Visa Requirements
TO ENTER CZECHIA, THE MAJORITY OF NATIONALITIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A VISA.
Generally for entering Czechia exist two types of visa:
- Short-term visa (so-called Schengen) for stays up to 90 days
- Long-term visa for stays over 90 days
Official websites for foreigners entering Czechia can be found here or at the websites of Embassy of Czech Republic in your country/region.
Particular information about each visa application can be found on the websites or simplified version below.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO APPLY FOR A VISA AND SEEK ANY RELEVANT INFORMATION. THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE PROVIDES ASSISTANCE ONLY AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO OFFER LEGAL ADVICE. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR VISA APPLICATION.
Students arriving to Czechia for studies/training for more than 90 days
CZU nominates long-term students to the FAST TRACK procedure for third countries nationalities. See the procedure below.
Fast track procedure will be as follows:
- We send information to the Ministry of Education
- The request is then sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (visa department) and relevant embassies
- Within 14 calendar days from the delivery of the MFA list, it can be expected that the student will be given a deadline for submitting an application/an INTERVIEW - Wait for the embassy to contact you for an appointment at the embassy
- Within 7 calendar days, if the embassy receives a complete application, this application will be sent for assessment
- Within 30 calendar days, the Ministry of the Interior, Department of Asylum and Migration Policy will decide on granting/not granting a visa/residence permit
- Subsequently, the embassy invites the applicant to take over the visa
Apply for an official permission to stay in the Czech Republic. Please note that there is a difference between:
- Long-term residence - for stay in the Czech Republic for more than 1 year; for full study programme
- Visa - for a stay of over 90 days (long-term), for stay shorter than one year
Each has a different form and it is necessary to submit the right form otherwise the application is automatically rejected. For your Erasmus+ exchange, apply for the Long-term Visa.
Detailed instructions available here, short instruction below:
You should submit the application on the completed form along with all the necessary requirements laid down by law. You should, however, always submit originals or official copies of the documents. All of the documents submitted must be made out in the Czech language or officially translated into Czech. Moreover, foreign public documents must be supported by a higher verification (Apostille, superlegalisation).
Along with the application form for a long-term visa you must submit:
- Application form (send for cross check before your appointment)
- travel document (original)
- 1 photograph; not necessary if a pictorial recording has been made of the foreign national
- proof of accommodation = original of “Doklad (potvrzení) o zajištění o ubytování”– the proof of accommodation – for students we provide accommodation in one of our CZU residence: https://www.kam.czu.cz/en/r-10440-accommodation
- document on the purpose of stay = original of “Acceptance letter”– the document confirming the purpose of the stay in the Czech Republic
- proof of funds = original of “Potvrzení o stipendiu”– the document confirming funds to cover the stay in the Czech Republic
- an application fee, if needed
- document similar to an extract from the Penal Register record, issued by the state of which you are a citizen. The obligation to submit an extract from the Penal Register record does not relate to a foreign national under 15 years of age and does not have to be submitted if the embassy itself publishes that it can be replaced by an affidavit
- usually the Embassy asks for the Register of Criminal Records issued by the state of which the foreign national is a citizen and also by states in which the foreign national has had continuous residence for over 6 months in the last 3 years – translated by an official translation organization into the Czech language - refer to the instructions from the relevant Embassy on time, you will need this document for your appointment at the Embassy (please note issuing the Register of Criminal Records can take some time). Most Embassies require the legalisation (Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of residence) and superlegalisation of the Criminal records (check requirements at your embassy!)
- upon request you are further obliged to submit a document similar to an extract from the Penal Register record, issued the states in which, in the last 3 years, you have resided for a period longer than 6 months in its summary, or a signed affidavit in the event that this state does not issue such a document (not required from a foreign national under 15 years)
- a document proving the fulfilment of conditions set out in the measure of Ministry of Health on prevention of the spread of infectious illnesses
Interview
For the interview at the Embassy, students must know in English:
- the name of programme in which they’ll be studying – written in “Jednotné potvrzení o přijetí ke studiu/o studiu” as well as
- courses, which you selected in your Learning Agreement for Studies/Traineeships
- Full name of the University and Faculty and program you will study
- Your motivation to study
- Program you applied for: ERASMUS KA171 International Credit Mobility call 2022/2023/2024
After visa is granted
- Once your visa is approved you should buy flight ticket and insurance BEFORE YOU PURCHASE SEND US FOR APPROVAL. We can also buy it for you and deduct it from the scholarship.
- We will arrange booking of the accommodation at the dormitories or you can arrange your own, PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR DECISION.
Students/Staff arriving to Czechia for stay shorter than 90 days including the travel days
Students/staff planning to stay in Czechia less than 90 days can apply for Schengen visa. See the procedure below.
For the Schengen visa application you will need to:
- Apply for an appointment at the embassy (visit the websites of the Embassy of the Czech Republic within your country/region). Be aware that some embassies have long waiting lists. Please apply well in advance your planned mobility.
- For the Schengen visa, you will need to visit the embassy in person twice—first to submit your application and then to collect your passport with the visa or decision.
Documents required for Schengen Visa
- Application form
- Travel document (original)
- 1 photograph; not necessary if a pictorial recording has been made of the foreign national
- Proof of accommodation covering full time of your stay
- Flight ticket – not exceeding period of 90 days
- Comprehensive insurance for the foreigners
- Invitation letter (provided by the CZU)