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Migration and Home Affairs
  • 19 September 2025

Student in Czechia

Are you a non-EU citizen wishing to study in Czechia? You can find information below on the conditions to fulfil and procedures to follow, as well as the rights you can enjoy during your stay.

Conditions

A third-country national who intends to reside in the territory of the Czech Republic for a period longer than 3 months and to study there concurrently must obtain a long-term visa for the purpose of studies, or a residence permit for the purpose of studies directly.

In case of lodging the application for these residence permits, a third-country citizen has to participate in an educational activity that could be considered as studies according to the Law. To check if the educational activity can be considered as studies, visit this site. If a third-country national is participating in an educational activity that is not stated in the list mentioned above, he/she shall apply for a visa for a stay of over 90 days for the purpose of ‘other’.

Procedures

Where to apply

A long-term visa for the purpose of study

The application for a long-term visa for the purpose of study has to be lodged in person at the Embassy of the Czech Republic abroad. A third-country national is entitled to lodge the application at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in the state of which he/she is a citizen, or that issued his/her travel document or in the state where a third-country national has a long-term or permanent residence permit. Compliance with this condition is waived for a third-country national who is a citizen of a state that belongs to the list of countries whose citizens are entitled to file the application at any Embassy of the Czech Republic abroad.

The application has to be filed in an appropriate form. Submission of the application is charged with the administrative fee. This administrative fee is equal to 1 000 CZK and it has to be paid in the foreign currency in general. It is not possible to lodge the application in the territory of Czechia.

A residence permit for the purpose of study

In general, the application for issuing the residence permit for this purpose can be lodged at the Embassy of the Czech Republic abroad. However, a third-country national is entitled to lodge this application in the territory of Czechia at the office of the Ministry of the Interior as well, if he/she has been already residing in the territory based on a long-term visa or a residence permit issued for another purpose or if he/she has been residing there based on a residence permit issued for the same purpose (i.e. study) by another Member State of the European Union and covered by the EU or a multilateral programme or an agreement between universities.

In case he/she has been residing in the territory based on a long-term visa or a residence permit issued for another purpose, he/she is entitled to lodge the application until the very end of validity of such residence permit. On the other side, if he/she has been residing there based on a residence permit issued by another Member State for the same purpose, he/she is entitled to lodge the application during his/her visa-free stay whenever (at the end of his/her visa-free stay at the latest).

A third-country national, who is residing in the territory of Czechia based on a long-term visa issued by another Member State of the European Union for the purpose of study and covered by the EU or a multilateral programme or an agreement between universities, thus, who is entitled to stay in the territory without any special permit, is not entitled to lodge the application for a residence permit in the territory of Czechia.

The application has to be filed in an appropriate form. Submission of the application for the residence permit is charged with the administrative fee. This administrative fee is equal to 2 500 CZK and has to be paid in the form of a revenue stamp(s) if the application is lodged in the territory of Czechia. In case the application is lodged at the Embassy abroad, this fee is generally paid in the foreign currency.

Documents required

To obtain a long-term visa for the purpose of studies, a third-country citizen must submit:

  • a valid travel document;
  • a document confirming the purpose of stay in the territory (e.g. a confirmation of enrolment in studies, etc.);
  • a document confirming availability of accommodation;
  • a photograph showing the current appearance of the applicant;
  • sufficient financial means;
  • if required, an extract from the Penal Registry record and a document proving that he/she fulfilled the conditions set out by the interim measures of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic on the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases.

If the application has been approved, an appropriate Embassy of the Czech Republic will affix the visa sticker to a third-country national’s travel document. Prior the affixing, a third-country national is obliged to present a medical travel insurance document and, upon request, proof of payment of the insurance premium. These documents are not required if the third-country national subscribes to public health insurance or if the costs for health care are covered on the basis of an international agreement or if the third-country national can demonstrate that health care is covered in another manner.

To obtain a residence permit for the purpose of studies, a third-country citizen must submit:

  • a valid travel document;
  • a document confirming the purpose of stay in the territory (e.g. a confirmation of enrolment in studies, etc.);
  • a document confirming availability of accommodation;
  • a photograph showing the current appearance of the applicant;
  • if the applicant is a minor, a parental consent or consent of any other statutory representatives or guardians with the residence of a child in the territory of Czechia;
  • sufficient financial means;
  • if required, an extract from the Penal Registry record and a document proving that he/she fulfilled the conditions set out by the interim measures of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic on the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases.

Further requirements

Originals or other officially authenticated copies of all the attached documents must be submitted. Travel documents must be submitted in original. All submitted documents in foreign languages must be submitted in their original version and with an officially certified translation into the Czech language. The required attachments to the applications must not be older than 180 days, except for travel documents and the photograph of the third-country national, provided that corresponds to his/her current appearance.

If the application has been lodged at the Embassy of the Czech Republic abroad and if it has been approved, a third-country national is obliged to present a proof of medical travel insurance valid from the day of entry until the date he/she will be covered by public health insurance. Moreover, a third-country national is obliged to submit a proof of payment of the insurance premium upon request. If the application was lodged in the territory of Czechia, a third-country citizen is obliged to submit this proof right away (at the moment of the submission of the application).

Upon arrival in Czechia, a third-country national who has applied for a residence permit has to visit an appropriate office of the Ministry of the Interior in person to provide biometric data that are necessary for the production of a residence card. The residence card then will be issued at latest within 60 days.

Duration of validity of permits

A long-term visa for the purpose of studies is issued for a period that is demonstrated with the document confirming the purpose of stay in the territory (i.e. the confirmation of studies), however, for a period not longer than one year.

A residence permit for the purpose of studies is issued for the duration of 2 years, possibly for the duration stated in the document confirming the purpose of stay in the territory (if the duration stated there is shorter than 2 years).

Conditions for renewal

The validity of the long-term visa can be repeatedly extended on the condition that the same purpose of stay remains in place, but for a maximum period of one year (i.e. a period of current validity and a period of extended validity could not be longer than one year together).

The application for an extension of validity of the long-term visa has to be lodged in the territory of Czechiaat the office of the Ministry of the Interior. The application must be submitted before the expiry of the period of validity of a long-stay visa at the latest, but not earlier than 90 days before the expiry of this period.

Detailed information about an extension of a long-term visa

The validity of the residence permit can be extended, provided that the same conditions applicable to the issue of a permit are met. The validity of this residence permit can be extended for a period stated in the document confirming the purpose of stay in the territory of Czechia, however, for a period not longer than 2 years.

The application for an extension has to be lodged in the territory of Czechia at the office of the Ministry of the Interior. A third-country citizen is entitled to lodge this application before the expiration of the validity of the previous residence permit at the latest, but not sooner than 120 days before the expiration of its validity.

Detailed information about an extension of a residence permit

Appeals

If the long-term visa is refused, you may ask the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic for a new examination of the reasons for the visa refusal within 15 days from the date on which you received the notice that your visa has been refused. The application for the new examination of the reasons must contain the information on the person submitting the application and why this person considers the decision to be at variance with laws and regulations or why the decision or the procedure preceding the issuance of the decision is regarded as incorrect. This application cannot be submitted due to facts that have not been evidenced or stated in the visa application.

If the application for issuing or extending the residence permit is not approved, a third-country national can appeal by requesting that the Ministry of the Interior reassess his/her application within 15 days of the original decision being delivered to him/her. A special Commission at the Ministry of the Interior will examine and make a decision about the request.

Further information

Detailed information about long-term visas for the purpose of studies

Detailed information about residence permits for the purpose of studies

Information for school and students

Detailed information about a visa-free stay of third-country students who are holders of a residence permit issued by another Member State of the EU

Rights

Employment during studies

A third-country national who resides in the territory of Czechia based on a valid residence permit or a valid long-term visa for the purpose of studies is entitled to work without any special permit (i.e. he/she does not need to apply for the Employee Card, the Blue Card, for issuing the working permit, etc.). A holder of this residence permit has a free access to the labour market in the territory of Czechia for a whole period of validity of this residence permit. A third-country national who has graduated successfully has a free access to the labour market as well.

Detailed information about a free entry to the Labour market

Stay and employment after studies

A third-country national who has been residing in the territory of Czechia as a student (based on a residence permit for the purpose of studies) and, concurrently, who has successfully completed his/her university education is eligible to file an application for a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment or, as the case may be, an application for a residence permit for the purpose of starting a business.

The application for issuing a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment/starting a business has to be lodged in the territory of Czechia at the office of the Ministry of the Interior. This application has to be filed in person no sooner than 120 days before the end of the validity of such a residence permit and no later than on the last day of its validity. The application has to be filed in an appropriate form.

To obtain a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment/starting a business, a holder of a residence permit for the purpose of studies must submit:

  • a valid travel document;
  • a document on availability of accommodation;
  • a photograph showing the current appearance of the applicant;
  • a document on availability of funds for his/her residence for the entire duration of their stay in the country or a document proving that his/her total monthly income will not be lower than the sum of the subsistence minimum and the officially determined highest average cost of housing or the actual cost of housing incurred;
  • a document on successful completion of university studies issued by the relevant university;
  • a document on travel medical insurance for the entire duration of his/her stay in the territory of Czechia and upon request a document on payment of the insurance premium.

The period of validity of an issued residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment or starting a business is nine months and this permit cannot be renewed.

Detailed information about a residence permit for a seeking employment or starting a business

Change of status

A third-country national who is a holder of the long-term visa for the purpose of studies and who intends to reside in the territory for another purpose than the one that he/she was granted the visa, has to apply for issuing a new long-term visa for the required purpose. The application has to be lodged at the Embassy of the Czech Republic abroad.

A third-country national who is a holder of the residence permit in the territory of Czechia and who intends to reside in the territory for another purpose than the one that he/she was granted the permit is obliged to apply to the Ministry of the Interior for a new residence permit.

Detailed information about the change of the purpose of residence

Family members

Family members of a third-country national who is a holder of the long-term visa or a residence permit are entitled to apply for a visa for a stay of over 90 days (a long-term visa) for the purpose of family reunification as well. This application has to be lodged at the Embassy of the Czech Republic abroad.

Detailed information about a long-term visa for the purpose of family

Mobility

If you are a holder of a visa for a stay of over 90 days (a long-term visa) for the purpose of studies or
if you are a holder of a residence permit for this purpose that are issued by a Member State of the European Union and, concurrently, if you are participating in the EU or multilateral programme or agreement between universities, you may carry out part of your studies and work (in addition to your studies) in Czechia if you fulfil certain requirements.

If you are a holder of a long-term visa issued by another Member State of the EU (except Ireland and Denmark) for the purpose of studies covered by the EU or a multilateral programme or an agreement between universities, you are entitled to reside in the territory of Czechia for the same purpose (i.e. studies) without any special permit or a visa for a period not longer than 360 days.

Similarly, if you are a holder of a residence permit issued by another Member State of the EU (except Ireland and Denmark)for the purpose of studies covered by the EU or a multilateral programme or an agreement between universities, you are entitled to reside in the territory of Czechia for the same purpose (i.e. studies) without any special permit or a visa for a period not longer than 365 days.

If you are not covered by a programme or agreement mentioned above, you can apply for issuing a new long-term visa or a residence permit for the purpose of studies according to the rules stated in the Student section.

The applicable procedure

A third-country national who is a holder of a residence permit issued by another Member State of the EU (except Ireland and Denmark) for the purpose of studies covered by the EU or a multilateral programme or an agreement between universities is entitled to lodge the application for the residence permit for the same purpose (i.e. studies) at the office of the Ministry of the Interior in the territory of Czechia if he/she intends to stay in the Czech Republic for a period exceeding one year. A third-country national is entitled to lodge the application during his/her visa-free stay (at the end of this visa-free stay at the later). The maximum length of stay for which any kind of residence permits is not required is 365 days from the date of entry in the territory of Czechia.

The application has to be filed in an appropriate form. Submission of the application for a residence permit is charged with the administrative fee that is equal to 2 500 CZK. This fee has to be paid in the form of a revenue stamp(s).

Required documents

To obtain a residence permit for the purpose of studies, a third-country national must submit:

  • a valid travel document;
  • a document confirming the purpose of stay in the territory (e.g. a confirmation of enrolment in studies, etc.);
  • a document confirming availability of accommodation;
  • a photograph showing the current appearance of the applicant;
  • if the applicant is a minor, a parental consent or consent of any other statutory representatives or guardians with the residence of a child in the territory of Czechia;
  • sufficient financial means;
  • if required,an extract from the Penal Registry record and a document proving that he/she fulfilled the conditions set out by the interim measures of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic on the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases.

Originals or other officially authenticated copies of all the attached documents must be submitted. Travel documents must be submitted in original. All submitted documents in foreign languages must be submitted in their original version and with an officially certified translation into the Czech language. The required attachments to the applications must not be older than 180 days, except for travel documents and the photograph of the third-country national, provided that corresponds to his/her current appearance.

Detailed information about residence permits for the purpose of studies

Employment during studies 

A mobile third-country national who resides in the territory of Czechia based on a valid residence permit or valid long-term visa for the purpose of studies is entitled to work without any special permit (i.e. he/she does not need to apply for the Employee Card, the Blue Card, for issuing the working permit, etc.). A holder of this residence permit has a free access to the labour market in the territory of Czechia for a whole period of validity of this residence permit. A third-country national who has graduated successfully has a free access to the labour market as well.

Detailed information about free access to the labour market

Employment after studies 

A third-country national who has been residing in the territory of Czechia as a student (based on a residence permit for the purpose of studies) and, concurrently, who has successfully completed his/her university education is eligible to file the application for a residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment or, as the case may be, an application for a residence permit for the purpose of starting a business.

The period of validity of an issued residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment or starting a business is nine months and this permit cannot be renewed.

Detailed information about residence permits for seeking employment or starting a business