Business visitors for establishment purposes (BVEPs)
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- In case of a stay not exceeding 90 days, a business visitor who is a citizen of a third country listed in the EU Regulation 1806/2018, travels to Czechia exclusively for the purpose of business negotiations and does not engage in any remunerated activity, is authorised to a visa-free stay. Other business visitors for establishment purposes are required to obtain a short-stay visa (Schengen Visa) for the purpose of business.
- For a stay over 90 days, the business visitor may obtain a national long-stay visa issued for the purpose of (undefined) “other activities”. The visa may be granted if an applicant credibly demonstrates that the accomplishment of his/her business-establishment goal requires more than 90 days of stay in Czechia. (A long-stay visa for the purpose of business may be granted only if a company is already based in Czechia and the applicant is registered as a business owner or a governing body of the company).
Work permit requirements
- No work permit is required.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
An applicant for the short-stay visa for the purpose of business is required to submit:
- a passport,
- a photograph,
- supporting documents on the purpose of stay (proving establishment purposes),
- proof of accommodation in Czechia,
- financial means,
- proof of return (most commonly air or other ticket reservation),
- Harmonised List documents,
- travel medical insurance.
An applicant for the long-stay visa for the purpose of “other activities” is required to submit:
- a passport,
- a photograph,
- supporting documents on the purpose of stay (proving establishment purposes),
- proof of accommodation in Czechia,
- financial means (most commonly a bank account statement and a valid internationally recognised payment card usable in Czechia),
- a criminal record extract (police clearance certificate),
- travel medical insurance.
Where and how to file an application
- Applications for short-stay or long-stay visas have to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy or in the relevant visa centre operated by an external service provider. There is no online application procedure; applications have to be submitted in paper form.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- A fee for the application for a short-stay visa for the purpose of business is 80 EUR. The legal processing time is up to 15 days.
- A fee for the application for a long-stay visa for the purpose of “other activities” is 2 500 CZK (approx. 100 EUR). The legal processing time is up to 90 days.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- The visa-free stay and the stay on the basis of the short-stay visa for the purpose of business is limited to 90 days within the 180-day period.
- The long-stay visa for the purpose of “other activities” may be granted with validity for up to 12 months.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- The visa-free stay and the short-stay visa for the purpose of business are not extendable over 90 days. The short-stay visa is not renewable; a new application has to be lodged abroad.
- The long-stay visa for the purpose of “other activities” issued with a validity period shorter than 12 months may be extended for up to 12 months. The visa is not renewable; a new application has to be lodged abroad.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- There is no specific procedure in case of a stay not exceeding 90 days. Dependents of the business visitor are either entitled to visa-free stay (depending on their nationality) or they have to apply for a short-stay visa for the purpose of a visit of a family member or an invitation. Applications for short-stay or long-stay visas have to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy or in the relevant visa centre.
- Family members of the holder of the long-stay visa for the purpose of “other activities” may apply for a national long-stay visa for family purposes. Applications have to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
- Rejected applicants may apply for a review of the decision by which their admission was denied within 15 days after receiving the information on the decision.
- The request for the review of the refusal of the short-stay visa for the purpose of business has to be submitted to the embassy that rejected the application. The request is forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reviews it within 60 days. The appellant receives information about the result from the embassy. In case the review confirms the negative decision, the applicant is entitled, within 30 days after receiving the information of the result, to request judicial review of the result.
- The request for the review of the refusal of the long-stay visa for other purposes has to be submitted to the Ministry of the Interior in Czechia. The application can be sent by mail. Within 60 days of the application being delivered, the Ministry will inform the appellant in writing of the results of the review of the reasons for not granting a visa. There is no possibility of a judicial review of the result.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas).
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.
- Government Regulation No. 215/2017 Coll. on Establishing Exemptions from the Visa Requirement and Liberation from the Visa Requirement.
- Act No. 326/1999 Coll. on Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Territory of the Czech Republic.
Short-term business visitors (STVB)
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
A short-term business visitor who is a citizen of a third country listed in the EU Regulation 1806/2018, travels to Czechia exclusively for the purpose of business negotiations and does not engage in any remunerated activity, is authorised to a visa-free stay. Other business visitors for establishment purposes are required to obtain a short-stay visa (Schengen Visa) for the purpose of business.
Work permit requirements
- No work permit is required.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
An applicant for the short-stay visa for the purpose of business is required to submit:
- a passport,
- a photograph,
- supporting documents on the purpose of stay (business partner invitation, document on business activities, document on business relationship, invitation to a trade fair, etc.),
- proof of accommodation in Czechia,
- financial means,
- proof of return (most commonly air or other ticket reservation),
- Harmonised List documents,
- travel medical insurance.
Where and how to file an application
- Applications for the short-stay visa for the purpose of business have to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy or in the relevant visa centre operated by an external service provider. There is no online application procedure; applications have to be submitted in paper form.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- A fee for the application for a short-stay visa for the purpose of business is 80 EUR. The legal processing time is up to 15 days.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- The visa-free stay and the stay on the basis of the short-stay visa for the purpose of business is limited to 90 days within the 180-day period.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- The visa-free stay and the short-stay visa for the purpose of business are not extendable over 90 days. The short-stay visa is not renewable; a new application has to be lodged abroad.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- There is no specific procedure in case of a stay not exceeding 90 days. Dependents of the short-term business visitor are either entitled to visa-free stay (depending on their nationality) or they have to apply for a short-stay visa for the purpose of a visit of a family member or an invitation. Applications for short-stay or long-stay visas have to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy or in the relevant visa centre.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
Rejected applicants may apply for a review of the decision by which their admission was denied within 15 days after receiving the information on the decision. The request for the review of the refusal of the short-stay visa for the purpose of business has to be submitted to the embassy that rejected the application. The request is forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reviews it within 60 days. The appellant receives information about the result from the embassy. In case the review confirms the negative decision, the applicant is entitled, within 30 days after receiving the information of the result, to request judicial review of the result.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas).
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.
- Government Regulation No. 215/2017 Coll. on Establishing Exemptions from the Visa Requirement and Liberation from the Visa Requirement.
Contractual service suppliers (CSSs)
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- In case of a stay not exceeding 90 days, a service supplier who is a citizen of a third country listed in the EU Regulation 1806/2018, and travels to Czechia to provide a service for a period of time not exceeding 7 consecutive days (or 30 days in a calendar year), is authorised to a visa-free stay. Service suppliers who are citizens of other countries or who do not meet the time restriction for provision of service mentioned above are required to obtain a short-stay visa (Schengen Visa) for the purpose of work.
- For a stay over 90 days, service suppliers may obtain a long-term residence permits for the purpose of work called “Employee Card”.
Work permit requirements
- Service suppliers are required to obtain a work permit granted by the relevant regional branch office of the Labour Office. The work permit is granted for the period of time for which the service is to be provided, with a maximum of 90 days (short-term provision) or 2 years (long-term provision).
Documentation required and conditions to be met
An applicant for a work permit is required to submit:
- a copy of a passport (a page containing personal identification data),
- a labour contract,
- a contract on the basis of which the service is provided in Czechia,
- relevant documents (e.g. licence) from the third country where the contractor is based proving the contractor is officially authorised there to carry out relevant business activities and provide services according to the local legislation.
An applicant for the short-stay visa for the purpose of work is required to submit:
- a passport,
- a photograph,
- a work permit,
- proof of accommodation in Czechia,
- proof of return (most commonly air or other ticket reservation),
- Harmonised List documents,
- travel medical insurance.
An applicant for the Employee Card is required to submit:
- a passport,
- a photograph,
- a work permit,
- proof of accommodation in Czechia,
- a criminal record extract (police clearance certificate).
Where and how to file an application
- The application for the work permit has to be submitted to the relevant regional branch office of the Labour Office. A contractee to whom the service is to be provided in Czechia is obliged to contact the Labour Office prior to concluding the contract with the contractor based in the third country. The application for a work permit may be submitted online only if a representative applying on behalf of a third-country national has a verified digital identity in Czechia.
- Applications for the short-stay visa for the purpose of work and the Employee Card have to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy or in the relevant visa centre operated by an external service provider. There is no online application procedure; applications have to be submitted in paper form.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- A fee for the application for a short-stay visa is 80 EUR. The legal processing time is up to 15 days.
- A fee for the application for an Employee Card visa is 5 000 CZK (approx. 200 EUR). The legal processing time is up to 60 days.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- The visa-free stay and the stay on the basis of the short-stay visa for the purpose of work is limited to 90 days within the 180-day period.
- The Employee Card may be granted with a validity for up to 2 years.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- The visa-free stay and the short-stay visa for the purpose of work are not extendable over 90 days. The short-stay visa is not renewable; a new application has to be lodged abroad.
- The Employee Card is repeatedly renewable.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- There is no specific procedure in case of a stay not exceeding 90 days. Dependents of the service supplier are either entitled to visa-free stay (depending on their nationality) or they have to apply for a short-stay visa for the purpose of a visit of a family member or an invitation. Applications for short-stay or long-stay visas have to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy or in the relevant visa centre.
- Family members of the holder of an Employee Card may apply for:
- a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification (but not sooner than the sponsor completes 6 months or stay in Czechia) or
- a national long-stay visa for family purposes (immediately, regardless of the length of the sponsor’s stay in Czechia).
- Applications have to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
- Rejected applicants for short-stay visas may apply for a review of the decision by which their admission was denied within 15 days after receiving the information on the decision. The request for the review of the refusal of a short-stay visa for the purpose of work has to be submitted to the embassy that rejected the application. The request is forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reviews it within 60 days. The appellant receives information about the result from the embassy. In case the review confirms the negative decision, the applicant is entitled, within 30 days after receiving the information of the result, to request judicial review of the result.
- Rejected applicant for an Employee Card may submit an appeal against the negative decision to the Ministry of the Interior within 15 days from the date of delivery of the decision. The appeal can be sent by mail. The Ministry will process it in 90 days, and inform the appellant in writing of the result. In case the rejection is confirmed, the applicant is entitled, within 30 days after receiving the information of the result, to request a judicial review.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas).
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 November 2018 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.
- Government Regulation No. 215/2017 Coll. on Establishing Exemptions from the Visa Requirement and Liberation from the Visa Requirement.
- Act No. 326/1999 Coll. on Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Territory of the Czech Republic.
- Act No. 435/2004 Coll. on Employment.
Independent professionals (IPs)
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
Independent professionals are allowed to apply for a national long-stay visa (over 90 days) for the purpose of self-employment (business).
Work permit requirements
- No work permit is required.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
An applicant for the long-stay visa for the purpose of self-employment (business) is required to submit:
- a passport,
- a photograph,
- supporting documents on the purpose of stay: a proof of entry of an applicant into the relevant register of professionals licenced to carry out an independent occupation (architects, tax counsellors, advocates etc.)/Trade Register/Commercial Register,
- proof of accommodation in Czechia,
- financial means (most commonly a bank account statement and a valid internationally recognised payment card usable in Czechia),
- a criminal record extract (police clearance certificate),
- travel medical insurance.
An applicant is also obliged to undergo a mandatory interview at the embassy.
Where and how to file an application
- An application for the long-stay visa for the purpose of self-employment has to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy. There is no online application procedure; applications have to be submitted in paper form.
Application fees and indicative processing time
A fee for the application for a long-stay visa for the purpose of self-employment is 5 000 CZK (approx. 200 EUR). The legal processing time is up to 60 days.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- The long-stay visa for the purpose of self-employment may be granted with a validity for up to 12 months.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- The long-stay visa issued with the validity period shorter than 12 months may be extended for up to 12 months. The visa is not renewable but its holder may apply (in the territory of Czechia) for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of self-employment.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- Family members of the holder of the long-stay visa for the purpose of self-employment may apply for a national long-stay visa for family purposes. Applications have to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
Rejected applicants may apply for a review of the decision by which their admission was denied within 15 days after receiving the information on the decision. The request for the review of the refusal of the long-stay visa for the purpose of self-employment has to be submitted to the Ministry of the Interior in Czechia. The application can be sent by mail. Within 60 days of the application being delivered, the Ministry will inform the appellant in writing of the results of the review of the reasons for not granting a visa. There is no possibility of a judicial review of the result.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- Act No. 326/1999 Coll. on Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Territory of the Czech Republic.
Investors
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
- Entrepreneurs who intend to settle in Czechia to make a “significant investment” (of at least 75 million CZK = approx. 3 million EUR) in order to start a new business may apply for a national long-term residence permit for the purpose of investment. Third-country nationals involved in the management of commercial corporations making such an investment may also apply for this type of residence permit provided that they are partners with at least 30 % share, or are in the position of governing bodies with substantial influence on the functioning of the corporation.
- Investors intending to settle in Czechia as business founders, business owners, or governing bodies of corporations based in Czechia that do not make such a significant investment may apply for a national long-stay visa (over 90 days) for the purpose of business.
- Czechia has no type of immigration scheme for Investors who intend to invest only in government bonds or real estate property, contribute to the public budget or funds, etc., without getting involved in business activities.
Work permit requirements
- No work permit is required.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
An applicant for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of investment is required to submit:
- a passport,
- a photograph,
- proof of accommodation in Czechia,
- travel medical insurance,
- a criminal record extract (police clearance certificate),
- a proof of entry of an applicant into the Trade Register/Commercial Register,
- documents related to the significant investment, i.e.:
- a feasible business plan including jobs creation (containing a description of the business targets and strategy, a risk assessment, a time schedule for implementation of the plan, a description of the product to be manufactured or service to be provided, etc.),
- a document demonstrating the availability of finances for the implementation of the significant investment (deposited on a bank account in the EU); upon request, proof of legitimate origin of the finances (tax returns or other proofs of income),
- documents proving ownership and origin of other assets to be invested (e.g. a purchase contract) and an expert valuation of such assets,
- documents demonstrating net profits of the applicant, commercial corporation, and its controlling entity for the 2 calendar or accounting years preceding the date of lodging the application,
- a statutory statement by the applicant that a decision with an effect similar to a bankruptcy decision has not been served either on the applicant, the commercial corporation, or its controlling entity in the country of its hitherto operations.
An applicant for the long-stay visa for the purpose of business is required to submit:
- a passport,
- a photograph,
- supporting documents on the purpose of stay: a proof of entry of an applicant into the Trade Register/Commercial Register,
- proof of accommodation in Czechia,
- financial means (most commonly a bank account statement and a valid internationally recognised payment card usable in Czechia),
- a criminal record extract (police clearance certificate),
- travel medical insurance.
An applicant is also obliged to undergo a mandatory interview at the embassy.
Where and how to file an application
An application for both the long-term residence permit for the purpose of investment and the long-stay visa for the purpose of business has to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy. There is no online application procedure; applications have to be submitted in paper form.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- A fee for the application for both the long-term residence permit for the purpose of investment and the long-stay visa for the purpose of business is 5 000 CZK (approx. 200 EUR).
- The legal processing time for the application for the long-term residence permit for the purpose of investment is 30 days. The legal processing time for the application for the long-stay visa for the purpose of business is up to 90 days.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- The long-term residence permit for the purpose of investment may be granted with a validity for up to 2 years.
- The long-stay visa may for the purpose of business may be granted with a validity for up to 12 months.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- The long-term residence permit for the purpose of investment is repeatedly renewable.
- The long-stay visa issued with the validity period shorter than 12 months may be extended for up to 12 months. The visa is not renewable but its holder may apply (in the territory of Czechia) for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of business.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- Family members of the holder of the long-term residence permit for the purpose of investment may apply for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification.
- Family members of the holder of the long-stay visa for the purpose of business may apply for a national long-stay visa for family purposes.
- Applications have to be lodged in person at the relevant Czech embassy.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
- Rejected applicants for the long-term residence permit for the purpose of investment may submit an appeal against the negative decision to the Ministry of the Interior within 15 days from the date of delivery of the decision. The appeal can be sent by mail. The Ministry will process it in 90 days, and inform the appellant in writing of the result. In case the rejection is confirmed, the applicant is entitled, within 30 days after receiving the information of the result, to request a judicial review.
- Rejected applicants for the long-stay visa for the purpose of business may apply for a review of the decision by which their admission was denied within 15 days after receiving the information on the decision. The request for the review of the refusal of the long-stay visa for the purpose of business has to be submitted to the Ministry of the Interior in Czechia. The application can be sent by mail. Within 60 days of the application being delivered, the Ministry will inform the appellant in writing of the results of the review of the reasons for not granting a visa. There is no possibility of a judicial review of the result.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- Act No. 326/1999 Coll. on Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Territory of the Czech Republic.
Please see under ‘Conditions’ for all information on International Service Providers.
Please see under ‘Conditions’ for all information on International Service Providers.
Please see under ‘Conditions’ for all information on International Service Providers.
Please see under ‘Conditions’ for all information on International Service Providers.