guide for aliens in the czech republic

Transcription

1 guide for aliens in the czech republic 1

2 INTRODUCTION This publication is dedicated to all foreigners who come from states outside the EU and want to reside in the Czech Republic for a longer period of time or permanently for family, employment or other reasons. When compiling this Guide the Centre for Migration Issues tried to summarize the questions most frequently asked by foreigners in the everyday practice of the Centre. Therefore, every chapter contains not only basic descriptions of everyday situations regulated by law, but also practical information and warnings that arose from the long everyday experience of the Centre for Migration Issues. The Guide is divided into two elementary parts. The first one deals with different types of residency in the territory of the Czech Republic as defined in the Alien Act, no 326/1999 Coll. The second part contains information mainly concerning health care, education, employment and other issues relevant to your residency. We believe that this Guide will help you to solve everyday problems more easily. In case of need you can contact our office or the appropriate institution (for a list of institutions, see the end of the Guide). 2 3

3 CONTENT TYPES OF RESIDENCY IN THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC 1. TEMPORARY RESIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY 1.1. TEMPORARY RESIDENCE WITHOUT USA 1.2. SHORT-TERM VISA TRANSIT AIRPORT VISA (VISA TYPE A) TRANSIT VISA (VISA TYPE B) VISA AUTHORIZING A STAY UP TO 90 DAYS IN THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC (VISA TYPE C) General information Requisites necessary for visa authorizing a stay up to 90 days Extension of stay on visa authorizing a stay of up to 90 days in the territory Administrative fee for short-term visa 1.3. LONG-TERM VISA VISA AUTHORIZING A STAY OVER 90 DAYS (VISA TYPE D) General information Requisites necessary for visa authorizing a stay over 90 days Extension of a stay in the territory on visa authorizing a stay over 90 days General information Requisites necessary for extension of validity of Long-Term Visa Tolerated stay on visa over 90 days specific regime General information Extension of stay in the territory on tolerated stay visa LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT General Information Requisites necessary for the application for Long-term Residence Permit Change of Purpose of Residence Special Kinds of Long-term Residence Permit Long-term Residence Permit for the Purpose of Family Unification Long-term Residence Permit for Other EU member state resident Long-term Residence Permit for Educational Purpose Long-term residence permit for the purpose of temporary protection Long-term Residence Permit for Toleration Stay Extension of Long-term Residence Permit General Information Requisites needed for an application for the purpose of family unification for educational purpose 1.4. SPECIAL TYPES OF TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMITS DEPARTURE VISA 1.5. SOME GENERAL RULES FOR VISA GENERAL RULES SUMMARY OF KEY DEFINITIONS 2. PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY 2.1 PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT TYPES OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMITS Permanent residence permit without the condition of previous continuous residence in the territory Permanent residence permit with the condition of previous continuous residence in the territory of the Czech Republic Permanent residence permit with the condition of previous continuous residence in the territory of the Czech Republic after termination of the asylum procedure REQUISITES NECESSARY FOR THE APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT REASONS FOR NOT-GRANTING OR WITHDRAWING OF THE VALIDITY OF THE PERMANENT RESIDENCY PERMIT RESIDENCE PERMIT CARD ADMINISTRATIVE FEE 2.2. LEGAL STATUS OF A LONG-TERM RESIDENT IN THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC 2.1. GENERAL INFORMATION RIGHTS DERIVING FROM THE RESIDENT STATUS 3. RESIDENCE OF EU CITIZEN FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS 3.1. TEMPORARY RESIDENCE GENERAL INFORMATION AND TERMS REASONS FOR NOT-GRANTING OR WITHDRAWAL OF THE TEMPORARY EU CITIZEN FAMILY MEMBER PERMIT 3.2. PERMANENT RESIDENCY GENERAL INFORMATION THE EU CITIZEN FAMILY MEMBER RESIDENCE CARD 4. INFORMATION RELEVANT TO ALL ALIENS REGARDLESS OF THEIR RESIDENCE STATUS 4.1. ALIENS DUTIES AS STATED BY THE ALIEN ACT GENERAL DUTIES OF ALIENS DUTY TO REPORT THE PLACE OF RESIDENCE AFTER ENTERING THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC DUTY TO REPORT CHANGES IN THE PLACE OF RESIDENCE 4.2. TRAVEL DOCUMENT GENERAL INFORMATION ALIEN S PASSPORT TRAVEL IDENTITY CARD 4.3. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPULSION REASON FOR ISSUING THE DECISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPULSION SECURITY COMPONENTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPULSION 4.4. DETENTION OF AN ALIEN OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION 1. EDUCATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC 1.1. GENERAL POLICIES ACCESS TO EDUCATION COMPULSORY EDUCATION 1.2. INDIVIDUAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS KINDERGARTENS BASIC SCHOOLS SECONDARY SCHOOLS TERTIARY PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS UNIVERSITIES 1.3. CONVERSION OF VALIDITY (EQUALITY RECOGNITION) OF CERTIFICATIONS AND DEGREES OF EDUCATION DEFINITION OF TERMS INFORMATION FOR SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION 2. EMPLOYMENT 2.1. GENERAL POLICIES JOB MARKET ACCESS 2.2. WORK PERMIT GENERAL INFORMATION WORK PERMIT APPLICATION The process folloed by an Alien The Employer s procedure EXCEPTIONS 3. HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE 3.1. BASIC PRINCIPLES ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE EVIDENCE OF TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE 3.2. TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE Permanent residents Individuals without a permit for permanent residence in the CR Special cases CONTRACTUAL HEALTH INSURANCE 2.3. INSURANCE COMPANIES 4. SOCIAL SECURITY 4.1. SOCIAL INSURANCE AND PENSIONS SOCIAL INSURANCE PENSIONS 4.2. SOCIAL BENEFITS STATE SOCIAL SUPPORT BENEFITS SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS 5. FAMILY 5.1. PARTNERSHIP TERMS ENTERING MARRIAGE REGISTERED PARTNERSHIP 5.2. BIRTH REQUIREMENTS BIRTH IDENTITY NUMBER BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF A CHILD

4 TYPES OF RESIDENCY IN THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC This chapter contains information about all types of residency that are valid in the territory of the Czech Republic for foreigners from so called third countries (except EU and EFTA member states) and information about requirements that are necessary for obtaining these visas or residency permits. I. TEMPORARY RESIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY You can reside temporarily in the territory: without visa based on granted short-term visa, long-term visa, diplomatic or specific visa based on a temporary residence permit based on departure visa 1.1. TEMPORARY RESIDENCE WITHOUT VISA You can reside in the territory of the Czech Republic without visa if you are from the following group of foreigners: EU citizens citizens of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein citizens of states with which the CR has relevant international treaties about abolition of visa duty or if a visa duty was abolished by a government decree of the Czech Republic You can find the list of states whose citizens do not need to a have visa on the web page (section Police CR/Alien and Border Police/Czech Republic/information for residence of aliens/laws and forms/list of abolished visa duty for entry of aliens in the territory of the Czech Republic) Citizens of these states can reside in the territory of the Czech Republic without visa for up to 3 months. ATTENTION If you are residing for the purpose of gainful activity (e.g. employment) you have to apply for a work permit issued by appropriate employment office based in the place where the work is performed and subsequently apply for appropriate visa. You do not have to have a visa according to the Alien Act in the following situations: a) you have permanent residency permit with granted long-term resident status of the European Community in the territory of another EU member state and your stay in the Czech Republic will not exceed 3 months. b) you are a holder of resident permit of family member of EU citizen or permanent residency permit issued by other EU member and your stay in the Czech Republic will not exceed 3 months. c) you are a family member of EU citizen and your visa up to 90 days or transit visa expired and you reside in the territory together with EU citizen and your stay in the Czech Republic will not exceed 3 months. d) you are a holder of long-term residency permit or permanent residency permit in the territory of other EU state and your stay in the territory of the Czech Republic will not exceed 5 days. e) you are a student and you are not a citizen of a EU member state, but you have residency in another EU member state and you travel on school trip within EU as a member of group of students accompanied by a teacher and you are enlisted on an appropriate form of a list of students issued by the school. f) you are serving custody or sentence of imprisonment g) you are in police custody or in facility for detaining aliens (detention) h) you are younger than 15 when hospitalized if you arrived with another alien in whose passport you are registered and this alien left the territory i) you are a pilot or member of a regular airline crew if all legal requirements are met. The Alien Act further sets conditions under which the temporary residency in the territory without visa is terminated early and expires. The Czech Republic will not issue the so called Schengen visa and these visa issued by other EU member states will not entitle your stay in the territory of the Czech Republic till the Czech Republic implements the Schengen Treaty (the enlargement of Schengen area is planned for October 2007). 6 7

5 1.2. SHORT-TERM VISA It is possible to stay temporarily in the territory of the Czech Republic based on different types of visas (see above). The elementary ones are short-term and long-term visas TRANSIT AIRPORT VISA (VISA TYPE A) Description: this type of visa is used by aliens that stay at the transit area of international airport in the territory of the Czech Republic when waiting for their next flight. Specification: a list of states whose citizens need this type of visa is set by the regulation of the Ministry of Interior CR no. 86/2000 Coll. as amended by reg. no. 45/2003 Coll. According to this regulation the transit airport visas are required from citizens of following states: Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sri Lanca, Syria Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Kongo, Nigeria, Somalia TRANSIT VISA (VISA TYPE B) Description: a transit visa entitles you to travel through the territory of the Czech Republic when traveling from the territory of one state to the territory of another state. Where to apply: Czech embassy abroad VISA AUTHORIZING A STAY UP TO 90 DAYS IN THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC (VISA TYPE C) GENERAL INFORMATION Description: it is a so-called tourist visa that entitles you to short-term stay in the territory of the Czech Republic that is not longer than 90 days. Where to apply: Czech embassy abroad exceptionally at a border check-point of the Czech Republic if following conditions are fulfilled: if you could not apply for unpredictable reasons at the embassy if you apply for granting visa for humanitarian purpose, for an interest of the Czech Republic, based on international obligation of the Czech Republic or for another serious purpose (you have to prove this purpose). ATTENTION a) Short-term visa granted at a border checkpoint entitles only for stay for up to 5 days. b) After CR joins Schengen territory (October 2007) it will be possible to apply for visa at a border checkpoint in accordance with European law. Family members of EU citizens will also be allowed to apply at a border too. This kind of visa will allow you to stay in the territory of the Czech Republic for up to 15 days.. Visa validity period: is maximum of two years, BUT it enables you to stay in the territory of the Czech Republic for a time period specified on the visa with the reservation that total time period of a residency cannot exceed 3 months. Duration of processing an application: an embassy is required to process an application within 30 days. ATTENTION Please be aware that the visa validity does not correspond with a time period for which you are entitled to stay in the territory of the Czech Republic. (e.g.: if you have visa with validity from to and it is visa authorizing a stay for up to 90 days, it means that you can stay in the territory for 90 days, i.e. From to , from you are here illegally)! REQUISITES NECESSARY FOR VISA AUTHORIZING A STAY UP TO 90 DAYS General requisites necessary for granting this type of visa: travel document 1 photo an invitation certified by the Czech Police or a document certifying that the applicant possesses sufficient funds to stay in the Czech Republic and a document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the Czech Republic (it can be replaced by a document certifying that costs related with a stay within the territory are secured otherwise) a medical report that you do not suffer from a serious illness (only upon substantiated request) further documents verifying information stated in the visa application (e.g. stated purpose of stay) Specific requisites of visa application with purpose of employment (short-term employment not exceeding 90 days, so-called seasonal labor): work permit issued by Employment Office of CR (except for cases set by the Employment Act when it is not a condition for work see below the Summary of key definitions ) passport 1 photo a document certifying that the applicant provided for costs related with departure from the territory a medical report that you do not suffer from a serious illness (only upon substantiated request) a document certifying that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the Czech Republic a document certifying that the applicant possesses sufficient funds to stay in the Czech Republic is not required Other general duties: it is necessary to provide a document certifying travel health insurance contract valid for a stay in the territory, before issuing a visa (for exceptions see Summary of key definitions ) when applying for multi entry visa it is necessary to provide confirmation that you will have valid travel health insurance for each stay in the territory there is a duty to provide security in cash or by money transfer at the embassy that can be used to cover costs related with possible administrative expulsion from the territory (a so-called security will be returned upon your request after your return if it is not used to cover cost of your departure from CZ). The duty to pay security deposit is above all required from following states: Europe: Armenia, Georgia, Moldavia Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, Sri Lanca, Syria, Vietnam, Palestinian Authority (all Palestinian refugees in Asia and Africa) Africa: Angola, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, ATTENTION After implementing Schengen Treaty by CR the duty of providing security will be cancelled. Simplified requisites for a family member of EU citizen: travel document document certifying that you are a family member of EU citizen (e.g. Certificate of marriage) 1 photo Calculation of requested monetary funds: it is based on the subsistence level which is currently CZK if a stay in the territory does not exceed 30 days en bloc, it is necessary to prove funds corresponding with 0,5 of the above stated amount for every day of your stay. if your stay exceeds 30 days then you have to prove that you have an amount equaling 15 times the subsistence level. This amount doubles for every month of stay. children younger than 18 are required to prove half of an amount 8 9

6 when applying for visa with the purpose of employment, the document certifying a purpose of stay has to be working permit issued by Employment Office but a document certifying funds for stay is not required NOTE For information which documents are accepted for proving sufficient funds for stay in the territory, please see Summary of key definitions EXTENSION OF STAY ON VISA AUTHORIZING A STAY OF UP TO 90 DAYS IN THE TERRITORY Where to apply: Department of alien police based on registered place of stay When to apply: earliest 30 days and latest 3 days before expiring visa (for exceptions see General Rules below). ATTENTION Total time of stay in the territory of the Czech Republic, i.e. Sum of former and extended stay, cannot exceed 3 months! It is impossible to extend the visa: if there were no special reasons found for extension of your stay or if the reason for the application is a change of purpose of the stay if the police has found reasons to invalidate the visa (see General Rules ) Duration of processing an application: within 7 days from the day of filing an application Requisites: the same documents as the above listed general requisites or the same documents as the above listed general requisites of visa application with purpose of employment document certifying contractual travel health insurance for the time of stay in the territory (for exceptions see Summary of key definitions ). ATTENTION It is not necessary to provide security deposit and photo!!! Proving sufficient funding for a stay and its calculation: see above Application for a visa for up to 90 days ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR SHORT-TERM VISA Fees for short-term visa, i.e. a visa for up to 90 days, a transit visa and an airport transit visa: set by an embassy evaluating the application a visa issued at a border checkpoint there is an administrative fee of CZK there is an administrative fee of 200CZK for extension of visa children younger than 15 do not pay administrative fee 1.3. LONG-TERM VISA Long-term residency is a temporary residency in the territory that exceeds 90 days. There are two types of long-term residency: a) visa authorizing a stay over 90 days it is granted for the first year of your residency in the territory of the Czech Republic or for the purpose of obtaining residency permit b) long-term residency permit it is granted for the second and following years of your residency in the territory VISA AUTHORIZING A STAY OVER 90 DAYS (VISA TYPE D) GENERAL INFORMATION Description: a) Visa authorizing a stay over 90 days is granted to aliens who want to reside in the territory of the Czech Republic for a purpose that requires a stay longer than 3 months and it is the first year of stay. b) It is granted to an Alien for the purpose of obtaining a permanent residency permit, long-term residency permit for a purpose of family unification or for a purpose of studying in the territory (these visas entitle you to stay in the territory for 3 working days). Visa validity: for the first group the visa is valid max. 1 year for the second group the visa is valid max. 6 months ATTENTION Within the validity of the visa there is always a time period that corresponds with a time period for which you are entitled to stay in the territory of the Czech Republic. Within the validity of the visa there is always set a time period that correspond with the purpose of residency (e.g. If the visa is issued for employment, the time period for which it is valid, corresponds with the time period stated at the working permit)! Where to apply: the Czech embassy abroad Duration of processing an application: an embassy has to process an application within 120 days from the day of filing an application for visa with the purpose of studying, educational and scientific activity has to be processed within 60 days from the day of filing REQUISITES NECESSARY FOR VISA AUTHORIZING A STAY OVER 90 DAYS General Requisites necessary for granting this type of visa: travel document a document certifying purpose of stay document certifying that the applicant possesses sufficient funds to stay in the territory a document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the territory statement of criminal record of the Czech Republic (except for children younger than 15) 2 photos ATTENTION a) A duty to provide statement of criminal record of CR is considered fulfilled if you apply for the statement of criminal record at the embassy when applying for visa and you agree that the statement is sent directly to the Alien Police in the territory of the Czech Republic. b) A duty to provide a document certifying your purpose of stay in the territory, when applying for visa authorizing stay for over 90 days for the purpose of business activity according to the Trade Act, is considered fulfilled if you state in the application registration number of notification of trade or application for trade permit certificate and the address of Trade License office where you applied. Specific requisites for visa application with purpose of employment passport a document certifying that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the territory Statement of Criminal Record (except children younger than 15) 2 photos work permit issued by the Employment Office of CR (exceptions set by the Employment Act when it is not a condition for work see Summary of key definitions below) Other general duties: a) a duty to provide a document corresponding with the statement of Criminal Record issued by state of which you are a citizen states in which you resided in the last two years without interruption for the time period longer than 6 months 10 11

7 ATTENTION Such a document can be replaced by a declaration in case that a state does not issue such a document. Furthermore, such a document cannot be required from children younger than 15. b) a duty to provide a medical report that you do not suffer from a serious illness (only upon substantiated request) c) before obtaining visa it is necessary to provide a document certifying contracted travel health insurance for the time of stay in the territory (for exceptions see Summary of key definitions ). Calculation of requested monetary funds: it is based on the subsistence level which is currently CZK if your stay exceeds 30 days then you have to prove that you have an amount equaling 15 times the subsistence level. This amount doubles for every month of stay. in case of residency for the purpose of business that exceeds en bloc 90 days, it is necessary to provide funds of 50 times of above stated amount. children younger than 18 are required to prove half of an amount when applying for visa with purpose of employment a document certifying a purpose of stay has to be work permit issued by Emplyment Office but a document certifying funds for stay is not required NOTE For information which documents are accepted for proving sufficient funds for stay in the territory, please see Summary of key definitions Administration fee: for visa authorizing a stay over 90 days the administration fee is 1000 CZK children younger than 15 do not have to pay administration fee. Obtaining visa: it is possible to have one or more purposes at the visa over 60 days EXTENSION OF A STAY IN THE TERRITORY ON VISA AUTHORIZING A STAY OVER 90 DAYS GENERAL INFORMATION Conditions for extension of stay: the length of stay has to be shorter than validity of visa authorizing stay over 90 days the purpose of stay is still valid and the length of stay will not exceed validity of visa Where to apply: Department of Alien Police based on registered place of stay When to apply: earliest 120 days and latest 14 days before expiring visa (for exceptions see below General Rules ). When it is impossible to extend visa: if police find out reasons for invalidation of visa (see General Rules ) Duration of processing an application: within 7 days from filing application REQUISITES NECESSARY FOR EXTENSION OF VALIDITY OF LONG-TERM VISA General requisites of application for extension of validity of long-term visa: the same documents as general requisites of application for visa authorizing stay over 90 days upon request medical report as stated above Special requisites of application for extension of validity of visa with a purpose of employment: the same documents as submitted for the first application decision about an extension of a work permit upon request medical report as stated above ATTENTION Photos are necessary only in case of change in appearance. Proving sufficient funding for a stay and its calculation: see above Application for a visa for over 90 days. ( ) Administrative fee: the administrative fee for an extension of validity of visa authorizing a stay over 90 days is 1000CZK children younger than 15 do not have to pay administrative fee TOLERATED STAY VISA OVER 90 DAYS SPECIAL CONDITIONS GENERAL INFORMATION Description: this visa is granted in specific cases if: a) you cannot leave the territory because your departure is prevented by circumstances that you are unable to influence or because such circumstances were recognized by the authorities, i.e.: in case of a well-founded fear that if you are returned to the country of your nationality (for persons without nationality to the country of former habitual residence), it would mean exceptionally serious damage and for this danger you cannot or are not willing to ask for protection of country of your nationality or you former habitual residence (for persons without nationality). An exceptionally serious damage is: sentencing to or execution of capital punishment torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment serious threat to life or human dignity for reasons of gratuitous violence in case of international or internal wars, or if your departure is contrary to the international obligation of the Czech Republic. in case of justified suspicion that you: committed a crime against peace, war crime, or crime against human dignity within the terms of international law, committed a crime of extreme gravity, or represent a danger for the state security, the police will grant you 60 days to find an acceptance of another state. If you can provide evidence that you are not able to find a state willing to accept you then the police enable you to file an application for a toleration visa. b) you are a witness or a victim in a criminal procedure and your presence in the trial is necessary c) you applied for some type of permanent residency permit (e.g. Permanent residency permit after an end of asylum procedure, permanent residency permit after 5 years of uninterrupted stay in the territory, permanent residency permit granted by police in the territory) when your residency permits was still valid, if this application was not administered when your residency permit was still valid. d) you filed a petition against a decision of police or ministry by which your visa authorizing stay over 90 days or long-term residency permit was invalidated or you application for long-term or permanent residency permit was denied, if you simultaneously asked for suspensive procedure of the petition. e) if your departure is not possible due to impediment of departure and the Ministry of Interior issued such a decision upon a police request during administrative procedure about administrative expulsion. Where to apply: police in the territory of the Czech Republic Validity of visa: this visa is issued for the necessary time period, the maximum is 1 year in cases of no. 3., 4., and 5. the police set the validity of 6 months Duration of processing an application: within 60 days from filing application ATTENTION If your application was filed according point 4 and was not decided within the validity of your last residency permit, your further stay in the territory is considered legal till your application is administered

8 Requisites necessary for this type of visa: valid travel document (if you have one) certified copy of a document confirming the existence of reasons as stated in point no. 1 (if you cannot provide such documents for reasons that you are unable to influence, they can be replaced by your truthful declaration) a document certifying existence of reason no. 3. travel health insurance (in case of point no. 3) a document certifying filing of a petition and suspensive procedure of a petition (point. no 4) 2 photos ATTENTION If you are granted a toleration visa authorizing your stay over 90 days based on point no. 1, you have a duty throughout the validity of your visa to prove whenever you are asked by the police that the impediment of departure from the territory is still valid. If you cannot prove it for reasons that you are unable to influence, it can be replaced by your truthful declaration EXTENSION OF A STAY IN THE TERRITORY ON TOLERATED STAY VISA Toleration visa can be repeatedly extended if the reason, for which the visa was granted, is still valid. Requisites necessary to provide: the same documents as for the first application (see ) with the exception of: photo and a document certifying filing of a petition and suspensive effect of a petition if you were granted toleration visa for impediment of departure recognized by the Ministry of Interior within the procedure of administrative expulsion, you have to provide: valid travel document, provide or prove reasons proving existence of impediment of departure and in case of change of appearance provide photo ATTENTION If the impediment of departure based on which the toleration visa was granted is no longer valid, you have to apply for invalidation of visa at the police at the latest: a) within 3 days after invalidation of impediment if the visa was granted according to the point no. 1 b) within 5 days after the circumstances preventing departure have ceased, if the visa is granted within procedure of administrative expulsion (point no. 5) Otherwise the police invalidate the visa from official duty. The same applies in case of no. 4 if a court does not grant suspensive effect of your petition. After invalidation of visa you are granted a departure order and within its period of validity you have to leave the territory of the Czech Republic. Administrative fee: the administrative fee for application for tolerated stay visa over 90 days is 200 CZK LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT GENERAL INFORMATION Description: Long-term residence permit is used by: All aliens, who stay in the territory of the CR based on visa over 90 days and intend to stay in the territory temporarily for more than 1 year. The purpose of residence remains the same. Every foreigner residing in the Czech Republic based on tolerated stay visa over 90 days (reasons 1., 2., 3. and 5. please see ) and subsequently stays in the territory based on tolerated stay permit and has been staying in the territory for at least 3 years. This permit is used also if a foreigner stays in CR as a staff member of a foreign state embassy, an international governmental organization with its registered seat in the Czech Republic, or as a family member of such a staff member. NOTE Granting a long-term residence permit has replaced the previous procedure which consisted in extension of the validity period of visa over 90 days. Validity of a residence permit: You are authorized to stay in the territory for the whole period of time that is stated in your long-term residence permit. This period of time differs according to the purpose of your stay. It can be 6 months as a minimum, 1 year or 2 years as a maximum. E.g.: for a time needed for accomplishing an objective that requires your stay in the territory. In this case the time does not exceed one year, for a definite period of time corresponding to a period stated in working permit, for the purpose of business or for a participation in a corporation 2 years. Where to apply: local Alien Police When to apply: You must apply for your long-term residence permit no sooner than 120 and no later than 30 days before the expiration of your visa over 90 days. (For exceptions please see ). Duration of processing a long-term residence permit: within 60 days following the submission of the application. IMPORTANT Application processing time in case of long-term residence permit for family unification is within 270 days following the submission of the application REQUISITES NECESSARY FOR THE APPLICATION FOR LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT General requisites attached to the application for long-term residence permit: (same as for visa over 90 days) travel document a document certifying the purpose of residence(e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate etc) a document certifying that the applicant possesses sufficient funds to stay in the CR a document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the CR an extract from the Czech Criminal Register (except children below the age of 15) 2 photos Special requisites attached to the application for long-term residence permit for the purpose of employment travel document a document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the CR an extract from the Czech Criminal Register (except children below the age of 15) valid Czech employment permit or extension of Czech employment permit 2 photos Special requisites attached to the application for long-term residence permit for the purpose of business all general documents needed for the application for permanent residence permit (see above), document testifying that the natural person has no arrears in payment of social security contributions and the state employment policy contribution. The document is issued by the local social security office, document proving that the natural person has no tax arrears. This document is issued by the locally competent tax office, when carrying on a trade according to The Trade Licensing Act it is necessary to submit a Trade Certificate or a trade license or a confirmation issued by Trade Licensing Office certifying that you fulfill all general conditions and special requirements for carrying on a trade. IMPORTANT If you are not a tax subject or if you do not pay social security contributions and state employment policy contribution, you are obliged to prove this with a confirmation issued by local tax office or by social security administration

9 Determination of sufficient funds: see above in application for visa over 90 days ( ) Indication of residence permit: in the residence permit card, or on a sticker put in a passport in the section notes. Children below 15 years of age without a travel document are granted only administrative decision about long-term residence permit. Administration fee: for long-term residence permit you will pay an administrative fee 1.000,- CZK children below 15 years of age 500,- CZK CHANGE OF PURPOSE OF RESIDENCE If the purpose of your stay in the territory of CR has been changed you have to ask for a new long-term residence permit at the local Alien Police department. Exceptions: For aliens with long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification (see below, ) a simplified procedure is used. you can ask for a new residence permit after 5 years of stay in the territory of the CR (if you are older then 18 years). Till that time you are allowed to work or to do a business under more advantageous conditions compared to other aliens. Eg. you do not have to change your purpose of stay if you want to work. in case of a divorce if you have been staying in the territory for at least 2 years and have been married for at least 5 years as a survivor of a holder of the right to family reunification if you have been staying in the territory for at least 2 uninterrupted years or if your relative died of a work injury or disease contracted in the workplace. Aliens with long-term residence permit for the purpose of temporary protection (see below ) can ask for a change of the purpose of their stay without fulfilling any further conditions. IMPORTANT a) A change of the purpose is not possible if you stay in the territory based on tolerated stay visa over 90 days! b) The right to request a change of the purpose because of your divorce or your spouse s death expires after one year SPECIAL KINDS OF LONG-TERM RESIDENT PERMIT Because of the implementation of relevant Commission Directives there were new specific kinds of longterm resident permits implemented into The Aliens Act since April Aliens who belong to the categories named below gain some special rights compared to the foreigners who fulfill only general conditions for the long-term resident permit. IMPORTANT If you belong to any of the below named categories please see also: above specified information, which refer to long-term residence permit in general ( to ), information that refers to all kinds of visa please see chapter LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF FAMILY UNIFICATION Description: This permit refers to family members of an alien who has already been granted a resident permit or to family members of an asylum holder (so called holder of the right to family reunification); it concerns following family members: a spouse fulfilling following legal conditions: husband and his wife reached the age of 20 years if husband is an asylum holder, a marriage had to be contracted before entering the territory in case of polygamous marriage the family reunification is possible only with one wife, minor child or adult unprovided child of an alien with residence permit or of his/her spouse, minor child in foster care of an alien with residence permit, parent or grandparents or a guardian of minor asylum holder, solitary foreigner in age above 65 years or age handicapped foreigner without age limitation, who is dependent upon a care and whose parent or child is granted a residence permit in the territory. IMPORTANT Family member you want be reunited with has to be granted a long-term or a permanent residence permit and has been staying in the CR for 15 months as a minimum. As an applicant you do not have to fulfill the condition of staying in the territory for visa over 90 days. Where to apply: Czech embassy abroad local Alien Police department if you stay in the territory based on: visa over 90 days or long-term residence permit for a different purpose Validity period: a) validity period corresponds to the validity time in the residence permit card that was issued to a holder of the right to family reunification, minimum is 1 year b) if a holder of the right to family reunification was granted a permanent residence permit, the permit is issued for 2 years Requisites necessary for the application: travel document document certifying the relationship (in case of reunification with asylum holder another credible proof is possible) parent s/legal representative s/guardian s consent if the child will be reunited with somebody else document certifying that the total family income is sufficient to satisfy essentials needs of its members according to the Subsistence Minimum Act document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the CR extract from the Czech Criminal Register (except children below the age of 15) 2 photos IMPORTANT as of January 1st 2007 the procedure of proving of family incomes will be changed. The document will have to certify that the total family income is not lower than the sum: a) of amounts of subsistence minimums of family members and b) of the highest normative living cost or of an amount that will be credibly documented as an amount spent on the living of the family. (For the purpose of housing allowance the normative living costs are stated by the State Social Support Act). Following documents can also be required: document from home country similar to an extract from the Criminal Register medical statement, that you do not suffer from any serious disease IMPORTANT After issue of this permit you are obliged to appear within 3 days in person at the local alien police department to get a residence permit card. It is necessary to submit a valid travel health insurance for the duration of your stay when you pick up your card (for exceptions see Summary of key definitions ) 16 17

10 Sufficient total family income is calculated as follows: an amount necessary to satisfy essential needs of the individual household s members added to the amount necessary to provide for the joint costs of a household. The joint costs depend on the number of the household s members the above total is multiplied by a number of months of the expected time of long-term resident permit NOTE An amount necessary to satisfy essential needs of the individual household members in calendar month and an amount necessary to pay the joint costs of a household in calendar month are stated in the Act no. 143/1991 Coll., about Subsistence Minimum, as amended. IMPORTANT A new Act no. 110/2006 Coll., on the Minimum Living Standard and Subsistence Level is valid from January Pursuant to the Act the above amounts will be assessed differently (see Summary of key definitions ) Document certifying total family income can be: for an employee: employer certificate confirming the average wage in the calendar month for entrepreneurs: a copy of tax declaration for the previous period of taxation which shows that the applicant had the stated amount for calendar month available at that time. in other cases the document can be also: assumed time of stay, or any document certifying without doubts a family income The highest amount of normative living costs is stated in the Act No. 117/1995 Coll., about State Social Support, as amended, in 26. Factual amounts can be advised by our employees or in local welfare centers. Specific (simplified) requisites needed in case of reunification with asylum holder: If your application is submitted within 3 months from the date on which the court decision on the grant of asylum to your family member has become legally effective you can submit only: travel document 2 photos document proving relationship (as stated above) Duration of processing an application: within 270 days following the submission of the application Administration Fee: for long-term residence permit you will pay an administrative fee 1.000,- CZK children under age of 15 will pay an administrative fee 500,- CZK LONG-TERM RESIDENT PERMIT FOR OTHER EU MEMBER STATE RESIDENT Description: This permit refers to all EU citizens who want to reside temporarily in the territory of the CZ for a time period longer than 3 months. Where to apply: at the Czech embassy abroad local Alien Police department: if the permit for temporary residence in the territory is still valid, 3 months upon entering the territory at latest Requisites necessary for the application: general requisites as for long-term residence permit application: travel document a document certifying the purpose of residence(e.g. Business, employment) a document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the CR an extract from the Czech Criminal Register (except children below the age of 15) 2 photos document proving that the legal status of resident of other EU member state has been granted document proving health insurance document certifying a possibility to expend sufficient funds to satisfy necessities pursuant to the Act about Subsistence Minimum, (see above visa over 90 days, ) following documents can also be required: document similar to an extract from the Criminal Register from country of domicile medical statement, that you do not suffer from any serious disease Special requisites necessary for the application for long-term residence permit for the purpose of employment travel document a document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the CZ a statement of the Czech Criminal Record (except for children younger than 15) decision about work permit or number of your application for the work permit and the place where the application was submitted (employment office) 2 photos Following documents can also be required: document similar to a statement of criminal record from country of origin medical statement, that you do not suffer from any serious disease An application of a family member of other EU member state resident a family member of EU citizen is also allowed to submit an application for long-term residence permit if: if he/she is granted a residence permit for family reunification in other EU member state, or if he/she was granted legal status of other EU member state resident requisites for application are the same as for EU citizen plus he/she has to prove that he/she fulfills above mentioned requirements and show a travel health insurance document. validity time of residence permit for family member of EU citizen corresponds to validity time of permit issued for the EU citizen Duration of processing an application: within 120 days following the submission of the application LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE Description: You can apply for this permit if you plan to reside temporarily in the territory of the Czech Republic for more than 3 months and if the purpose is: participation in language or vocational training for university study or participation in language course held within the EU program/international agreement. tuition and exchange of experiences, exchange programs and participation in art, methodical or other specialized courses and educational activities vocational training for gaining practical, vocational experiences during university study (or max. 5 years after finishing it), or study at high school, college or conservatory (or max. 3 year after finishing it) vocational training or voluntary youth service in local host organization providing that these are part of EU programs and are organized or coordinated by local organization exchange of experiences and programs for persons responsible for education and development of human resources, if the activities are organized within EU programs. IMPORTANT This kind of residence can not be applied for primary schools! High school or conservatory education is considered only as an education within programs provided by local host organization. Vocational training is considered only as unpaid vocational training! 18 19

11 Where to apply: the Embassy abroad Validity time: 1 year, if it is temporary residence for educational purpose and the expected duration of residence is more than 1 year duration stated in the agreement about voluntary youth service in local host organization Requisites necessary for the application: travel document document certifying the purpose of residence document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the CR extract from the Czech Criminal Register (except children under the age of 15) parent/legal representative/guardian s consent to stay in the territory (for minor child) document proving that you have enough money to support yourself throughout the entire planned study period (see ) for university/college and for unpaid vocational training. In other cases a confirmation is required that all the costs are covered by local host organization 2 photos following documents can also be required: document from country of origin similar to a statement of criminal record medical statement, that you do not suffer from any serious disease IMPORTANT You must have valid health insurance for the duration of your stay (for exceptions see Summary of key definitions ). Duration of processing an application: within 60 days following filing of the application LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF TEMPORARY PROTECTION Description: this kind of residence permit can be granted if you are: alleged victim of trafficking in human beings pursuant to 232, Criminal Code person for which was organized or to which was enabled an illegal crossing of border under the Section 171a of the Criminal Code, whose testimony is important for discovering the offender or organized group dealing with organizing or enabling of the illegal crossing of border. The permit is granted under condition that the person cooperate with competent authorities and does not cooperate with any person suspected of criminal act as illegal immigration or trafficking in human beings. IMPORTANT You must be informed by competent authorities about the possibility to apply for this kind of residence permit and about conditions under which the residence permit is given. You must be able to understand the language in which the information is given to you. From this day you are granted a period of 1 month allowing you to decide whether to cooperate with competent authorities.during this time you cannot be deported or your stay otherwise terminated, but the reflection period is not counted as a part of your possible previous expulsion time. Where to apply: Ministry of Internal Affairs Validity period: The residence permit is issued for the time needed to fulfill the purpose of residence, minimally for 6 months. Requisites necessary for the application: travel document, even after expiration of validity time a document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the CZ 2 photos confirmation issued by competent authorities proving that all conditions necessary for this kind of residence permit were fulfilled. Advantages: As an applicant for long-term residence permit for temporary protection you are allowed to reside in the territory till the date when the decision on your application is enforceable. For the purpose of employment, performance of independent business or study you will be considered as an alien granted a permanent resident permit during the validity time of the long-term residence permit for temporary protection. If you are an alleged victim of trafficking in human beings health care will be refunded to you but only in case there is no other way how to pay for the health care. You can apply for a financial contribution. The request must be submitted one month after you were informed about your rights by competent authorities (see above) and is granted by the Ministry of Interior. Your financial situation will be taken into a consideration when deciding about the financial contribution. Financial contribution will be granted to you beginning on the day when you were informed about your rights by competent authorities and it is not granted when you are detained LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR TOLERATION STAY Descriptions: Long-term residence permit for toleration stay is granted at your request if: you were granted a tolerated stay visa over 90 days within the procedure of administrative expulsion, and if your stay in the territory will be longer than 1 year, and if the reasons for granting visa continue. For other conditions for this kind of residence permit and for requisites necessary for an application see above EXTENSION OF LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PERMIT GENERAL INFORMATION Description: Validity can be extended repeatedly. However, the maximum validity corresponds with the validity of your first long-term residence permit and depending on the permitted purpose of stay. Where to apply: local Alien Police department When to apply: An application should submitted no sooner than 120 and no later than 14 days prior to the expiration of validity of the long-term residence permit (For exceptions see ) Duration of processing an application: within 60 days following the submission of the application REQUISITES NEEDED FOR AN APPLICATION General requisites: travel document a document certifying the purpose of residence (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate etc) a document certifying that the applicant possesses sufficient funds to stay in the CR a document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the CR an extract from the Czech Criminal Register (except children the age of 15) 2 photos if your appearance has changed travel health insurance covering the duration of residence (for exceptions see Summary of key definitions following documents can also be required: document from country of domicile similar to an extract from the Criminal Register medical statement, that you do not suffer from any serious disease 20 21

12 Certification of possessing sufficient funds to stay in the territory and its calculation: see above the application for granting visa over 90 days ( ). Special requisites needed for an application for long-term residence permit: a) for the purpose of employment: same general requisites as stated above in this chapter, only that as a document certifying the purpose of your stay is submitted decision about extension of the work permit issued by an employment office certifications of possessing sufficient funds to stay in the territory and travel health insurance are not submitted b) for the purpose of business: same general requisites as in the first application for residence permit for this purpose (see above ) c) for the purpose of family unification same general requisites as in the first application for residence permit for this purpose (see above ) document proving family relation is not submitted in case of family reunification with an asylum holder is submitted a travel document only. d) issued to a resident of other EU member state same general requisites as in the first application for residence permit for this purpose (see above ) with no submission of: document from country of origin similar to a statement of the criminal record medical statement, that you do not suffer from any serious disease if the resident is an employee, following documents have to be submitted same general requisites as in the first application for residence permit for the purpose of employment (see above in this chapter article 1.) if the working permit (see below Summary of key definitions ) is not requested, an employment contract, agreement to perform work or an agreement to complete a job must be submitted instead if the resident is an entrepreneur, following documents have to be submitted same general requisites as in the first application for residence permit for the purpose of business (see above ) e) for educational purpose same general requisites as in the first application for residence permit for this purpose (see above ) with no submission of: a statement of the Czech criminal register document from country of origin similar to a statement of the Czech criminal register medical statement, that you do not suffer from any serious disease f) for the temporary protection same general requisites as in the first application for residence permit for this purpose (see above ) photos only if the appearance has changed Administrative fee: for extension of validity of long-term residence permit: 1.000,- CZK children under 15 years of age do not pay any fee 1.4. SPECIAL TYPES OF TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMITS DEPARTURE VISA Description: a) The departure visa is a visa issued by the police from its official authority and it entitles you to temporary residence in the territory in the following cases: after withdrawal of visa, after refusal of the application for long-term residence permit if the validity of the visa has expired, after withdrawal of long-term or permanent residence permit, after withdrawal of the temporary residence permit of EU citizen, after invalidation of the document about the residence of family member of EU citizen, after finishing temporary residence without visa in the territory in case of administrative expulsion b) The departure visa is also issued by the Ministry of Interior, in these cases: after invalidation of the long-term residence permit for the purpose of protection in the territory after invalidation of the permanent residence permit issued in case that it is in the interest of the Czech Republic or after termination of the procedure of granting international protection in the form of asylum. Validity of departure visa: The departure visa entitles you to the temporary residence in the territory for the period that is necessary for the arrangement of urgent matters and the departure, this period cannot exceed 60 days. When the termination of residency of a EU citizen or family member of EU citizen, the departure visa is issued by the police for a minimum of 1 month. ATTENTION: a) The validity of the departure visa expires with your departure from the territory! b) As soon as you have been given the departure visa, the period of your continuous residence in the territory is discontinued. It means that the period of validity of the departure visa isn t counted in a period for which you need to stay in the territory of the Czech Republic (for example for obtaining of the permanent residence permit). But some exceptions exist within the asylum procedure SOME GENERAL RULES FOR VISA The following rules are valid for all kinds of temporary residence permits listed above. These rules are also valid in case of extension of period of validity of visa or long-term residence permit GENERAL RULES a) The foreigner holds no legal right to being granted a visa: this means that in individual cases it depends on the decision of an embassy or police whether the visa should be granted the decision of not-granting visa cannot be appealed! in general, you should be granted a visa if you provide all requirements and there is no impediment registered by police (for example you are registered as persona non grata) that prevents your entry to the territory of the Czech Republic. b) Visa is not granted to EU citizens (with exception of departure visa), because they do not need it. c) Visa is considered granted when it is marked usually by a label into a passport, if there is a good reason for it, the visa can be also marked in a different place than a travel document d) The application for visa or long-term residence permit is usually filed at the Czech embassy abroad. in some cases specified by law the application for visa can be filed also at the department of Alien Police in the territory of the Czech Republic in all cases the application for visa must be submitted on an official application form

13 ATTENTION If it is in the interest of protection of security, maintenance of the public order or protection of public health or in the interest of fulfilling an international convention you can be required to submit an application at the Czech embassy in the state where you are a citizen or the state which issued your travel document, or in which you have a long-term or permanent residence permit. However, the application for extension of validity period of your visa or your residence permit should be submitted to the Alien Police in the place where your residence is registered. e) It is necessary to apply for an extension of validity of your visa or your residence permit within time limits set by law: if you have long-term visa, it is from 120 days at the earliest to 14 days at the latest before the date of expiry, if you have short-time visa, it is from 30 days at the earliest to 3 days at the latest before the date of expiry. ATTENTION In case that you cannot submit the application within the set time periods for reasons independent of your will, you are entitled to submit the application within 3 working days after these obstacles have ceased to exist (for example hospitalization) and your present visa will be considered valid for this period. If you submit the application in time but the police hasn t managed to make a decision before the date of expiry of your visa, your visa is considered valid until the ruling about the extension of validity period of your visa becomes effective. f) All requisites cannot be older than 180 days, with the exception of the travel document, documents from the registry office and photo, if it corresponds to your real appearance. g) All foreign-language documents have to be: super-legalized by the Czech embassy abroad or provided with a clause about verification by apostil unless there is a valid bilateral international agreement that states otherwise and officially translated to Czech. h) If you conceive a child in the Czech Republic and you want him or her to stay here, you must, within sixty days from his or her birth, apply at the police in place of your residence to grant him or her same kinds of visa as you have. Till this time, his or her stay in the territory of the Czech Republic is considered temporary. For your application you need these documents: the child s passport (or the parent s passport in which the infant is listed), the child s birth certificate, certificate of its health insurance The visa is issued to the child s travel document or to its parent s (or another legal representative s) travel document in which the child is listed. If the parent applies for the permanent residence permit for his or her infant, the residence of the infant is considered permanent from its birth up to the time when the ruling about this application becomes effective. i) If you leave the Czech Republic in the period of validity of your visa, the validity of following types of visa will expire: one-way transit visa one-way airport visa tolerated stay visa visa over 90 days departure visa, ATTENTION! The validity of the other types of visa does not expire when you leave the Czech Republic!!! j) The validity of the visa expires when court ruling comes into force: by which the sentence of expulsion is granted or if a decision of administrative expulsion is enforceable. k) In cases set by law the police can terminate your visa. For example: the purpose of issuing of your visa is not fulfilled (you have an employment visa, but you are not employed.) you intentionally disturb the public order you were convicted upon a final of willful crime police find defect in your passport (e.g. false photo, unreadable data) your travel document was declared invalid or stolen by your country of origin. (provided that this decision is justifiable and does not interfere in your private or family life) you are not able to demonstrate your ability to cover the costs of health care, even after the time limit stated by police. you have not fulfilled some other duties stated by the Alien Act, for example, you stay in the territory with an invalid passport (see below Chapter IV., 1.1). ATTENTION The validity of your visa is terminated by issuing the departure visa. In the period of validity of the departure visa you are obligated to leave the territory SUMMARY OF KEY DEFINITIONS For each type of the residence permit there are specified requisites that are necessary to submit together with the application form for the visa. Some definitions are not stated clearly by laws or are difficult to find. Therefore, we introduce here some explanatory notes about documents, for example documents certifying that the applicant possesses sufficient funds to stay in the territory or a document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the Czech Republic. These documents then remain the same for all kinds of temporary residence permit. ATTENTION For an application for the Permanent Residence Permit you may need some other requisites, therefore this chapter is valid only for applications for the Temporary Residence Permit! a) A document proving sufficient funds to cover costs related with departure from the territory is submitted in a form of: a document proving that you provided for a transport to other state or proving funds for departure from the territory. Excerpt for money you can as well provide: statement of bank account on your name or another document (for example credit card which is valid and internationally recognized) Monetary funds can be provided: in the Czech currency (CZK) or in other convertible currency b) Proving that the applicant possesses sufficient funds for stay, it can be proved as follows: providing monetary funds in cash or statement of bank account on your name or another document certifying sufficient funds for stay in the territory of the Czech Republic (e.g. valid and internationally recognized credit card) or providing a document certifying coverage of services related with your stay in the territory of the Czech Republic or that the services are provided free of charge Subsistence minimum: This concept is defined by Act no. 463/1991 Coll., on Subsistence minimum, it is a socially recognized minimum level of income to avoid material poverty. Subsistence minimum of a citizen or citizens, whose income is jointly assessed, is calculated as the sum of amounts necessary to provide for nutrition and other elementary personal needs and an amount necessary to pay the joint costs of a household

14 Subsistence minimum effective till December 31st, 2006: An amount for nutrition and elementary personal needs Age Subs. min. 0 6 years CZK 6 10 years CZK years CZK years (preparing for future employment) CZK Other CZK ATTENTION If there are two or more people in one household, the amount necessary to pay the joint costs of a household is counted only once. If only the subsistence minimum of one member of this household is counted, a proportional part of this amount is calculated. Jointly assessed persons are unprovided children parents of unprovided children spouses, partners provided that they live together for at least 3 months unprovided children of unprovided children stated above if they permanently live together and cover costs of their needs together. Also persons who temporarily live outside of the place of the permanent residence for study, health or work reasons are included. ATTENTION From January 1st, 2007 a new Act no. 110/2006 Coll., on Subsistence minimum will come into force. The amounts will be calculated differently according to this act. a) Monthly subsistence minimum for an individual will be specified as CZK b) For jointly assessed persons the subsistence minimum level is calculated according to the hierarchy of persons as it is stated in the Act. The point subsistence minimum level of the whole family has to correspond with individual subsistence minimum of all members of household. The amounts are as follows: The hierarchy of jointly assessed persons The first person in hierarchy The second person in hierarchy from 15 years of age who is not unprovided child The second person in hierarchy unprovided child of 15 till 26 years of age The second person in hierarchy unprovided child of 6 till 15 years of age The second person in hierarchy till 6 years of age Amount for household Number of household members Amount CZK CZK CZK 5 and more CZK Amount SM Kč Kč Kč Kč Kč Jointly assessed persons: parents and underage unprovided children, husband and wife, parents and underage children who aren t unprovided, children of age who use the flat together with their parents, other persons who use the flat together with the exception of the persons who declare in writing that they don t permanently live together and don t cover the costs of their needs together (this applies to registered partners too). ATTENTION Concrete method of calculation of subsistence minimum (to prove that your financial means are sufficient for your stay) is different in each type of residence permit because the amount which is required depends on the type of visa and type of purpose of residence. As the calculation of subsistence minimum is rather complicated, we refer you to these pages: If you haven t got an access to the Internet, our social workers can also help you. NOTE! The new Act no.110/2006 Coll. on subsistence level, valid from January 1st, 2006, doesn t regulate the amounts necessary to pay the joint costs of a household. These amounts are stated in the Act no. 117/1995 Coll., on State social support in 26. For help contact our social workers or relevant social office. c) The provision of accommodation during your stay in the Czech Republic The provision of accommodation must have a form of some of these documents: original or authorized copy of the contract of an accommodation, lease contract, contract of subtenancy or contract with similar content (with the extract from the real estate register) original or authorized copy of the extract from the real estate register, if you are the owner of real estate authorized Invitation form for temporary stay the confirmation from physical or legal entity, that can provide you the accommodation, including the confirmation issued by the lodging provider d) Medical report: This document is submitted only on justifiable request of deciding office in case of legitimate threat that you suffer from some serious illness mentioned in the list issued by regulation of the Ministry of Health in the Czech Republic no. 274/2004 Coll., which determines the list of illness that can endanger public health and the list of illness and afflictions that could endanger public order. It concerns these illnesses: illnesses subjected to the report from International health code and other highly dangerous infections (for example SARS, variola etc.) tuberculosis syphilis others infectious illnesses brought from foreign countries, for which there are protection measures (for example ague, cholera, pestilence, spotted fever, hemorrhagic fevers Ebola, Lasa and Marburg) e) Travel health insurance certificate: There is a duty to submit a travel health insurance certificate when marking visas to the travel document. The phrase the marking visas to the travel document means, that you don t have to have this insurance at the time when you apply for the visa, but the embassy or the police will require it the day you come for the visa. ATTENTION you will not be given visa without this document! There are only two exceptions: you are insured according to the Act no. 48/1997 Coll., on public health insurance. That means: you have a permanent residence in the Czech Republic or you do not have a permanent residence in the Czech Republic but your health insurance is paid by your employer with the seat in Czech Republic (people without the permanent residence employed by authorities that use diplomatic privileges and immunities, won t be insured in the system of public health) you are an applicant for granting of international protection in the form of asylum (it applies also to your children born in the Czech Republic) you are an alien to whom was granted the tolerated stay visa over 90 days according to the Asylum Act, that means you filed an appeal to the Highest Administrative Court against the regional court s decision to reject your petition for the granting of international protection in the form of asylum (it applies also to your children born in the Czech Republic) you prove that your health care is covered in other way, e.g.: you pay all health care in cash, person who has invited you pledged himself or herself to cover all expenses related to your health care f) Exception from a duty to have a working permit: Generally, according to the Act no. 435/2004 Coll., on employment, the alien can be accepted for employment and employed only if he has: a working permit, unless this act states otherwise, and a residence permit in the Czech Republic. The work permit is not necessary in some specified cases (see below Part 2., Chapter II Employment of aliens) 26 27

15 g) Invitation to visit the Czech Republic In the invitation, which can be verified by the Alien Police, the inviting person is binding himself or herself, to cover costs: connected with living of the alien during the time of the residence in the territory till the departure connected with accommodation of the alien during the time of the residence in the territory till departure connected with provided health care during the time of the residence in the territory till departure, and if need be costs connected with the transport of the alien if he/she is ill or deceased connected with the stay in detention of the alien in the territory and departure Inviting person can be: natural person CZ citizen proved by ID card alien providing travel document with valid visa authorizing stay over 90 days, or long-term or permanent residence permit legal entity represented by authorized person At the end of the year 2005 the Alien Act was amended, in which the regulation of invitation to the Czech Republic is more restricted. The police can now request from the inviting person to prove that he/she is able to fulfill the obligation stated in invitation as follows: he/she has the resources to cover the costs of the residence of the invited alien in range established for particular kinds of visa, he/she has the resources equalling 0,25 times the amount of subsistence minimum for personal costs for every day of his stay in the Czech Republic, in case that the invited alien is not staying at the home of the inviting person, he/she submits the document of Travel health insurance on behalf of invited alien or he/she affirms to buy this insurance before entering the territory, or he/she has an amount of at least EUR for possible covering of costs, he/she has the resources for covering of costs connected with departure of the invited alien from the territory in an amount corresponding with the price of the airplane ticket to the country to which the alien s travel document belongs, or to the country of alien s permanent residence. ATTENTION Only the person, who can prove that he/she has an amount about CZK (without health insurance), can invite one adult person for one month; the invitation of the whole family requires multiples of this amount. Proof of ability to fulfill the obligation contained in invitation: inviting person proves this by submission of e.g. cash, credit card, a statement of bank account inviting legal entity does not have to prove that it possesses sufficient funds to cover the costs of residence of the invited alien in the territory of the Czech Republic; the ability to possibly cover costs related to the residence of the invited alien is considered proven as long as the legal entity is not bankrupt or is not being liquidated. In case of association, as long as the legal entity is registered in the Registry of Companies. Where to apply: at the department of the foreign police that certifies the application on request of the inviting person Duration of processing an application: within 7 working days from the day of the filing Refusal of certification of the invitation: the Alien Act states the cases when the police deny the certification of the request, e.g.: invited alien is registered as persona non grata or inviting person does not prove, on the request of the police, the ability to fulfill the obligation to settle costs of residence of the invited person Administrative fee: CZK PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY You are allowed to reside on a permanent residence permit in the Czech Republic on the basis of: obtaining permanent residence permit, or obtaining a decision made by the relevant body regarding assigning you to alternate care (according to the family act), if you are: 18 years of age or less and if at least one of the persons who you are assigned to has permanent residence permit in the territory, or the institution where you are placed is in the territory NOTE Following information regarding permanent residence is not relevant for EU citizens and their family members (see section III.)!!! 2.1. PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT Description: Under normal circumstances you can apply for permanent residency in the Czech Republic only after a legally given period of time of uninterrupted stay in the territory. However, there are exceptions when you can apply for permanent residency even without fulfilling this condition. The requirement of permanent residence is mainly for those persons who want to live in the Czech Republic permanently and therefore can use some broader rights then other aliens. Mainly, there is no time limitation to the validity period of the permanent residence permit. According to the latest amendment of the Alien Act, the aliens are declared to have legal claim to be given permanent residence, unlike other types of residence permits TYPES OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMITS PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT WITHOUT THE CONDITION OF PREVIOUS CONTINUOUS RESIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY Who is allowed to submit such application: You can submit an application for permanent residence permit without having been continuously resident in the following cases: if you are applying for this permit on the ground of humanitarian reasons, especially if you are a spouse of an asylum holder and you got married before the asylum holder entered the territory an under age child of an asylum holder or a child dependent on a asylum holder s care, unless you apply for the international protection, or you used to be a citizen of the Czech Republic. you are applying for this permit on the ground of other reasons worth special consideration, your residence in the territory is in the interest of the Czech Republic, you are applying for the permit as a minor child (18 years junior), or as an unprovided child (e.g. a student) of an alien who is resident in the territory with the permanent residence permit, in case the reason for the application is your joint life; if your previous permanent residence was canceled due to continuous residence for over 12 months period in a country outside the EU, and the residence was not motivated by valid reasons (e.g. pregnancy), and if the decision came into legal force within last three years. Where to apply: Czech Embassy abroad at Headquarters of the Alien and Border Police in Prague you can submit the application for permanent residence permit on the ground of humanitarian reasons or other reasons worth special consideration, in the case that you reside in the territory: within temporary residence within visa over 90 days, or within long-term residence permit for the purpose of temporary protection in the territory (see above section I., ) 28 29

16 you should submit your permanent residence permit application at Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic in case your residence is in the interest of the Czech Republic. NOTE If a child is born in the territory and you as their legitimate guardian are residing in the territory based on the permanent residence permit, you are obliged to apply for permanent residence permit for the child within 60 days after their birth. The application should be submitted at the department of the Alien Police where you are registered as resident PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT WITH THE CONDITION OF PREVIOUS CONTINUOUS RESIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC Who can apply: An application for permanent residence permit can be submitted by any alien who has met condition of 5 years of uninterrupted residence in the territory: within visa over 90 days within long-term residence permit, or based on given supplementary protection according to the Asylum Act Inclusion of the uninterrupted residence period: Within the uninterrupted residence is included the time of the residence in the territory on a visa over 90 days and the long-term residence permit. This period does not include the time spent in the territory if you were sent out here on business by a foreign employer or a foreign legal person or individual. There is included one half of the period of time spent in the territory studying. Time of your absence in the territory within this residence period is also included, unless you were absent for more than 6 months in a row or the absent period did exceed the total of 10 months. The time is also included if you were absent for business abroad unless this stay exceeded 12 successive months. The continuity of the stay is kept if one period of your absence did not exceed 12 successive months due to serious reasons, especially such as pregnancy and birth, serious illness, studying or professional training, while this period is not included into the uninterrupted residence time. Where to apply: at the department of the Alien Police in the territory at the Czech Embassy abroad, if you are permanently abroad due to valid reasons (see item 5 above) PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT WITH THE CONDITION OF PREVIOUS CONTINUOUS RESIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC AFTER TERMINATION OF THE ASYLUM PROCEDURE There have been changes in the latest novel of the Alien Act (issued in March 2006) regarding the provision Submitting the application for residence permit in special cases after termination of the procedure to grant the international protection. Description: This application can be submitted by an alien who has been resident without interruption for 4 years in the Czech Republic and has been residing within temporary residence after termination of procedure to grant the international protection, or asylum, and at the same time meets the following conditions: is asking for issue of this permit immediately after the termination of the asylum procedure, and this procedure, including possible appeal to the Highest Administrative Court, has taken at least 2 years. NOTE Our practical experience shows that if you submit such application for permanent residence permit more than one month after the termination of the asylum procedure, your application will be rejected! Please be very particular about keeping in touch with your solicitor while in the procedure at the Highest Administrative Court. Your solicitor should let you know immediately when he/she receives the decision of the Court. The Ministry takes into the account the date of the delivery of the decision to your solicitor, not the date when you find out. Inclusion of the uninterrupted residence period: a) Within the uninterrupted residence is included the time of the residence in the territory: on a visa over 90 days and a permanent residence permit (including tolerated stay visa) permanent residency permit, and the time of residence during the asylum procedure, including the possible appeal to the Highest Administrative Court b) The uninterrupted status of your residence is retained if you submit an application for obtaining the international protection through asylum within 7 days after the termination of your temporary residence within permanent visa, or within permanent residence permit. NOTE Meeting of conditions for uninterrupted residence and conditions of running asylum procedure can be omitted when the applicant for permanent residence permit is an under-age child (18 years junior), or as an unprovided child (e.g. a student, up to 26 years of age), or a person with legal incapacity under CZ law, if they were resigned to your care and you are applying for permanent residence permit REQUISITES NECESSARY FOR THE APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT In cases defined in , you are under obligation to provide for the application for permanent residence the following documents: travel document a document certifying the purpose of the residence in the territory, i.e. marriage certificate, birth certificate, or other document certifying relationship (this does not apply if you apply for permanent residence after living in the territory of the Czech Rep. continuously for 5 years), a document certifying that the applicant possesses sufficient funds for permanent residence in the Czech Rep. this does not apply if you were consigned to alternate care based on decision of a relevant institution and you have reached the age of 18 years, this does not apply if you are applying for permanent residence after termination of the asylum procedure if you are applying for permanent residence without the condition of uninterrupted residence in the territory (see section above), this document can be replaced with the warranty of the sufficient funds to provide permanent residence in the territory from the state sources a statement of criminal record of the Czech Rep. and a similar document from the country of origin or the state where you hold a permanent address, as well as from a state in which you were resident for more than 6 months during the last three years (you can also supply a truthful declaration in case the state does not issue statements of criminal record) this document is not required from children under 15 years of age the statement of criminal record from abroad is not required from persons who are applying for permanent residence permit after termination of procedure to be granted international protection, or were given visa over 90 days in order to be given supplementary protection according to the Asylum Act proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the Czech Rep. 2 photos a consent of a parent/legal representative/trustee with the child s residence in the territory in case the family does not live together a medical report stating that you do not suffer from any serious illness, only based on reasonable request of a relevant institution (only when you are applying for permanent residence permit for humanitarian reasons A document certifying that you possess sufficient funds for permanent residence can be for instance: confirmation of income from your employer if you are employed in the Czech Rep. in case you are going to work in the Czech Rep., a pre-contract about the future employment contract with your future employer in which is stated your pay confirmation of a benefit transfer provided to you by your country of origin or another country which is supporting you confirmation of the account balance or a statement of account open in a bank in the territory of the Czech Rep. or an account in a foreign country that holds the applicant s name and that makes it evident that the funds can be used in the Czech Rep. at least for 5 years, or 30 31

17 a verified commitment of a husband, parent, child who have mutual alimental obligations, that they are going to provide the applicant with the funds for permanent residence during the aliment period; the ability to fulfill this commitment needs to be proven with one of the means mentioned above. The amount of money necessary to cover food expenses and other general personal needs of the alien and their persons supported by him/her, as well as funds necessary for running a household are given in the Subsistence Minimum Act No. 143/1991. A document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation means: a document proving the ownership of a flat or a house, a document proving the right to use a flat (e.g. a contract on accommodation, contract on lease), or a certified signature on a written confirmation of an authorized person agreeing with accommodating an alien certification is not necessary when the entitled person signs the consent with the Police or an authorized employee of the Ministry the authorized person is an adult 18 years old or older, authorized for the execution of legal actions, and who is eligible to use a property or its designated part (e. g. a flat or a habitable room), or is an operator of accommodation facilities, where the alien is going to be provided with accommodation. NOTE All relevant documents are valid if not exceeding 180 days at the time of submitting the application, with the exception of the travel documents, registry office documents, and the photos, if the pictures show current look of the applicant. Deadline for execution of the applications: within 180 days since submition of the application, within 60 days in case the application is submitted in the territory REASONS FOR NOT GRANTING OR WITHDRAWING OF VALIDITY OF THE PERMANENT RESIDENCY PERMIT The Police or the Ministry of Interior can decide about not-granting of permanent residence permit or about withdrawing it in case that: it is found out that you entered marriage in order to gain temporary residence permit (not relevant if a baby was born within the marriage or if a baby was adopted by spouses without the possibility to cancel the adoption) permanent residence was permitted based on counterfeit or changed requirements you were resident outside the EU countries for a longer period than 12 months without interruption, unless this residence was caused by serious matters (pregnancy and birth, serious illness, studying or professional training, or stay abroad due to work) you were outside the territory for more than 6 years without interruption, There are other reasons for withdrawing the validity of the permit, under a condition that this decision will be reasonable with regard to its impact on your private or family life: if you repeatedly and seriously disturb public order or violate rights and freedoms of others, or there is just threat that you might threaten national security, the reason for which you were issued permanent residence permit ceases within 5 years, you did not apply for permanent residence permit for your child within 60 days after their birth in the territory of the Czech Rep. you were convicted by a court of the Czech Republic for committing willful criminal offence and you were sentenced to more than three years of imprisonment. NOTE It is necessary to mention that the permanent residency has been reinforced in the latest amendment of the Alien Act, for instance there are less reasons for withdrawing of validity of the permanent residence permit, therefore you do not lose this residence in the case that: you lose your accommodation you experience financial crisis etc RESIDENCE PERMIT CARD The residence permit card is issued as: a separate document, or as a label inserted in the travel document. You prove all your personal data by this card. Validity period of the card: 10 years for adults 5 years for children younger than 15 years You can extend the validity of the card over the same period of time, even repeatedly. Extension of validity of the permit card When to apply: a) You are obliged to apply for an extension of validity of the card within a limit of 90 days before the expiry of the card. The application is submitted to the Police. In justifiable cases you can also apply for it earlier. b) In case that you cannot file the application within the time limit for reasons you could not influence, you are obliged to submit the application within three days after these reasons cease to exist. Requirements for the application to extend validity of the permanent residence card travel document 2 photos, only in case there have been changes in the appearance of the applicant in case you apply for a replacement of the card, bring a damaged original card or a notice of loss or theft from the Police NOTE Follow these steps also in case there is no more space in the card to mark another extension, or in case you apply for another card after the original one is no longer valid ADMINISTRATIVE FEE Administrative fee is paid as follows: there is administrative fee of 1000 CZK for granting the permanent residence permit there is administrative fee of 1000 CZK for extension of the permanent residence permit the administrative fee for children under 15 years of age is 500 CZK 2.2. LEGAL STATUS OF A LONG-TERM RESIDENT IN THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC GENERAL INFORMATION Description: Legal status of a long-term resident of the European Union in the territory of the Czech Republic is granted by the Police alongside the long-term residence permit upon fulfilling the following conditions: you have been a resident in the territory of the Czech Rep. for 5 years without interruption, you have never seriously disturbed public order, neither threatened national security of the Czech Rep. or another EU country, and you have proved you possess sufficient funds for permanent residence in the territory 32 33

18 NOTE In case you were granted permanent residence permit on the grounds of humanitarian reasons without the condition of the previous uninterrupted stay, you will be allowed to apply for the long-term resident status only after 5 years of your uninterrupted stay in the Czech Rep. If you were granted permanent residence permit after termination of the asylum procedure (see above), you will be granted the legal status after 5 years of the permanent residency. If you were not granted the legal status alongside with the permanent residence permit in the territory of the Czech Rep. (e.g. you gained the permit before adoption of this particular law), the Police will award you the legal status on the grounds of a written application and fulfillment of the above conditions. Children under the age of 5 years cannot be granted the long-term resident status. Where to apply: the Alien Police department in the territory Duration of processing an application: within the limit of 120 days from submitting. Other terms and conditions are the same as for the permanent residence permit (see above and ) Denotation of legal status of the EC resident: The Police denotes permanent residence permit for longterm resident EC into the permanent residence permit card. NOTE This legal status allows you to enjoy more or less the same rights in the territory of other EU member states as are granted to other persons who have permanent residence permit status in those countries RIGHTS DERIVING FROM THE RESIDENT STATUS Advantages you are granted by this status are as follows: traveling in the European Union (though it is possible that not all EU member states have adopted this directive, and therefore may require visa or other residence permit in their territory; border controls will be removed upon the Czech Rep. entering the Schengen territory) moving into another EU member state for work (some EU member states still use the right to protect their job market with working permits, and this right can be applied without restraint; on the other hand the EU member states should at least prioritize EU resident over third-country aliens) access to education under the same conditions and the same fees as Czech citizens (especially regarding dining facilities, art schools etc.) professional training recognition upon the same conditions that apply to EU citizens (according to the Act No.18/2004 about professional training and other skill recognition for the EU citizens) NOTE If you are a long-term resident of another EU member state, you have the following rights in the territory of the Czech Rep.: reside in the territory for 3 months without visa you are entitled to be granted long-term residence permit you can work in the territory without the working permit in case you reside here for more than 1 year. 3. RESIDENCE OF A EU CITIZEN FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS The Alien Act includes completely new legal regulations regarding the residence of EU citizens and their family members in the territory of the Czech Republic. This document deals only with aliens with non-eu citizenship, therefore this part is only focused on family members of EU citizens who reside in the territory of the Czech Rep. According to the alien Act the EU citizen family member means: husband/wife parent of an EU citizen under 21 years of age a child under 21 years of age or such a child of a spouse of the EU citizen an ascendant or descendant direct family member unprovided for or such a relative of a spouse of an EU citizen, which means: a person who is continuously preparing for future occupation a person unable to prepare continuously for future occupation due to an illness or injury, or a person who due to long-term unfavorable health conditions is unable to carry out continuous gainful occupation Provisions of the alien Act regarding an EU citizen family member are also relevant to a person who: lives in common household with the EU citizen (valid also for registered partnership) or is dependent due to health conditions on personal help from an EU citizen is a family member of a Czech citizen NOTE If you are granted status of an EU citizen family member you do not have the right to apply for a long-term EU resident status. It is not possible to cumulate types of status when each of them brings certain advantages TEMPORARY RESIDENCE GENERAL INFORMATION AND TERMS Description: this type of residence is applied for by an EU citizen family member who intends to reside in the territory of the Czech Rep. with the EU citizen for the period longer than 3 months. Where to apply: the Alien Police department in the territory Time period to apply: within 3 months since entering the territory The EU citizen family member is required to provide following documents along with the application: travel document a document certifying you are the EU citizen family member (birth certificate, marriage certificate) 2 photos a medical insurance document (this does not apply if the reason for the stay is employment, business enterprise, or other gainful occupation) a document certificating that the applicant has provided for accommodation in the territory, and in case you are an unprovided for direct family member you are also obliged to provide a document proving you are such an unprovided person (e. g. a medical report or a study confirmation) Residence permit denotation: in a form of an EU citizen family member card

19 REASONS FOR NOT GRANTING OR WITHDRAWAL OF THE TEMPORARY EU CITIZEN FAMILY MEMBER PERMIT The Police will reject your application for temporary residence permit in case: you fail to present requirements set by the law, you have become an unaccountable burden for the social care system of the Czech Rep. there is a threat that you might threaten the national security or seriously disturb the public order, you are considered an undesirable person you are a threat to the public health because you suffer from a serious illness in case you became ill within first three months of your stay in the territory it appears you entered marriage in order to gain temporary residence permit (not relevant if a baby was born within the marriage or if a baby was adopted by spouses without the possibility to cancel the adoption). This reason will be considered only in case the decision will be reasonable regarding its impact on your private or family life. The Police will withdraw your temporary residence in the territory in case: the temporary residence in the territory was withdrawn from EU citizen (this is not relevant if you provide a care for a child of an EU citizen when completing his/her education) the EU citizen died during the temporary residence in the territory (this is not relevant if you were as a family member present in the territory for at least 1 year prior to his/her death), or the marriage with the EU citizen ended with divorce/declaration that the marriage is not valid, and: if you were not consigned a child of this EU citizen, or if you were not granted the right for regular contact with a child in the territory only, or in case the marriage lasted less than 3 years prior to divorce procedure and during the marriage you were granted residence permit for less than 1 year as an EU citizen family member (only in case the decision will be justifiable regarding its impact on your private or family life) PERMANENT RESIDENCY GENERAL INFORMATION Description: this type of residency permit is granted by the Police upon fulfilling conditions as follows: after 5 years of uninterrupted residence in the territory, if you are a family member of a Czech citizen or a family member of an EU citizen who was granted permanent residence permit, if you are a survivor of a Czech citizen, or if you are a survivor of another EU citizen who resided in the territory due to work, business enterprise, or other gainful occupation, and by the date of death, the EU citizen has been in the territory for at least two years the death of the EU citizen was caused by an accident at work or due to work-related illness, or you lost the Czech citizenship due to a marriage with this citizen or due to gaining their citizenship. a certified signature of a written confirmation of an entitled person agreeing with accommodating an EU citizen or their family member (certification is not necessary when the entitled person signs the consent at the Police) If you reside in the territory with an EU citizen you are allowed to reside in the territory until the decision about your application is determined; until then your residence is considered as temporary residence. The right to reside in the territory until the application is determined is not relevant if a decision about withdrawing the family member s residence is determined THE EU CITIZEN FAMILY MEMBER RESIDENCE CARD Description: Instead of a written decision about granting the permit the Police will give you just a permanent residence card. Along with this card you will receive a document about permitted residence in the territory. The form of the card: a separate document stating your details. Validity period of the card: The card is issued for the expected period of the EU citizen s residence, maximum of 5 years. The validity extension of the EU citizen family member residence permit card Requirements for the application to extend validity of the card travel document 2 photos a medical insurance document (this does not apply if the reason for the stay is employment, business enterprise, or other gainful occupation) a document certifying you are residing in the territory with the EU citizen If you are applying for a card as a substitution of a card that has been lost, destroyed, stolen, or damaged, you are obliged to present: photos travel document, and the original damaged card Follow the same steps if you apply for a card after the validity of the original card expires. NOTE All relevant documents must not exceed 180 days, with the exception of the travel documents, registry office documents, and the photos, if the pictures show current look of the applicant. Where to apply: the Alien Police department in the territory of the Czech Rep. Requirements necessary for the application: travel document a document certifying one of the above mentioned conditions 2 photos, and a document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation. A document proving that the applicant has provided for accommodation means: a document proving the ownership of a flat or a house, a document proving the right to use a flat, or 36 37

20 4. INFORMATION RELEVANT TO ALL ALIENS REGARDLESS OF THEIR RESIDENCE STATUS 4.1. ALIENS DUTIES STATED BY THE ALIEN ACT GENERAL DUTIES OF ALIENS As an alien your duties are mainly: reside in the territory of the Czech Rep. only with valid travel document and visa unless you can reside without visa in the territory (see above Residence without visa) upon Police request you need to be able to prove that you possess sufficient funds for accommodation costs; this does not apply for an EU citizen or their family member you need to be able to prove upon residency investigation that medical care costs have been paid for you need to present the travel document or the residence permit to the accommodation provider and sign the registration form provide full and correct required information in the procedure according to the Alien Act in the extent this Act requires upon Police request you need to prove your identity by providing travel document or the residence permit and you need to certify that you fulfill all conditions for residence in the territory within the time limit given by the Police report to the Police any change in surname, marital status, changes in travel document or the residence permit, all of this within three working days after the change happened (the time limit is 15 days for the EU citizens or third family member) protect your documents against lost, theft, damage or misuse report the loss, destruction, damage, or theft of the documents to the Police within 3 working days from the time any of the above happened; in case this happened abroad you report the event within the same period of time to the diplomatic authority of the Czech Republic undertake medical check in case your health conditions give reasons for it, and other actions to prevent an outbreak or spread of transmitted diseases upon Police request come to an interview in order to investigate your family relationships and whether your marriage was not entered for reasons of gaining the residence permit NOTE If you do not fulfill or you break the above stated duties stated by the Alien Act, the Police can initiate: penal proceedings, when you may be fined an amount ranging from a couple hundred CZK to CZK, according to the gravity of the offence (the list of offences is available in the Alien Act in the section on violation of law) the administrative expulsion procedure based on which you may be forced to leave the territory of the Czech Republic with given time during which you cannot return (see Chapter 3 below) DUTY TO REPORT THE PLACE OF RESIDENCE AFTER ENTERING THE TERRITORY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC a) Reporting the place of residence by an alien with visa: you are obliged to report your expected place of residence within three working days after entering the territory at the Alien Police department relevant to the place of residence. This duty is not relevant in case: you are younger than 15 years of age you are a staff member of a foreign country diplomatic authority or an international governmental organization your accommodation is provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic you have fulfilled this duty with the provider of your accommodation and they are registering your place of residence b) Reporting the place of residence by a alien without visa: if you are eligible to temporary residence in the territory of the Czech Rep. without visa, you are obligated to report your place of residence at the relevant alien Police department within 30 days after entering the territory in case you intend to remain in the territory for more than 30 days. You are also obliged to inform the Police about the beginning and the expected length of the temporary residence in the territory. c) Reporting the place of residence by an EU citizen: you are obliged to report your place of residence at the relevant Alien Police department within 30 days after entering the territory in case you intend to remain in the territory for more than 30 days; this duty is also relevant for the EU citizen family member in case this family member resides in the territory. The reporting duty at the Police is not relevant if you fulfilled this duty with your accommodation provider. NOTE You do not gain any rights to the property where you are registered nor against the property owner DUTY TO REPORT CHANGES IN THE PLACE OF RESIDENCE If you were issued: an EU citizen family member residence card permanent residence permit card, or residence permit card you are required to report to the Police any change in the place of residence within 30 days of the change if you expect that the change of the place of residence will take longer than 180 days. If you reside in the territory of the Czech Rep.: within visa over 90 days, or within long-term residence permit you are required to report changes in the place of residence within 30 days of the change at the Alien Police department relevant to the new place of residence. You are required to report this change if you intend to change the place for more than 30 days TRAVEL DOCUMENT GENERAL INFORMATION You are required to prove your identity while dealing with all institutions, in case of aliens this proof of identity is usually travel document issued by the country of origin of the alien. In case you (for different reasons) do not possess your own travel document issued by your home country, you can apply (upon fulfilling conditions given by the law) at the Police of the Czech Rep. for issuing travel document in one of the following forms: alien s passport with territorial validity in all countries of the world travel identity card, or travel document issued by the Czech Rep. on the grounds of an international contract ATTENTION In case you lose one of the above mentioned documents abroad, the embassy will issue travel identity card; the issue is conditioned by the Police consent. Biometric data: Within the scope of war on terrorism the EU adopted decisions to improve security of travel documents, which involves introducing the biometric data into passports and other documents permitting residence. Biometric data is a digital processing of observable biological features of a person that can be used for their identification (features of their face, fingerprints, or the content of the iris or retinae). Since august 2006 all travel documents should contain digital photo, whereas digital fingerprints should be introduced to passports by mid The old version passports without biometric data will remain valid until their expiry date. Biometric data will be preserved in the Visa Information System VIS, through which the data will be exchanged beweent the EU member states. Travel documents therefore need to be computer legible need to contain bar code based on which computers are able to scan the personal data. NOTE Biometric data serve only for the purpose of verifying the authenticity of the travel documents and verifying your identity though the personal data encoded in the travel document, or for the purpose of comparing the current biometric data with the biometric data encoded in the travel document ALIEN S PASSPORT The Police will issue an alien s passport only in cases as follows: you are residing in the territory designated in residence permit, you do not own a valid travel document and you prove that you are unable to obtain it (for reasons independent of your will e.g. you provide the decision of refusal given by the diplomatic authority of your country of origin) you are entitled to permanent residency because you were assigned to alternate care, and 38 39

21 you are younger than 15 years of age, or your legal capacity was limited by court decision, you were given supplementary protection according to the Asylum Act, you do not have valid travel document, and you can prove that you are unable to get it (for reasons independent of your will) Validity period: The alien s passport that contains the biometric data is issued: for the period of 10 years for the period of 5 years for children of 5 to 15 years of age, for aliens who are given supplementary protection with the same validity period as the period stated in the residence permit for a person with supplementary protection Issue of the alien s passport: within 30 days of the submitting date NOTE If you apply for an alien s passport in the time limit less than 30 days you will be issued a passport without biometric data (digital processing of your photo) and without signature, within 15 days since the submitting date; this passport is valid for 6 months. Children younger than 5 years of age are issued a passport without biometric data and without the child s signature within 15 days since the submission; this document is valid for 1 year. NOTE You cannot extend the validity of the alien s passport!!! TRAVEL IDENTITY CARD a) Travel identity card for leaving the country is issued by the Police based on your application in case: you do not have a valid travel document and because of reasons independent of your will you are unable to get a travel document by other means, you were granted tolerated stay visa over 90 days because your departure is prevented if you are residing in the territory without valid travel document, or this regards a child under the age of 15 yeas who is hospitalized and whose legitimate representative has left the territory and has signed a declaration on word of honor. Validity period: in the first and third case the Police will issue travel identity card valid for up to 180 days and with territorial validity in all countries in the world. in the second case the Police will issue travel identity card valid for up to 365 days and with territorial validity in all countries in the world. b) Other cases when the Police issue travel identity card, in case you reside in the territory without valid travel document, after: the short-term visa is declared invalid, the decision about withdrawal of validity of visa over 90 days or long-term residence permit comes into legal force, the decision of withdrawal of permanent residence permit comes into legal force, you are given tolerated stay visa over 90 days in the territory within the administrative expulsion procedure Validity period: the Police sets the period of validity according to the validity period of the given visa or long-term residence permit. c) The Police will also issue travel identity card in case there was given final decision of expulsion, or your granted protection according to a special law was withdrawn, in case you do not have any other travel document. d) The Ministry will issue a travel identity card for you in case you were issued a long-term residence permit for the purpose of protection in the territory in case you do not have a valid travel document and you do not have a valid travel document and you are unable to get a travel document by other means for reasons independent of your will. Travel identity card is issued with validity in territories of the whole world and the validity period equal with the validity period of a long-term residence permit for the purpose of protection in the territory ADMINISTRATIVE EXPULSION Description: Administrative expulsion means termination of the residence of an alien in the territory together with stating a date for departure from the territory and the period of time when the alien is not allowed to enter the territory. These dates need to be given by the Police in the decision on administrative expulsion, along with stating the legal reasons this decision is being issued. In justified cases the decision can also determine a border checkpoint for leaving the territory. Along with the administrative expulsion there also exists a so-called penalty expulsion (sentence of expulsion) to which you can be sentenced by the criminal court in case you committed a crime in the territory of the Czech Rep. Time limits: the Police has 7 days to issue the decision about administrative expulsion and this period of time can be extended in case the decision in not possible to issue within the original time limit. You can appeal against the decision about administrative expulsion within 5 days (15 days in case of children under the age of 18 years) since the day of receiving the decision REASON FOR ISSUING THE DECISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPULSION The law distinguishes reasons for which the decision of administrative expulsion can be issued according to the type of your residence in the territory of the Czech Rep. The most limited reasons are if you are a permanent resident. a) If you are a temporary resident in the territory, the reasons for administrative expulsion are broader and according the gravity of your offence the Police can issue a decision about administrative expulsion with the time period of minimum 3, 5 to 10 years when you cannot enter the territory. b) If you are an EU citizen family member and you reside only temporarily in the territory, the decision about administrative expulsion can be issued only in case: you threaten the national security, you seriously disturb public order, or you threaten public health because you suffer from a serious illness in case the outbreak of the illness came within three months after entering the territory. Costs connected with the administrative expulsion: the costs are paid for from the security deposit you gave to the diplomatic authority. After the Czech Rep. enters the Schengen territory these costs will be paid for from your financial funds you bring along with you. In case the cost cannot be paid for from your own funds it is the person who has committed to the payment in the invitation (certified by the Police) who pays for the whole costs. The costs of administrative expulsion involve: food and accommodation costs travel costs, and other necessary financial costs SECURITY COMPONENTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPULSION a) There exist several legal provisions to reduce consequences of administrative expulsion that state, that: a decision about administrative expulsion cannot be issued in case its consequences would mean an excessive encroachment into your private or family life the Police is obliged to obtain the binding opinion of the Ministry of Interior whether your expulsion is possible with regards to circumstances preventing departure from the territory (see above part regarding tolerated stay visa Part I., ). If there are reasons preventing you from leaving the territory after the administrative expulsion decision comes into legal force, the Police will issue another decision on the matter after requiring the mandatory opinion from the Ministry. Instead of the administrative expulsion the Police will issue a tolerated stay visa over 90 days in the territory. during the time you are not allowed to enter the territory according to the administrative expulsion, the Police will issue a visa or will permit the entry in case the reason for entering is the summons of a public authority of the Czech Rep. and in case the matter is impossible to be dealt with from abroad. Such entry can be allowed for the maximum of 30 days

22 b) You can also apply at the Police for issuing a new decision that would cancel the validity of the original decision, in case: the reasons for its issue expired and half of the time when you are not allowed to enter the territory has passed, or the person is a minor placed in substitute care who has entered the age of 18 years and according to the opinion of the Child Social and Legal Protection Board shows an effort to integrate in the territory DETENTION OF AN ALIEN Description: If the Police during an investigation initiate the administrative expulsion procedure, they have the right to detain you at the moment when the notification about the initiation of administrative expulsion procedure is delivered to you, if there exists a risk that you might: threaten the security of the state seriously disturb the public order, or thwart or impede execution of the decision about the administrative expulsion The Police is obliged to investigate that the reasons for your detention still exist throughout the whole duration of your detention. Detained unaccompanied minors are assigned a guardian by the Police. Review of the detention: You have the right to submit a petition for a procedure on the legitimacy of the detention according to the Act No. 99/1963 Coll., Civil Procedure Code, during which the court decides about the duration of detention and orders a release in case the reasons for detention have ceased to exist. This proposal does not have a deferring effect, therefore you will have to remain in the detention centre until the court orders a release. Duties of the Police: to deliver to you in advance the written decision about detention to instruct you immediately after you are detained about your right to submit a petition for a procedure on the legitimacy of the detention in the language in which you are able to communicate to notify your relatives, who have a residence permit in the territory, as well as relevant embassy or consular authority of your country in case you ask for it (this does not apply if you applied here for the international protection in the form of asylum) about your detention NOTE a) The Police is entitled to detain you for the purpose of an administrative expulsion, even though you applied for the international protection, in case: the administrative expulsion decision has already come to legal force the administrative expulsion procedure is initiated for the period of 10 years, or you crossed the border of the country without authorization. b) If you apply for international protection in the form of asylum during the detention, this application will not be the reason for terminating the detention. The detention period cannot exceed: 180 days and is counted from the beginning of your custody 90 days in case of minor younger than 18 years Detention centre The decision about detention is usually carried out in a centre run by Refugee Facility Administration of the Ministry of Interior (so called RFA). Upon coming into legal force of the decision about detention the Police will immediately transport you to the centre provided by the RFA

23 OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION 1. EDUCATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC Legal regulations: Act No. 561/2004 Coll., on Pre-school, Basic, Secondary, Tertiary Professional and Other Education (the Education Act) Act No. 111/1998 Coll., Higher Education Act Regulation of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic No. 12/2005 Coll. on Conditions for Recognition of Equivalence and Domestication of Certificates Issued by Foreign Schools 1.1. GENERAL POLICIES ACCESS TO EDUCATION Charter of rights and freedoms guarantees that everyone has an equal access to education in the Czech Republic. According to the Education Act No. 561/2004 Coll. there is a condition for aliens in documenting the legality of residence in the territory of the Czech Republic. Basic rule: The conditions for aliens studying in the Czech Republic are mainly set by the so-called Education Act that determines that aliens with valid residence permit in the territory of the Czech Republic can be educated at basic, secondary and tertiary professional schools. Educational possibilities according to categories of aliens: the EU citizens have the same rights as the Czech citizens other aliens, so called third-country citizens can study as long as they present to the headmaster of the school proof of legal residence in the territory on the day of commencement of school at the latest. You can obtain information about individual schools and education in the Czech Rep. in the educational offices of the Czech Rep that can be found in any larger town, or on the web site of the Ministry of Education ( COMPULSORY EDUCATION Compulsory education is relevant for: Czech citizens other EU member states citizens and their family members aliens who have permanent residence permit in the territory of the Czech Rep., long-term residence permit, visa over 90 days, asylum holders and asylum seekers. Fulfillment of the compulsory education is provided in these educational institutions: at basic schools at special schools at schools upon performing institutional and protective education Compulsory education takes 9 years and is essentially provided for free (for more information see below ). Aliens, on the other hand, do not gain the cost-free right for so called educational services counseling activities, educational nursing, housing and catering services, etc. For these services even Czech citizens can be charged. Aliens also do not gain the cost-free right for other education, i.e. art and leisure time education, language, or so called further education INDIVIDUAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS KINDERGARTENS Pre-school institutions, which provide care for little children: nursery kindergartens and special kindergartens Regulations for placing a child into a pre-school institution: attendance is optional depends fully on decision of parents 44 45

24 attended by children from 3 to 6 years of age, exceptionally until 7 years of age there is a monthly fee and the level of costs is determined by each kindergarten the state does not contribute to the payments of attendance and care for aliens children of pre-school age. aliens pay different amount of fee, usually higher your child can be accepted to a kindergarten when there are vacancies children gain general habits and skills in the kindergarten, they learn how to live in a group of children and how to communicate with people outside their family BASIC SCHOOLS General information: the compulsory education in the Czech Rep. is legally set to 9 years; in case your child does not fulfill the compulsory education you are committing a crime Basic schools have 9 grades, the school year begins on September 1st or the closest working day after this date, and terminates on June 30th or the closest date before. Summer holidays are in July and August. the education is free of charge Entry conditions: children enter basic school usually at the age of 6 your child will be assigned to the 1st to 9th grade according to their age, reached knowledge and skills, and communication level in the Czech language parents of children from non-eu member states are obliged to prove the legality of the child s residence SECONDARY SCHOOLS Studying at secondary schools is obligatory. It is free of charge at public schools, the private ones charge fees. Aliens are also provided education free of charge if they prove the ability to study in the Czech language. System of secondary schools in the Czech Rep.: secondary technical schools 3 years of studying, a student gains a vocational certificate in the given field secondary vocational schools 4 years of studying, leads to a school-leaving exam secondary general schools usually 4 years of studying, leads to a school-leaving exam, a student gains general knowledge Entry conditions: finished compulsory education a document certifying completing the basic school education you have to prove the legality of you child s residence in the territory of the Czech Rep. study application a form you can purchase for instance in the Information Centre for Youth, 24 Senovážné Square, Praha 1, and this form filled in will be sent before deadline to the school address pass an entry exam headmasters of the school will excuse the entry exam in the Czech language based on your request and this will be replaced with an interview in the Czech language TERTIARY PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS The study duration is 3 years and leads to a certificate when the student gains a degree DiS. (Diplomovaný specialista). There is a study fee at a tertiary professional school, the aliens are subject to the same fees as the Czech citizens. Entry conditions: secondary education completed and a successful entry exam the applications should be submitted usually by the end of February entry exams take place usually during May and June UNIVERSITIES Education at public universities and colleges in the Czech language is free of charge. There is a study fee for studying in another language or at private universities or colleges. Entry conditions: secondary education completed and a successful entry exam the applications should be submitted usually by the end of February entry exams take place usually during May and June 1.3. CONVERSION OF VALIDITY (EQUALITY RECOGNITION) OF CERTIFICATIONS AND DEGREES OF EDUCATION DEFINITION OF TERMS a) Equality recognition Certificate on equality recognition of a foreign diploma is issued in case the Czech Republic is bound by international contract on equality recognition of professional qualifications with the country where the school is established and recognized. If the foreign diploma does not show the content and extent of subjects, you also need to present general content of the subject in which you gained the education. b) Conversion In case the Czech Republic is not bound by an international contract on equality recognition of professional qualifications with the country where the school is established and recognized, the relevant education department will decide on conversion based on presented diploma master copy, or its certified copy. If the foreign diploma does not show the content and extent of subjects, you also need to present general content of the subject in which you gained the education. Conversion exam In case the content and extent of subjects from the foreign institution is partly different, or in case you fail to present general content of the subject from which the the content and extent of the subject would be clear, the relevant education department will order a conversion exam. You need to pass this exam as a condition for issuing the decision on equality recognition of the foreign diploma validity in the Czech Rep INFORMATION FOR SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION Where to apply: Conversion of high school diplomas conversion is carried out by a relevant educational department (in Prague Municipal authorities (Magistrat hl. m.) Praha, Mgr. Fučík, Učňovská 100/1, Praha 9, tel.: ) Conversion of university diplomas conversion is carried out by the department of universities at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Rep. (Doc. Machová, Karmelitská 7, Praha 1, ) in case the country where you gained the diploma has international treaty with the Czech Rep. In case you were studying in a country that does not have such international treaty, you will submit the application and relevant documents at a relevant university which lectures the same subject. Application requirements: the application form certified or authentic copy of the diploma certified translation of the diploma, translated exam statement, if appropriate Fees: there is an administrative fee of 200 CZK for equality recognition or issuing a certificate on equality recognition on professional qualification gained abroad. Time limits: after meeting all the requirements the executing procedure takes 30 to 60 days. Legalization of achieved certifications of education Upon submitting the application you need to have verified all signatures and seals of the diploma master copy, as well as the fact that the educational institution is established and recognized in the territory of the country where the diploma was granted. The verification is carried out by the relevant diplomatic authority of the Czech Rep., as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country, in which the educational institution that granted the diploma resides. You also need to provide a certified translation of the documents into the Czech language

25 2. EMPLOYMENT Legal regulations: Act No. 435/2004 Coll., on Employment Act No.65/1965 Coll., The Labor Code as amended (on 1st January 2007 will come into legal force a new Labor Code No. 262/2006 Coll.) Act No.. 118/2000 Coll., The Employees Protection during the Employer s Insolvency Act No. 500/2004 Coll., Administrative Procedure 2.1. GENERAL POLICIES JOB MARKET ACCESS Basic rule: The Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004 and this brought significant changes in the system of employing aliens. A new Employment Act No. 435/2004 Coll. was adopted, that distinguishes aliens into two groups: EU citizens who have free access to the job market in our territory third-country citizens and their employers who have to fulfill conditions given by the law (see below) EU citizens: The EU member states citizens, EEA, and Switzerland and their family members are according to the Employment Act not considered as aliens and in accordance with this act do have the same legal status as the Czech citizens. They do not need a work permit for the purpose of employment in the territory of the Czech Republic. The family member, who is not an EU citizen, needs to provide to the relevant institution a document confirming he/she is a family member of an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen. You can find more information on employment at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs website WORKING PERMIT GENERAL INFORMATION Basic rules for employment of an alien: You can be employed in the territory of the Czech Rep. in case you have: a work permit, and residence permit for the purpose of employment Types of employment for which you need a work permit: full-time employment contract part-time employment contract agreement to perform work or an agreement to complete a job short-term employment (seasonal work, student work etc.) ATTENTION The work permit is always issued just for one particular work position. The employer has to report this position at the relevant employment office. In case of several work contracts the employee needs to have work permit for each of them. You can apply for them at the same time. Conditions for issuing the work permit: The employment office will issue a work permit only in case of a registered job vacancy that is due to required qualification or shortage of work force impossible to fill by other means (i.e. with a Czech citizen mainly). The employment office looks into the job market situation when issuing the work permit. Work permit: is non-transferable is issued by the employment office for a limited amount of time, for the maximum of one year can be applied for repeatedly Validity of work permit terminates: with the expiry of time period for which it was issued with termination of the job contract within the validity period with termination of the alien s residence permit with termination of the residence permit for different reasons ATTENTION a) The employment office can withdraw the work permit in case: the practiced work is inconsistent with the issued working permit the work permit was issued on the basis of false information b) The work permit cannot be issued in case: you applied for international protection through asylum in the Czech Rep.; the work permit cannot be issued for the time period of 12 months since submitting the application (including repeated applications) you do not meet some of the conditions of employment given by the law for issuing the work permit (see below) WORK PERMIT APPLICATION THE PROCESS FOLLOWED BY AN ALIEN Where to apply: the employment office in the territory of the Czech Rep. relevant to the place of the practiced work Ways of submitting the application: You can apply for the work permit: in person via an empowered representative (within a written power of attorney) via the employer with whom you are about to work, or to whom you will be sent to by your foreign employer (within a written power of attorney) Along with the work permit application you need to provide documentation (both in the master copy and the certified copy) of: the employer s statement that they will employ the alien professional qualification to practice given work; medical report about your health condition, not older than 1 month; other documents required by the characteristic of the employment ATTENTION The employer does not apply for issuing the work permit for aliens in case: they want to employ an alien to whom the work permit is issued regardless of the job market situation (see , item a) they want to employ an alien who does not need the work permit (see item b) Conditions of extending the work permit: the employment has to continue with the same employer the application has to be submitted in between 3 months and 30 days before the termination of the work permit the application contains the same requirements as the original work permit application you also need to provide documentation about the employer s statement that he/she will continue employing you NOTE In case there is a change in of employer, place of practicing the employment, or type of work, you need to report these changes within 30 calendar days and submit a new work permit application. Administrative fee: you will pay 500 CZK for issuing the work permit

26 THE EMPLOYER S PROCEDURE The employer who wants to employ an alien, has to: at first the employer has to apply for a permission to acquire foreign employees for job vacancies for which it is impossible to get a job applicant (registered at the employment office); this application is submitted to the labor bureau in the place where the future employee will complete the work when employing an alien who does not need a work permit, there is just a reporting duty towards the relevant employment office when extending the employee s working permit the employer needs to produce a statement on continuing in the employment in case there is a change in place of practicing the employment, type of work, the employer is obligated to report all changes to the employment office within 10 working days. Administrative fee: the employer has to pay 2.000CZK for the permission to acquire foreign employees. this is not relevant in case: you have tolerated stay visa when the work permit is not required (see below , item b) EXCEPTIONS a) In cases given by the law it is possible to gain the work permit regardless of the job market situation: if you are continuously practicing educational and scientific activity as a teacher, academic, or a researcher in the Czech Rep. you are going to be employed for a limited period of time in order to improve your skills and qualification (trainee-ship) for the maximum period of one year you are employed for occasional and time restricted employments within youth or school exchange programmes; this is relevant to persons under 26 years of age you are a priest of a church registered in the Czech Rep. if it is given by an international contract you have been granted tolerated stay visa you are an asylum seeker but no sooner than 12 months since applying for the asylum status b) You do not need the work permit in case: you have residence permit you have a long-term visa for family unification, in case you were united with an alien who has permanent residence permit, or asylum holder you are asylum holder you are a family member of a diplomatic mission, consular authority, or a family member of an employee of an international governmental organisation with the quarters in the Czech Rep. you practice a specifically given work as described in the Employment Act 3. HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH INSURANCE Legal frame: Act No. 48/1997 Sb., on public health insurance Act No. 20/1966 Sb., on health care for the public 3.1. BASIC PRINCIPLES ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE Basic rules: Claim ing free health care in a health centre is restricted to an alien: who has acquired permanent resident status whose employer has paid insurance fee to public health insurance. Modification of the Alien Law from 2005 thus requires an alien to have health insurance for the whole stay. This should be the insurance covering treatment expenses, not only insurance of responsibility or injury. If you are not covered by public health insurance, you can buy personal health insurance with insurance company. In case of any examination or treatment of people who do not have health insurance in the Czech Republic, payment in cash in contractual prices is required, which might amount to very high sums. ATTENTION If you arrive without insurance and this is found out by an appropriate authority just when crossing the border, you even might not be allowed to enter the country. In case you are staying in the Czech Republic without insurance you are breaking the Czech law and there is threat of being penalized for the offence EVIDENCE OF TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE Duty to submit the evidence of travel health insurance: According to the Alien Act, when asked by the police, you have to submit the evidence of travel health insurance, which covers treatment expenses connected with injury or immediate sickness in the country, including the expense of the patient s transportation to the country, the travel document of which he/she owns, or possibly to another country he/she has the permit to stay in. This insurance at minimal amount of EUR for the stay in the country should be admitted: at the border control in case the insurance acc. to Public Health Insurance Act is not assured at the time an alien enters the Czech Republic Exceptions from the obligation: Necessity to submit the evidence of travel health insurance does not apply for: EU citizen and their family members an alien who could not provide such an insurance in his country for objective reasons. In that case you are obliged to provide such insurance within maximum 3 working days of your stay in the country. in case the Czech Republic has signed with your country an agreement on providing necessary and acute medical care on the territory of the CR for free. Then the care is provided even if you are not insured. To claim this it is enough to prove your citizenship by your passport. The list of existing international treaties is available at the internet address of the International Payment Centre TYPES OF HEALTH INSURANCE We distinguish between two types of health insurance: public health insurance private (contractual) health insurance, which could be: short-term long-term (range of which is nearly identical with the public one) 50 51

27 PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE PERMANENT RESIDENTS Each permanent resident of the Czech Republic, i.e. even an alien with a permanent residence permit on the territory of the CR, is insured according to law. In this case, you may participate in the public health insurance. Health insurance starts by obtaining a permanent residence permit on the territory of the CR. A participant in the public health insurance system has the following rights: to choose health insurance company it is allowed to change the company only once a year, and only on the first day of the year quarter to choose a doctor and health centre (does not apply if there is a factory doctor), if they have a contract with your health insurance company can be used every three months to choose transport services, if they have a contract with appropriate health insurance company to use health care for free (except medical help which is not covered by public health insurance) health insurance company might pay for medical help or treatment, normally unpaid, if it is proved to be the only possible way of treatment to obtain medicaments without payment, if these are preparations paid by public health insurance make a complaint if there is any doubt whether the care is a proper one you can contact a manager of health centre, the Czech Medical Chamber, the Czech Stomatologist Chamber, the Czech Pharmacist Chamber or health insurance company. Policy holder incurs these obligations: to pay the premium to appropriate insurance company to collaborate during treatment if necessary to undergo the appointed prevention measures to abstain from activities, which might cause deliberate damage to one s health to identify oneself with the certificate of the policy holder or a substitute document when being provided with health care, except for medicaments or supportive medical devices. to follow the obligation to inform the insurance company (in case of losing the policy holder certificatewithin 8 days, in case of any change of personal data within 30 days) INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT A PERMIT FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN THE CR Basic rules: If you do not have the permit for permanent residence in the CR, you might take part in the public health insurance only as an employee of the employer whose seat is in the territory of CR. This is under condition that the employment is covered by health insurance. You cannot take part in public health insurance without either being an employee or having permanent residence permit in the CR. during those months when you do not take part in public health insurance based on the profession, you can close a so-called private (contractual) health insurance with a health insurance company (see below) SPECIAL CASES In some special cases the law creates a fiction, based on which some defined groups of people are considered as aliens withpermanent residence permit. These are as follows: asylum seekers within a period of approved asylum children born to the asylum seekers until the decision about the asylum or other stay of the child is made children sent by the decision of appropriate body to foster care, if at least one physical person, who is to take care of the child, is a permanent resident in the CR or the institution where the child is placed is situated in the CR, aliens children from the time they are born until the residence permit becomes valid, under the condition that their parents have permanent residence permit and they ask the authorities for the permit for their child within a period set by law, aliens under temporary protection, aliens who received negative decision about being granted asylum, which states the obstacle to leaving the territory according to the law, aliens who received visa enabling them to stay longer than 90 days or a long-term residence visa for the purpose of tolerated stay CONTRACTUAL HEALTH INSURANCE a) Short-term private health insurance (for stay up to 365 days): this insurance is for short-term stay in the territory of the CR, e.g. for tourism or for work. insurance covers only necessary and acute health care a part of this insurance is insurance during transit through other countries b) Long-term health insurance: this insurance might be used by aliens staying in the CR and having visa for more than 90 days (except the aliens with the same visa but staying here for the purpose of work if their employer s seat is in the territory of the CR these take part in the public health insurance) the range of this insurance is similar to public health insurance. ATTENTION Personal health insurance could be signed only with the General Health Insurance Co. To choose another insurance company is not possible in this case. The General Health Insurance Co. offers two possibilities for the case of necessary, complex care. Beginning of insurance: based upon the signed contract on the defined date. Expiry of insurance: on expiry date negotiated and stated in the contract or by cancellation of the contract in accordance with its clauses. Insurance rate: It is higher than minimal insurance in public health insurance system and insurance covers narrower range of health care than public health insurance. Compensation for medicaments for long-term private health insurance is provided at the same level as for public health insurance. Conditions necessary for long-term contractual insurance: you cannot be over 70 years old entrance medical examination in an institution chosen by the insurance company is mandatory (applicant will pay only a part of the cost, after the contract has been signed, in the maximum amount of CZK 400, that will be deducted from the first payment). ATTENTION insurance is written for the time of six to twelve months, paid in Czech currency, and in advance for the whole period. the amount of the insurance premium depends on the age and sex of the applicant and on the negotiated conditions of the contract. A list of health institutions providing health care based upon long-term contractual insurance is available in all regional offices of the General Health Insurance Co. or at the assistant services of the above mentioned company INSURANCE COMPANIES General rules: Public health insurance in the Czech Rep. is currently provided by 9 public insurance companies. The largest of them is the General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Rep.(GHIC). Every health insurance company is obliged to accept any person who meets the conditions of joining the public health insurance

28 In case of liquidation of any of the insurance companies, all clients are transferred to the GIC, unless they themselves choose another company. A person who is insured by the public health insurance has the right to choose an insurance company with which the person will be insured. There are exceptions to this right stated in the law. NOTE In case you are granted long-term visa you will have to present the travel health insurance contract at the relevant diplomatic authority before having visa inserted in your travel document. Prior to signing the travel health insurance make sure that the insurance company you want to get insurance from will be accepted by the diplomatic authority (or the Alien Police). Insurance of children born in the territory can be entered only after the birth. In case that during the entry medical check of a woman who wants to enter a long term contract insurance is discovered that she is pregnant, it is possible to include the birth into the contract health insurance (i.e. the mother will pay higher insurance rate). In case of a premature birth or urgent postnatal medical care the costs are paid for from the mother s insurance until the baby is three months old. In case the woman does not pay the higher insurance rate, the costs connected with premature birth and urgent postnatal medical care will be paid for from her own funds!!! Info line of the General Insurance Company ( : SOCIAL SECURITY Legal frame: Act No. 155/1995 Coll., on Pension Insurance, as amended Act No.589/1992 Coll., on Social Security and State Employment Contributions Act No. 425/2003 Coll., amending the Act No 155/1995 Sb. and other Acts Ministerial Regulation No.284/1995 Coll., by which the Pension Insurance Act is implemented Governmental regulation No. 415/2005 Coll. on increasing pensions rate in 2006 Act No. 42/1994 Coll., State-Contributory Supplementary Pension Insurance Act No. 582/1991 Coll., on the Organization and Implementation of Social Security, as amended Governmental regulation No. 290/1995 Coll., listing the work-related illnesses Act No.100/1988 Coll., On Social Security, as amended Act No.114/1988 Coll., On the Competencies of the CR Authorities in Social Security, as amended Act No. 177/1995 On the State Social Benefits Act No. 453/2003 Coll., Which Modifies the Act on State Social Support, as amended Act. No. 463/ 1991 Coll., On Subsistence Minimum Act No.482/ 1991 Coll., on Social Needs Ministerial Regulation No.182/1991 Coll., by which the Act on Social Security and the Act on the Competencies of the CR Authorities in Social Security are implemented, as amended 4.1. SOCIAL INSURANCE AND PENSIONS SOCIAL INSURANCE Insurance for social security contains these items: pension insurance health insurance state employment contributions If you join the pension insurance system, you will according to law- be covered for difficult life situations (e. g. old age, disability, death of provider). As a contributor you have the right to be paid out pension security benefits. A few basic rules: social insurance is compulsory for those who earn money from employment, business, and is relevant for aliens who: are resident within permanent residence (including those with granted asylum, and higher education students) are resident within temporary residence the employer pays the social insurance for the employees it is taken from the gross wage (salary) if you run a business you have to pay for yourself. The insurance deposits are paid for every month towards the bank account of the locally relevant district social security administration social insurance is administered by the district social security administration (OSSZ) PENSIONS Amongst benefits distributed from pension insurance are pensions as follows: complete disability pension partial disability pension widow/widower pension orphan s pension 54 55

29 Pension rate: consists of a base and a percentage rate, where the base rate is a set fixed amount the percentage is set by a percentage rate from a calculation base (the percentage rate is calculated from the earnings from the last 10 years before retirement, this is relevant to pension types 1 to 3 listed above; or the percentage rate of the deceased person s pension rate, in case of items 4 and 5). A right to pension: to receive a pension it is necessary to meet a condition of having payed social insurance for 25 years and to reach 63 years of age (the age for pension is reduced for women depending on the number of children) receiving a pension and its amount is regulated by international agreements of social security made between the Czech Republic and your state of nationality. For further information contact District social security administration SOCIAL BENEFITS Social benefits are a system of benefits that the state pays through local administration at your place of permanent residency. This system consists of: state social support benefits and social assistance benefits ATTENTION A condition for payment of these benefits is that you and other persons evaluated with you: reside legally in the territory of the Czech Republic, i.e.: they have permanent residency in the territory of the Czech Republic they have long-term visa or long-term residency permit they are asylum holders and you have been residing in the territory for 365 days from the day of registration this condition is not examined for children born in the territory till the 1 year of age. In justified cases the Prague Magistrate or relevant regional authority can pardon the condition of permanent residency STATE SOCIAL SUPPORT BENEFITS Basic rules: State social support benefits are not paid abroad. However, the fact that a beneficiary resides for some time abroad, does not immediately influence his/her title to individual social support benefits. You are entitled to benefits if you fulfill all legal conditions. After return from abroad you have to prove that you fulfill conditions of a benefit and its payment for the time period for which you claim the benefit, and that includes registration of residency in the territory of the Czech Republic and providing proof of your incomes. Benefits are paid in the following month after the month to which a benefit pertains. It is paid to a bank account at a bank in the Czech Republic or in cash. Entitlement to the payment of benefits expires 3 months after the day on which the benefit should have been paid. With one-off benefit payments, the entitlement expires one year after the day on which the benefit should have been paid. Where to apply for a benefit: State social support benefits are provided upon written application on prescribed forms that are available at the municipal halls or contact points for the benefits according to the permanent address of the beneficiary. The contact points and the application forms can be found at website Requisites of an application: documents certifying legality of your residence in the territory of the Czech Republic declaration of incomes (certificate from an employer, enterprise or self-employment declaration of incomes that is authorized by a civil servant of state social support office at the tax office) for determination time period (i.e. incomes form previous year till this year) certificate of studying for minor/adult unprovided children a document certifying that you reside in the territory of the Czech Republic longer than 365 days without interruption (The time does not include any period during which a person is seeking asylum.) Types of benefits: a) Benefits provided based on a family income: child allowance it is basic long-term benefit granted if you provide care to at least 1 unprovided child younger than 18 or student younger than 26 if the family income fall below the amount of three times the minimum subsistence level. Students older than 25 must provide certificate of studying. Parents provide declaration of family income in the preceding calendar year. A child allowance is a monthly paid benefit. social allowance The objective of the allowance is to assist families with low incomes to cover the costs of their needs. The right to receive the social allowance is tied to the care of dependent children and to a fixed family income limit. The family income must have been less than 1.6 times the minimum subsistence level for the family in the preceding calendar quarter. The allowance gradually reduces as the family income increases. housing allowance The state contributes towards the cost of housing to families and individuals on low incomes. A person has the right to receive the housing allowance if she/he owns or rents an apartment where s/he is registered for permanent residency as long as the income of the people residing in the apartment was lower than 1.6 times their minimum subsistence level during the preceding calendar quarter. b) Benefits provided independently of family income: parental allowance The parent is entitled to the parental allowance if s/he is taking proper daily care of a dependent child under 4 years of age, or under 7 years of age if the child suffers from a long-term disability, for a full calendar month on condition that the child does not attend a nursery, kindergarten or any other form of child care for pre-school children for more than 5 calendar days. foster care allowance birth grant This benefit contributes towards the costs incurred by a mother associated with a newborn child. The benefit depends on number of born children. It is necessary to provide a birth certificate. Entitled persons are: woman that gave birth to a child, father of a child if a mother died and she did not receive the birth grant and a person who adopts a child under 1 year of age funeral grant The amount of the funeral grant is fixed at CZK 5,000. The funeral grant is paid to a person who organizes a funeral for a person who, on the day of death, was a permanent resident of the Czech Republic or if the funeral took place in the Czech Republic. It is necessary to provide death certificate and a receipt of payment for funeral costs SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS Basic rules: Responds to people s individual situations. Benefits are granted if a person s or a household s (jointly considered persons) net income is below the minimum subsistence level and cannot be increased by one s own endeavor for reasons of age, state of health or other serious reason. When claiming these benefts, the state social support benefits are counted as part of the family income. Social assistance benefits can be provided only to alien with a permanent residence and Czech national with exceptions Asylum holder is considered as a person with permanent residence in the territory of the Czech Rep. Minor aliens who are in threat of major health damage and which do not have permanent residence in the Czech Rep. can obtain necessary help Asylum seekers do not obtain social assistance benefits! However, based on Asylum Act asylum seekers that live on private address are entitled to the financial benefit that is paid to the minimum subsistence level for maximum of 3 months. In case of repeated asylum claim, the benefit is not provided! 56 57

30 Social assistance benefits are not paid abroad! You do not hold a priori rights to these benefits; however, if you fulfill the conditions, you will be paid a benefit to supplement a difference between your income and minimum subsistence level. Minimum subsistence level serves as a level according to which the benefit shall be paid as well as a measure determining the amount of a benefit. The minimum subsistence level varies. The current minimum subsistence level can be found on (For additional information please see Part 1, Chapter 1, ) Where to apply: municipalities, authorized municipalities and authorities of municipalities with extended powers Requisites of application: residence permits documents certifying your income (including social benefits, rent etc.) System of social assistance benefits: Social assistance benefits consist of: benefits due to social needs social assistance benefits for severely handicapped and old persons social assistance benefits for families and children other social assistance benefits and loan 5. FAMILY Legal regulations: Act no. 301/2000 Coll., On the Registry Offices, Names and Surnames Act no. 165/2004 Coll., amending Act on he Registry Offices, Names and Surnames Act no. 94/1963 Coll., Family Act Act no. 368/1992 Coll., On Administrative fee collected by administrative authorities of the Czech Rep. Act no. 97/1963 Coll., International civil law and procedure Act Act no. 500/2004 Coll., Administrative Code Act no. 115/2006, Registered partnership Act 5.1. PARTNERSHIP TERMS ENTERING MARRIAGE Basic rules: Entering marriage by both Czech and foreign citizens in the Czech Rep. is an official state recognition of legitimacy of the marriage. You can enter a civil or a church marriage in the Czech Rep. If you enter the civil marriage, the following church wedding does not have any legal consequences. If you enter a church marriage, it is impossible to enter a civil marriage afterwards. The engaged couple fills in an official form (so called marriage questionnaire) prior to the marriage and presents it to the registry office in the administrative area where they will enter the marriage. Place of entering marriage: municipalities, city halls, city offices that are Registry offices at the church or religious society that are registered by the state at any convenient place Marriage is usually entered at the registry office according to the permanent residence address of one of the spouses but in case any of them has never been registered at permanent address in the Czech Rep., the spouses can enter the marriage at any registry office or at any convenient place. In these cases you need to include the permission to enter the marriage at the chosen place(along with the required documents). You can enter the marriage abroad at the diplomatic authority of the Czech Rep. or at the accredited body. The decision to enter the marriage via a representative makes the municipality relevant to a spouse s registered residence address. In case any of them has never been registered at permanent address in the Czech Rep. the decision is upon Prague City Magistrate. More detailed information is available at any registry office. Marriage requirements: The spouses are obligated to present required documents and also declare that none of them is aware of any reasons that might rule out entering into marriage, they know each other s health conditions, and they considered future possessions relationship arrangements, future accommodation arrangements and material provision of the family upon the marriage. Upon entering into marriage you need to document: birth certificate nationality document (for instance travel passport) a document on legal capacity to enter into marriage (not older than 6 months) a document on personal status and residence, in case it is issued by the foreign country death certificate of a passed away husband in case you are widowed (not necessary in case this fact is stated in the legal capacity document) a legitimate ruling of divorce in case you are divorced (in case the divorce was pronounced at a foreign court and the judgment is not forcible in the Czech Rep., you need to present so called super-legalizations of the divorce document) a document confirming the marriage will be valid in your native country in case the marriage is administered by a representative of the country 58 59

31 a document proving legality of the residence in the territory of the Czech Rep. (issued by the Police, not older than 7 days) a document to prove your identity (i.e. travel document) NOTE a) All documents have to be issued by the state of which the spouse is a citizen, translated into the Czech language and certified. Documents from some countries require an apostil or super-legalization. You will get more information at a registry office. b) If it is impossible to get all required documents due to an inevitable obstacle, the missing document can be substituted with a truthful declaration. This decision is up to the registry office. c) If you cannot speak or understand Czech well it is necessary to have an interpreter present at the ceremony. Arranging and cost of the interpreter are up to you. d) You also need two rings and two witnesses. e) Upon entering into marriage you are obligated to report the change in your surname to the Police, as well as the marital status (i. e. entering into marriage, or divorce). You also need to report the change in the travel document or residence permit, all of that within 3 working days after the change. Administrative fees: if the both of you have permanent residence in the Czech Rep. and you are about to marry a Czech citizen, the administrative fee is CZK if only one of you has permanent residence in the Czech Rep. (even the Czech citizen), you will pay CZK if the ceremony takes place outside given time or outside the administrative office, you will pay CZK if neither of you has permanent residence in the Czech Rep., the administrative fee is CZK to issue a document on legal capacity to enter into marriage abroad, or with a foreigner, the cost is CZK REGISTERED PARTNERSHIP Registered partnership is now legal in the Czech Rep. according to the Act No. 115/2006 Coll., on Registered Partnership, forcible from 1st July Registered partnership is a partnership of two people of the same sex established according to the above mentioned act. Ground rule: Anyone can enter the partnership unless the law forbids them. There is one condition that at least one of the persons entering the registered partnership has to be a Czech citizen. Site of the registration: Persons entering the partnership make the declaration in person at the regional registry office. The region is relevant to at least one of the person s permanent address residence. The list of registry offices able to receive the declaration is in the Ministry s notice. In Prague it is City hall of Prague 1 and then other city halls of regional cities. In case none of the persons have the permanent residence address in the territory of the Czech Rep., the relevant registry office is an office running a special registry. Documents necessary for the declaration: a) An alien residing in the territory of the Czech Rep. within the permanent residence permit (or is an EU citizen) is obligated to document: residence permit the official filled in form birth certificate citizenship document marital status certificate a legitimate ruling of divorce in case you are divorced, or a death certificate of a passed away husband in case you are widowed, or a death certificate of a passed away partner in case the partnership terminated due to the partner s death, or a certified extract from the registered partnership book documenting that the previous partnership was violated upon the decision of a court. b) An alien who is not granted permanent residence in the territory of the Czech Rep. is obligated to document: identity card the official filled in form along with all documents listed above the alien also needs a certificate on legality of their residence in the territory of the Czech Rep. issued by the Police, not older than 7 days at the declaration. NOTE a) You do not need to present the required documents in case you document the relevant foreign country s official note that the country does not issue such documents. b) A refugee can substitute missing documents with a confirmation in case the registry office gives consent. c) If you cannot speak or understand Czech well it is necessary to have an interpreter present at the ceremony. Arranging and cost of the interpreter are up to you BIRTH REQUIREMENTS BIRTH IDENTITY NUMBER You will be issued a birth identity number upon the application, in case you reside in the territory of the Czech Rep.: within long-term visa within long-term residence permit within permanent residence permit within granted asylum Where to apply: the relevant Alien Police office according to the registered place of stay. The application includes a document on legality of your residence in the territory of the Czech Rep., no other documents are necessary. Denotation of the birth identity number: as an administrative entry to the relevant documents. Special case: In case you are not a residence permit holder you can apply for the birth identity number at Department of Administrative activities of the Ministry of interior, department of register of citizens and id. Numbers. Address: Ministry of Inner Affairs of the Czech Rep., nám. Hrdinů 3, Prague 4, Phone No.: (Mgr. Monika Stiebitzová, Phone No.: ) BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF A CHILD Basic rule: If you give birth to a child in the Czech Rep. the child will be issued a birth certificate within 30 days. You need to provide documents to prove your identity (travel document, your own birth certificate) to the registry office so that the office can issue the birth certificate for your baby. Special cases: For entering the father to the birth certificate the mother has to prove her marital status (single, divorced, widowed, married). In case the woman is married (or if the baby is born within the protective period of 300 days after her divorce), the father in the baby s certificate will be her husband (or her ex-husband), regardless if he is the biological father. In case the woman is single, widow, or divorced, but is unable to document it, the registry office cannot enter the father into the birth certificate. In case the child s father is the woman s husband and is entered in the birth certificate but is not present during the birth, and even afterwards (for whatever reasons) cannot sign the first name consent, the baby cannot be given the first name. The granting of a name to a no-name baby has to be carried out by a court! NOTE You have to apply for a relevant visa for your child within 60 days after its birth. The application is to be submitted at an alien s Police office. Until the child is granted the visa it holds the same residence status as their parents

32 CONTACTS AND ADRESSES Ministry of Interior Nad Štolou 3, Prague 7 phone: (switchboard) dotazy@mvcr.cz Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports Karmelitská 7, Prague 1 phone: info@msmst.cz Alien and Border Police Headquarters Olšanská 2, Prague 3 phone: help line: , infoscpp@mvcr.cz Opening hours of the help line: Monday Thursday: , Friday: The General Health Insurance Company Regional Prague branch Na Perštýně 6, Prague 1 phone: (switchboard) phone: , (assistance service) informace19@vzp.cz Ministry of Justice Vyšehradská 16, Prague 2 phone: posta@msp.justice.cz The Czech Social Security Administration Křížová 25, Prague 5 phone: call centre: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Loretánské nám. 5, Prague 1 phone: info@mzv.cz Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Na Poříčním právu 1, Prague 2 phone: Ministry of Public Health Palackého nám. 4, Prague 2 phone: mzcr@mzcr.cz 62 63