How to Get a Student Visa in Czech Republic

There are different requirements to get a student visa in Czech. International students have to contact the Czech embassy or consulate in their country to get all the actual information about the requirements to get a student visa in Czech.

The accommodation of the foreigners in the Czech Republic is pursuant to the Act on the Residency of Foreign Nationals (Act No. 326/1999 Coll).

Read also our advice for international students in the Czech Republic

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Is Czech Republic issuing student visas?

As we previously mentioned in an article about how to enroll in a Czech university, the university chosen by the student may require an entrance exam inside the Czech Republic.

In this case, the student would enter the country on a short-term tourist visa. This type of visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days for international students coming from specific countries.

It is better to visit the nearest representative office of the Czech Republic to get the correct and actual information regarding this matter.

What kind of visa is required for international students in Czech Republic?

Traveling to study (for more than 3 months) requires a long-term visa or a long-term residence permit. It is advisable to get all the related information from the nearest representative office of the Czech Republic, as it differs from country to another.

Students coming from countries in the European Union or outside it have to report the changes related to their stay in the country, such as changing address, travel document, or marital status.

What You Should Know About the Visa

You have to apply for a student visa to study in the Czech Republic in your home country for the first time, as you can’t travel without it.
Visas can be only granted from the embassy or consulate where the student applied.
Procedures take up to 60 days from the date of receiving the application from the specialized office.
You can directly apply for the long-term visa for the purpose of studies. Then you ask for a long-term residence permit for studies. This visa is valid for 6 months and the student is granted residency in the country for 60 days.
The long-term visa or residence permit allows the foreigner to travel repeatedly to and from the country.

Student Visa Requirements in Czech Republic

The documents always depend on the nature and purpose of the visa. Normally, the main requirements are as the following:

Completed application form
Two photographs
Valid passport in all Schengen countries. It should not be older than 10 years. It has to be valid for more than 3 months after the departure.
Proof of accommodation and the service provider (for example the university). In case the student will stay in a dormitory, he shall apply for the accommodation before the visa.
Proof of funds: bank or another financial institution statement. Sometimes you might need an international paying card also. This is in addition to an official document that proves that the student has the necessary funds. For example, a scholarship document or a proof of financing the accommodation by the host institution.
Travel medical insurance: you have to submit it before granting the visa. It is better to submit it while applying for the visa.
Medical insurance contracts and information about the insurance requirements have to be translated by a certified translator.
A document on enrollment in studies
Criminal record document issued from the foreign student’s home country (if required)
Medical report proves that the students do not suffer from a serious disease
Proof of paying the fees to get the long-term residence permit

Discover also how to apply to university in the Czech Republic

Visa and Residence Permit processing time

You have to apply for the short-term visa 3 months prior to your proposed trip, and not less than 15 days before the trip.

Mostly, the visa application process requires 15 days, with individual cases that may take up to 30 days and exceptional cases of 60 days.

Unlike the short-term visa, a long term-visa for the purpose of study in the Czech Republic will take 60 days processing time. It starts from the date the Consulate receives and records the complete application.

Moreover, the Consulate General is not able to speed up the processing time of your visa. In fact, the final decision and approval process is the job of the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic. The only way to have your visa application response on time is then to submit your application as soon as possible.

Furthermore, long-term student visa applicants don’t get status updates by mail nor by phone. They have to visit the website of Foreign Affairs and select the office nearest to their location.

You can check the map of the diplomatic missions of the Czech Republic on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Czech Republic student visa extension

To extend a student visa or a long-term residence permit in the Czech Republic, you have two options. Whether you apply in person for the extension at a regional office of the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic, or you do it via post.

A visa with a validity period that is less than one year can be extended up to a maximum of 1 year. For the long-term visa for the purpose of studies, the applicant can only ask for the extension in person at a local office of the Ministry of Interior.

Moreover, those asking for the extension of a long-term residence extension (study purpose) can only do it in case they are continuing their studies in the same institution of higher education. And if you send your application via postage, do not forget to attach fee stamps of respective value.