During residency
The following text provides essential information for non-EU international students regarding their stay in the Czech Republic. We strongly recommend that all non-EU international students read this information as it is crucial for their legal stay in Olomouc, the Czech Republic, or even the entire European Union.
Extension of Residency
The application for a residency document extension can be submitted no earlier than 90 days before its expiration. We highly recommend initiating the process of extending the long-term visa/residence permit as early as possible. We recommend starting the extension process at least 2 months before the expiration of the residency document.
IMPORTANT - due to a new policy of MOI, you have to make an appointment for the document submission through the Ministry of Interior portal. Here is a detailed guide on how to register on the portal.
If a student wishes to extend their residency document (long-term residence permit or long-term visa), they need to gather the required documents listed below and submit them to the respective administrative officers at the MOI department. This can be done either in person or by mail.
Personal Submission of Documents
To apply for an extension of either a long-term residence permit or a long-term visa, it is possible to submit the documents in person.
Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Inform Welcome Office through welcome@upol.cz about your intention to extend your residency document. Make sure to include your given and family names, date of birth, nationality, faculty, and attach a scanned copy or photo of your current residency document and passport.
- Gather documents necessary for the extension of your residency document (long-term residence permit required documents, long-term visa required documents). We can help you check your documents to prevent problems with the process of approval.
- Make an appointment for submission of documents for an extension through your account on the Ministry of Interior web page make an appointment for a submission of documents for an extension. If do not have an account yet, you can make one here and here is the guide of the Ministry of Interior on how to make one. And if something is still unclear, you can come to our office and we can help create an account.
- Attend the appointment and bring all the required documents.
- Track the status of your application using your reference number (provided during the appointment) on the MOI website:
- If your application is approved, the MOI department will arrange an appointment for biometric scanning.
- If your application is still in process, the MOI is currently reviewing and evaluating your documents.
- If your application has been in process for more than 35 days, please check your mailbox for a possible letter from the MOI department, which may request additional documents. We also recommend sending an email to pobyty@mvcr.cz, stating your given and family names, date of birth, and requesting information about the status of your application and whether any additional documents are required.
- If your application is rejected, please contact welcome@upol.cz, and we will assist you on a case-by-case basis.
- Await an email from the Welcome Office or an announcement from the MOI department regarding your biometric scanning appointment.
- Attend the biometric scanning appointment and receive your new residency document.
Submission of Documents by Mail
It is also possible to apply for an extension by sending the required documents through mail, whether it is for a long-term residence permit or a long-term visa. However, please note that the transfer from a long-term visa to a long-term residence permit must be done in person and cannot be processed through mail.
Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Inform Welcome Office through welcome@upol.cz about your intention to extend your residency document. Make sure to include your given and family names, date of birth, nationality, faculty, and attach a scanned copy or photo of your current residency document and passport.
- Collect all the necessary documents for the extension of your residency document (long-term residence permit required documents, long-term visa required documents). We can check your documents to prevent problems with the process of approval.
- Place all the required documents in an envelope and send them as a registered letter to the address of the MOI department:
Pracoviště MV Odboru azylové a migrační politiky
třída Kosmonautů 989/8, 779 00 Olomouc - After approximately 5 days, send an email to pobyty@mvcr.cz. Include your name, surname, and date of birth, and request the reference number of your application. This number will allow you to track the progress of your application on the MOI website.
- If your application is approved, the MOI department will arrange an appointment for biometric scanning.
- If your application is still in process, the MOI is currently reviewing and evaluating your documents.
- If your application has been in process for more than 35 days, please check your mailbox for a possible letter from the MOI department, which may request additional documents. We also recommend sending an email to pobyty.olomouc@mvcr.cz stating your given and family names, date of birth, and requesting information about the status of your application and whether any additional documents are required.
- If your application is rejected, please contact welcome@upol.cz, and we will assist you on a case-by-case basis.
- Await an email from the Welcome Office or an announcement from the MOI department regarding your biometric scanning appointment.
- Attend the biometric scanning appointment and receive your new residency document.
Required Documents: Extension of Long-term Residence Permit
To extend a long-term residence permit, the student must acquire several documents and make the payment for the administrative fee in the form of revenue stamps. Below is a list of all the required documents.
- Official application form (long-term residence permit form);
- Travel document (personally provided original; by letter send only copy of passport);
- Document confirming the purpose of stay in the Czech Republic (confirmation on the enrolment in education);
- Proof of accommodation (provided either by property lessor or Accommodation and Dining Facilities of Palacký University);
- 1 photograph (35 mm x 45 mm);
- Document on travel medical insurance for the period of a stay in the Czech Republic (comprehensive/complex medical insurance for foreigners up to 400 000 euros per one insurance event).
- Proof of funds;
- Fee payment (administrative fee in the form of revenue stamps, 2 500,-).
Please note that all documents must be in the Czech language or officially translated into Czech. The only exception is the document providing proof of funds, which can be in English. However, it is important that all the necessary information is clearly distinguishable in the document.
Required Documents: Extension of Long-term Visa
To extend a long-term visa, the student must acquire several documents to obtain approval for the residency document. Below is a list of all the required documents.
- Official application form (long-term visa form);
- Travel document (personally provided original; by letter send only copy of passport);
- Document confirming the purpose of stay in the Czech Republic (confirmation on the enrolment in education);
- Proof of accommodation (provided either by property lessor or Accommodation and Dining Facilities of Palacký University);
- 1 photograph (35 mm x 45 mm);
- Document on travel medical insurance for the period of a stay in the Czech Republic (comprehensive/complex medical insurance for foreigners up to 400 000 euros per one insurance event). As an Erasmus or an Erasmus+ student, you might not need an insurance. Get more information from your officer.
- Proof of funds.
Please note that all documents must be in the Czech language or officially translated into Czech. The only exception is the document providing proof of funds, which can be in English. However, it is important that all the necessary information is clearly distinguishable in the document.
Transferring from Long-term Visa to Long-term Residence Permit
A long-term visa can only be extended for a maximum period of 12 months in total. Therefore, if a student plans to study for a longer duration, it is necessary to apply for a transfer from a long-term visa to a long-term residence permit, which can be extended multiple times.
It is important to note that the transfer from a long-term visa to a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies can only be done in person and not by mail. If a student wishes to apply for this transfer, it is recommended to follow the specific steps provided below.
Required Documents: Transferring from Long-term Visa to Long-term Residence Permit
To transfer from a long-term visa to a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies, the student must acquire several documents and pay an administrative fee in the form of revenue stamps. Below is a list of all the required documents.
- Official application form (long-term residence permit form);
- Travel document (personally provided original; by letter send only copy of passport);
- Document confirming the purpose of stay in the Czech Republic (confirmation on the enrolment in education);
- Proof of accommodation (provided either by property lessor or Accommodation and Dining Facilities at Palacký University);
- 1 photograph (35 mm x 45 mm);
- Document on travel medical insurance for the period of a stay in the Czech Republic ( (comprehensive/complex medical insurance for foreigners up to 400 000 euros per one insurance event)).
- Proof of funds;
- Fee payment (administrative fee in the form of revenue stamps, 2 500,-).
Please note that all documents must be in the Czech language or officially translated into Czech. The only exception is the document providing proof of funds, which can be in English. However, it is important that all the necessary information is clearly distinguishable in the document.
Long-term Residence Permit for the Purpose of Seeking Employment
If a student's final exam is scheduled within the next month and they intend to stay in the Czech Republic for the purpose of seeking employment, it is the ideal time to apply for a change of purpose from studying to seeking employment.
When a student completes their last final exam and concludes their studies, the long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies automatically expires, regardless of its validity. Therefore, if a student intends to extend their stay in the Czech Republic for the purpose of seeking employment, it is necessary to apply for a long-term residence permit specifically for that purpose before the expiration date of their current residency document (issued for the purpose of studies).
The document confirming the successful completion of their university studies can be submitted additionally after the application if a student does not possess such a document yet.
To apply for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of seeking employment, a student must follow the steps below.
Bridging Label
The student can ask for a bridging label when submitting the documents for the extension. It allows them to travel abroad and even outside of the borders of the EU/EEA or Schengen areas. Its expiration date will depend on the expected date of obtainment of the renewed residency document. We recommend you bring documents (such as flight tickets) that will confirm that you will leave. You can also come to the Ministry of Interior offices later (if the process takes longer than you expected and you need to travel) and ask for a bridging label.
If, for some reason, your bridging label expires before the receiving of the residency document, the student can apply for a new bridging label. You can come to the Ministry of Interior offices and ask for a new bridging label.
Reporting the changes - Change of Residence
If you decide to move to a new accommodation, you will have to report to changes to MOI within 30 working days. It is a simple process but it will prevent you from any troubles with MOI if you were for example to switch from visa to residence permit or if you were to extend your residency permit. There is no administrative fee for reporting a change of address.
To report the changes, follow the steps below:
- Gather the necessary documents - a certified copy of your accommodation contract and the relevant form (in the form, sign "other").
- Submit your documents - you can do this either personally after making an appointment online or by phone, or send the documents by post. If you send the documents by post, we recommend calling MOI no later than week after you send the documents to make sure your letter has arrived.
If you want to change your permanent residence, the rules and requirements are slightly different. You can look them up at the MOI portal.
If you are unsure about something, you can always contact us at welcome@upol.cz.
Acquiring a Birth Number/ID Number
Some students might need a birth number for various administrative procedures (requested by the university, bank, Ministry of Interior, employer, and others).
Two situations can occur:
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You have been assigned a personal identity number but it is not included in the document yet - You can go to the Ministry of the Interior office in person. There you will receive an individual document with the personal identity number you have been assigned. For this, you can make an appointment online.
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You have not been assigned a personal identity number yet - If you have been waiting for a personal identity number for more than 4 months, we recommend that you go to a Ministry of the Interior offices and consult the Ministry employees.