Permanent Residence in the Czech Republic: Complete 2026 Guide

Standard path — 5 years of continuous residence:

Most applicants need 5 uninterrupted years of legal residence. Time on a short-term visa (under 90 days) does NOT count.

Shortened paths:

• Spouse of Czech/EU citizen: 2 years of continuous residence
• Parent of a Czech citizen minor: Immediate eligibility
• EU permanent resident from another EU country: 5 years total EU residence, last 2 in Czech Republic
• Humanitarian reasons: At the discretion of the Ministry

Continuous residence means:

• You must not have been absent for more than 6 consecutive months
• No single absence may exceed 6 consecutive months, and absences must not total more than 310 days (§ 68(3)). The 10-month/560-day limit applies only if your employer posted you abroad.
• Exceptions: serious reasons (illness, pregnancy, study abroad, work posting — max 12 months)

Required documents:

1. Application form — Completed at the OAMP office
2. Valid passport
3. 2 passport photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm)
4. Proof of 5 years continuous residence — Visa stamps, residence cards, travel history
5. Proof of accommodation — Rental contract or ownership
6. Proof of income/finances — Employment contract, tax returns, bank statements showing you can support yourself (living minimum: 5,500 CZK/month for a person living alone + housing costs)
7. Criminal record — From the Czech Republic AND your home country. Supporting documents must not be older than 180 days under § 55(1), which covers the documents as a SET and does not apply to your passport, to civil-registry documents such as birth and marriage certificates, or to your photograph
8. A2 Czech language certificate — From an accredited exam center (UJOP)
9. Health insurance confirmation — Public health insurance (VZP or others)

Financial proof required:

• Single person: 5,500 CZK/month + housing
• Couple: add the first-person and further-adult living minimums (5,000 + 3,750 CZK) and then the housing component.
• Family with children: Adds ~2,480 CZK per child

You must pass a Czech language exam at level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) — § 2(1) of Government Regulation 31/2016 Sb., in the version in force since 1 January 2024. Older advice that says A1 is out of date.

Exam details:

• Level: A2
• Fee: 3,200 CZK
• Sections: Listening, reading, writing, speaking
• Timings and pass marks: in the Czech language exam guide, from the official A2 handbook
• Provider: UJOP (Ústav jazykové a odborné přípravy Univerzity Karlovy)
• Booking: Via cestina-pro-cizince.cz

Exemptions from the exam:

• Children under 15
• Adults over 65
• People with certain disabilities
• Those who completed education in Czech
• Those who passed B1 or higher Czech exam

Practice: A2 practice papers are part of Pro. The one free scored paper on Permit.cz is the citizenship reálie exam, which is a different test.

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Confirm you have 5 years of continuous residence and calculate any absences.

Step 2: Book the A2 exam

Register at cestina-pro-cizince.cz. Exam centers are in Prague, Brno, Plzeň, and other cities.

Step 3: Gather documents

Start with the criminal record — it takes the longest to obtain. The 180-day limit in § 55(1) applies to the supporting documents as a set, not to the certificate itself, and it exempts your passport, civil-registry documents and your photograph.

Step 4: Submit at OAMP

Visit your regional OAMP office (Odbor azylové a migrační politiky). Book an appointment at ipc.gov.cz.

Step 5: Provide biometrics

Fingerprints and photo taken at the OAMP office.

Step 6: Wait for decision

Standard: 60 days. You'll receive a written decision.

Step 7: Collect your PR card

The CARD is valid 10 years, or 5 years if issued to someone under 15 (§ 117c(2) of Act 326/1999). Renew the card before it expires; the permanent residence status itself does not lapse.

With PR you can:

• Live and work in the Czech Republic without restrictions
• Change employers freely (no notification needed)
• Access public healthcare
• Access social benefits
• Vote in local elections
• Study under the same conditions as Czech citizens
• Travel within the Schengen area (90 days in 180 days)
• Apply for Czech citizenship (after 5 more years with PR, or 10 years total)