MOI office or Long-term residence for the purpose of seeking employment (updated by the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals with effect as of July 31st, 2019) can be downloaded here. For details please also visit the website of the Ministry of Interior here.
Problems with Visa Application
While we do understand your concerns, unfortunately, it is not within our competence to expedite the visa issuance / appointment process. Long-term visa and residence permits processing is solely under the authority of our Embassies abroad and the Czech Ministry of the Interior which follows a rigorous process.
Try to check the status of your application. If you don’t succeed, please contact your local Czech Embassy, its staff will give you more precise information. You can also turn to the Ministry of the Interior´s information hotline. Besides, we recommend you to contact your university in the Czech Republic, its staff certainly has experience in solving similar situations.
detailed information ON VISA and entry formalities
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- List of Czech embassies and consulates
- Ministry of the Interior: Information on immigration, Information for schools and students
- Immigration portal of the Czech Republic
- EU immigration portal
Registering with the Czech Foreign Police
Registration at the Foreign Police Department is compulsory for all foreign nationals staying in the Czech Republic for more than 30 days. They must register within 3 days from the date of arrival to the country. Read more about this obligation here.
Visit other countries
Both long-term visas and residence permits allow visits to other countries in the Schengen area, provided the stay in the other Schengen Area states does not exceed 90 days within any 180 days and is of a non-profit nature.
Difference between long-term visa and residence permit
Both the long-term visa and residence permits are issued when the stay on the territory of the Czech Republic is expected to exceed 3 months. In general, the long-term visa is primarily intended for persons who expect to stay in the Czech Republic for several months – for example, study program lasting several months, etc. The long-term residence permit is primarily intended for persons who expect a longer stay in the Czech Republic – for example, a study in a university program, employment, etc. You can read more at the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Family visa
Your children or spouse can apply for a long-term visa or residence permit for family reunification purposes. You can find more information at the website of the Ministry of Interior.