If you plan to study in the Czech Republic for more than 3 months and if you are coming from a country outside of EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland, you need to apply for a long-term visa or a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies in the Czech Republic.
When can you apply directly for a long-term residence permit?
If you are planning to study in a university that is registered in the Register of Schools and School Facilities in accordance with the Education Act (mostly programs accredited in the Czech Republic) or in a secondary school, conservatory or a higher vocational school entered in the Register of Schools and School Facilities in accordance with the Education Act (programs accredited in the Czech Republic), also in case of participation in a language and professional preparation for studies under an accredited study program or in case of some scholarships, you are entitled to file an application for a long-term residence permit for the purposes of study right away. If you want to be sure, that your study program falls under this category, please contact us and we will review it.
What documents should you prepare for your visa application? Apart from filled out application form, you will need your passport, two passport size photographs, a document confirming the purpose of the stay in the Czech Republic (i.e. confirmation of enrolment into studies), a proof of accommodation (e.g. lease agreement or confirmation of accommodation issued by your landlord/school, which must be signed with verified signature), a proof of funds to cover the stay in the Czech Republic (by account statement or otherwise) and at the moment the visa/residence permit is granted, also document on travel medical insurance for the period of stay in the Czech Republic. Travel medical insurance confirmation is not required from applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Japan, Cuba, Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey.
In case you enrolled in an unaccredited study program at a public or private higher education institution or a program that is accredited in a state other than the Czech Republic, you may need to file an application for long-term visa for “other” purposes. If this is your case, please, contact us for more information.
Long-term visa or long-term residence permit application must be filed at a Czech embassy. Please note, that some nationals must file the application at the embassy in the country they are citizen of, or in some cases country they have permanent residence permit. The embassy is entitled to interview you in order to confirm your genuine intent to study in the Czech Republic.
Once the visa is granted, you will be called by the embassy to pick it up. In this moment you must show a document confirming your travel medical insurance for the period of stay in the Czech Republic, as mentioned above (unless you are a national of one the above listed countries).
If you applied for a long-term visa, the embassy will affix your visa in the passport and after you arrive in the the Czech Republic, you are obliged to report within 3 days from arrival to the Foreign Police.
If you applied for a long-term residence permit, the embassy will affix you a D/VR visa, which will entitle you to travel to the Czech Republic (a single entry visa). Within 3 business days from your arrival in the Czech Republic, you are obliged to report at an office of Ministry of Interior in person to report your arrival and to give your biometric details for issuance of biometric residence card.
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