Long-term residence permits
Long-term residence permits are for stays longer than 90 days and are issued with maximum two years validity (one exception applies). Choose the right permit for you according to the purpose of your stay.
Long-term residence permits
Long-term residence permits are for stays longer than 90 days and are issued with maximum two years validity (one exception applies). They are issued in the form of a biometric card.
There are various purposes:
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Employment
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Employee card (also called Work visa)
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Blue card
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Intra-corporate transfer card
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Family reunion
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CEO/Business owner
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Trade licence
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Study
Employee card
An Employee card, also called Work visa, is a type of long-term residence permit for stays over 90 days for the purpose of employment.
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The first Employee card is applied for at the Czech embassy in your home country or anywhere (apart from the Czech Republic) in case you are a national of one of these countries. If you are already living in the Czech Republic on a visa/permit with a different purpose, you can submit the application at the local department of the Ministry of Interior. Extensions are always submitted at the Ministry of Interior.
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The Employee card is issued with a maximum two years validity, but can be shortened in accordance with the employment contract.
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There are two types:
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DUAL
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This Employee card contains the long-term residence permit and work permit in a form of a vacancy. The Employee card is tied to the vacancy, and any change of details mentioned in it must have approval from the Ministry of Interior.
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Change of employer/position: if you wish to change employer (or position in the company), you must ask the Ministry of Interior for approval no longer than 60 days from the end of your employment, or the Ministry of Interior may initiate termination of your Employee card for not fulfilling the purpose of it!
NON DUAL
- This Employee card is only a long-term residence permit; the Work permit is either issued on the side (in case of dispatched workers from non-EU countries) or is not needed at all (if you have free access to the labour market, i.e. you are a student or graduate of Czech certified studies)
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Change of employer/position: any chances regarding the position or employer must be announced to the Ministry of Interior within three days.
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Blue card
The Blue card, also called Work visa, is a type of Long-term residence permit for stays over 90 days for the purpose of employment of highly educated foreigners (holders of at least a Bachelor degree) who will earn at least 1.5x of the average Czech salary (approx. CZK 57 000 in 2022).
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The first Blue card is applied for at the Czech embassy in your home country or anywhere else (apart from the Czech Republic) in case you are national of one of these countries, or in another EU country where you are a holder of the Blue card. If you are already living in the Czech Republic on a visa/permit with a different purpose, you can also submit the application at the local department of the Ministry of Interior. Extensions are always submitted at the Ministry of Interior.
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The Blue card is issued with a maximum two year validity, but can be shortened in accordance with the Employment contract.
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My tip: Holders of the Blue card gain free access to the labour market after two years, so then you can change employer/position even without approval of the Ministry of Interior. Such change only has to be announced.
Intra-corporate transfer card (ICT)
Long-term residence permit for stays over 90 days of managers, specialists or trainees transferred from their home country to the Czech branch of the same company.
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The Intra-corporate transfer card is applied for at the Czech embassy in your home country or anywhere else (apart from the Czech Republic) in case you are national of one of these countries. It is issued in the form of a biometric card with maximum three years validity. It cannot be extended.
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Requirements:
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The sending company and company based in the Czech Republic must be inter-connected. One is branch/sister/mother or daughter company of the other.
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You have been employed in the sending company for at least six months before submitting the application