Czechia
Czech Republic (Czechia)
All Students
Students should make sure their passports are signed and stamped when entering and exiting Border Controls. These stamps will prove the duration of your visit and more importantly prove to the visa official that you have not overstayed your 90-day visit.
It is important to understand the Schengen 90/180 rule. You are allocated 90 visa free days to use within the Schengen Zone, however you must remember these are rolling days and are added onto a cumulative total of days in the Schengen region. Leaving and entering does not reset your calculator – only leaving for a period of 90 days in a non-Schengen country will reset your visa-free 90-day allowance.
You can read about the Schengen rules here.
You can read about the procedure for applying for Schengen Visas here.
Study (less than 3 months)
Study (less than 3 months)EU/EEA Students do not need a visa to enter or study, work and reside in the Czech Republic. Despite not needing a visa to reside in the Czech Republic EU Citizens living in the Czech Republic for stays more than 30 days need to declare their stay ay the Foreign Police Department. The registration must be completed within 30 days of arriving in the Czech Republic.
Students of the following nationalities (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine) can travel to the Czech Republic with only a biometric passport.
UK Students are exempt from needing a Visa to enter the Czech Republic (Schengen Region) and can stay for a duration of 90 days.
Non-UK/EU Students not exempt from a visa waiver in the Schengen region are required to apply for a Schengen Short Stay Visa.
Gather Your Documents
To apply for your Schengen visa, you will need to gather the following documents:
- Czech visa application form
- Two identical passport photos.
- Valid passport.
- Copies of your previous visas.
- Round-trip Flight Itinerary.
- Travel medical health insurance
- Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of sufficient financial funds .
- A cover letter.
- Proof of civil status. This could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.
- An enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses (school / university / language course / etc).
- No objection letter from the educational institution where you are currently enrolled (if applicable).
- An internship agreement signed between the company in the Czech Republic, the establishment of origin and the trainee.
A full list of documentations can be found here.
Source: Schengen Visa (up to 90 days) | Embassy of the Czech Republic in London (mzv.cz)
How to Apply
If the Czech Republic is the only country you will be visiting in the Schengen Zone, submit your short-stay visa application at the Czech embassy / consulate / VAC in your country of residence.
Study (more than 6 months - 1 year)
Study (more than 6 months - 1 year)EU/EEA Students do not need a Visa to enter or study, work and reside in Czech Republic. Students should register thier presense within 30 days of arriving in the Czech Republic.
UK/Non-EA/Non-EEA Students who wish to stay in the Czech Republic for a duration of 1 year are require applying for a Long-term visa for study at the Czech Embassy in London.
Gather Your Documents
If you are applying for a Long-Term visa for study, you will need to gather the following documents:
- Completed Visa Application form
- Two recent Passport Photos
- Passport
- Confirmation of Studies
- Proof of Accommodation
- Proof of Financial Funding
- Criminal check certificate
A full list of documentation can be found here.
Upon Arrival
All students entering the Czech Republic not using a Residence Permit are required to register their presense with the nearest Foreign Police department.
Work (less than 6 months)
Work (less than 6 months)UK/Non-EU/EEA students do not need a visa/permit for a duration of 90 days within 18 days for the following purposes:
- Providing services as part of an after-sales agreement by a non-Czech company
- Supplying goods or services
- Carrying out assembly work under a commercial contract
- Carrying out warranty and repair work
- Educational and academic work in a school
- Scientific, research and development work in a public research institution, or other research organisation
- Performing artist
The following may not require a visa or permit in the Czech Republic for up to 90 days in a 180-day period:
- Dependants of diplomatic mission workers
- Spiritual workers of the Catholic Church, or other religious societies registered in the Czech Republic
- Members of rescue units assisting with the consequences of accidents or natural disasters, or providing humanitarian aid under international agreements
- Employees in international rail, road and sea traffic, if working on behalf of a UK employer
- Accredited journalists
- Military members or civilian personnel
- Work that has particular interest to the Czech Republic, usually requiring permission from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior or Trade
These are covered by the Schengen visa waiver.
Source accessed on 30.08.22 : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-the-czech-republic-for-work#check-if-you-need-a-visa-or-permit
If the work students wish to complete within 90 days is not classed as dependant work they may be asked to show Proof of exemption.
The exemption could be:
- An assignment letter
- An employment confirmation letter
- A contract
- Proof of required qualifications, such as a diploma and professional certificates
- An after-sales agreement
Schengen Work Visa
EU/EEA Students are is required to obtain a visa/permit but must make sure they adhere to passport and other travel requirements.
Students who are not exempt from entering Czech Republic will be required to obtain on of two visas:
- short-terms stays (not exceeding 90 days) for foreign nationals not subject to visa requirement or on a Schengen visa and
- long-term stays (exceeding 90 days) on a long-term visa, or permanent residence permit
UK Students who wish to engage in “gainful” activity must apply for a Short-term visa as the Visa exemption will no longer apply.
Exemption from the requirement to hold a visa for short-term stays does not apply to third country nationals who intend to carry out paid activities in the Czech Republic.
Source : https://www.mvcr.cz/mvcren/article/third-country-nationals-entering-the-czech-republic.aspx
Gather Your Documents:
To apply for a Short-term and Long–term visa you will need to gather the following document:
- Proof of funding
- Third country nationals are obliged to prove funds totalling: 0.5 times the existential minimum per 1 day of stay (the existential minimum is currently CZK 2,490)
- 15 times the existential minimum, if the intended length of stay exceeds 30 days, and this amount shall increase by twice the existential minimum for each whole month of intended stay
- 50 times the existential minimum if the purpose of your stay is business and your intended stay exceeds 90 days, or
- Present a document confirming payment of services connected with the third country national’s stay, or a document confirming that such services shall be provided free of charge.
- Czech visa application form.
- Two identical passport photos.
- Valid passport.
- Copies of your previous visas.
- Round-trip Flight Itinerary.
- Travel medical health insurance.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of sufficient financial funds .
- A cover letter.
- Proof of civil status
A full list of documentation can be found here.
How to Apply
Students should submit their short-stay visa application at the Czech embassy / consulate / VAC in your country of residence.
UK Students should apply to the nearest Czech Visa Application Centre.
Work (more than 6 months)
Work (more than 6 months)EU/EEA Students are not required to obtain a visa/permit but must make sure they adhere to passport and other travel requirements.
British student need to apply for a long-term visa (type D) (up to 1 year) or a long-term residence permit (for stays longer than 1 year).
Long term visas can be applied for the following reasons:
- Health
- Culture
- Sports
- Visit (invitation)
- Official (political)
- Family, study, training, internship, volunteering, working holiday, seasonal employment, on-site training, entrepreneurship or other
Further information about Long–Term visa can be found here.
Gather Your Documents
Students applying for a Long-Term visa should gather the following documents:
- Passport
- Application Form
- x2 photos
- Biometric prints
- Letter showing Purpose of Stay
- Proof of Accommodation
- Proof of Financial Means
- Criminal Record Certificate
- Fee
- Travel medical insurance
A full list and further information about documentation for a long–term visa can be found here.
How to Apply
Students should apply at their nearest consulate/embassy.
Long Term Residence Permit/- Employee Card
If UK/Non-EU/EEA Students want to gain employment in Czech Republic they will need to apply for a Long-Term Residence Permit:
- as one-entry visas for the purpose of collecting a long-term residence permit for stay on the territory of the Czech Republic in the duration of 60 days and validity 6 months
- for the purpose of employment (employment card or blue card), study, scientific research, and family unification
Students need to apply for an Employee Card for positions of more than 3 month which is issued for a specific job position.
Additional Information for Students
- Supporting documents should be no older than 180 days
- Supporting documents must be submitted in Czech
- Foreign public documents must be legalised i.e. equipped by an apostille or superlegalised
- Original passport and supporting document on the purpose of stay in this case employment contract / work agreement / letter of intent and employment permit, if applicable.