The right to permanent residence is granted to foreign citizens who have been legally residing in the Czech Republic for five years. Foreigners who have received permanent residence are either issued a special internal Czech passport, or pasted into the National Passport.

Who can get a permanent residence permit?

Other conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit for foreigners are:

• marriage to a Czech citizen/citizen;

• the presence of a direct ancestor in the Czech Republic;

• adoption of a Czech citizen;

• interest of the Czech state in a foreign citizen as a specialist (you need to submit an education document).

Procedure and documents

An application for a residence permit is submitted in the Czech Republic to the police for foreigners at the place of registration. The application review period is up to three months.

List of documents required for applying for a permanent residence permit:

• valid international passport;

• two photos;

• a document confirming the purpose of your stay (for example, an employment contract);

• financial security document (bank statement indicating that the amount of €6.3 thousand is on the account);

• document confirming the provision of housing (document on the right to own real estate, lease agreement, etc.);

• certificate of absence of a criminal record on the territory of the Czech Republic and the country of permanent residence (citizenship);

• a document confirming knowledge of the Czech language issued by language schools or the relevant institution.

According to the law, you can apply for citizenship in the Czech Republic:

• by birthright, if one of the parents is a Czech citizen;

• by established paternity;

• when adopted by a Czech citizen;

• abandoned children found in the Czech Republic, if their parents aren’t identified;

• foreign citizens by naturalization.

Citizenship by marriage

The husband / wife of a Czech citizen who is officially married to him and has proved that the marriage is not fictitious has the right to apply for citizenship after 5 years of legal residence in the Czech Republic.

Citizenship for investment

In 2017, the Czech Republic adopted amendments to the immigration legislation, among which the possibility of issuing a long-term residence permit for investors (the so-called investor visa) was added. The main requirements for obtaining an investor visa are:

• it is necessary to create at least 20 jobs for EU citizens and ensure their ability to work for the entire duration of the visa;

• invest at least 75 million in the country's economy. Czech crowns;

• provide a business plan.

A full list of documents, details of the requirements for the business plan and a description of the procedure for obtaining an investor visa can be found on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Czech Republic.

After five years of living in the Czech Republic with an investor visa, you can apply for citizenship through naturalization on a general basis.

Procedure and conditions for obtaining citizenship

Citizenship is granted to foreigners who:

• Lived for 10 years in the Czech Republic on the basis of a residence permit.

• Don’t have any arrears in paying taxes or fines.

• Own real estate or rent housing.

• They know Czech at the B1 level. (Information and materials for the Czech language exam can be found on the website www.cestina-pro-cizince.cz)

• Studied Czech culture, history, legal and social structure of the Czech Republic.

• Share democratic values, adhere to Czech laws and integrate into society.

The decision to recognize a foreigner as a Polish citizen is issued by the Ministry of internal affairs.

All information about applying for Czech citizenship, including information about the necessary documents, fees, prerequisites and conditions for obtaining Czech citizenship, can be found on the website: https://www.mvcr.cz/clanek/obcan-na-urade-82997.aspx?q=Y2hudW09OA%3d%3d

Since 2014, the Czech Republic allows you to have dual citizenship, that is, when obtaining a Czech passport, a foreigner can’t renounce the citizenship of their native country.

A blue card is required for citizens of so-called third countries who will be employed in the Czech Republic for more than three months in a highly qualified position.

A blue card is issued for a specific position. Vacancies available to foreign citizens are displayed in the central database of vacancies for Blue Card holders.

Required documents

The foreigner must submit:

• valid passport

• application form

• 2 photos

• documents confirming the purpose of your stay

• documents confirming the relevant qualification

• health insurance

• certificate of no criminal record

Attention! The above list can’t be considered exhaustive. The package of documents required for obtaining a blue card may vary depending on the situation of the foreigner and the department to which the foreigner applies for a temporary residence permit.

For more information about the list of required documents and the conditions for obtaining a Blue Card, please follow the link: https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/information_for_aliens/long_stay_visa/blue_card_green_card.html

Blue card edition

The application and package of documents for obtaining a blue card must be submitted to the embassy or Consulate of the Czech Republic in your country. The list of foreign representative offices of the Czech Republic can be viewed here: https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/diplomatic_missions/diplomatic_list.html