As of 2024, 55,996 foreigners were studying at universities in the Czech Republic, accounting for 18% of students at public and private higher education institutions. The country continues to attract international students because of its well-established universities and affordable tuition fees.
If you are from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland and plan to study in the Czech Republic for more than 90 days, you will usually need to apply for a long-term visa for the purpose of studies or, in some cases, a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies. Students from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland are exempt from student visa requirements.
A long-term visa for the purpose of studies applies to applicants whose studies meet the legal definition of “studies,” including study in an accredited university study program. If your university or program is not accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, you may need to apply for a long-term visa for the purpose of “other.” Here’s how to do so:
Steps on Applying for a Czech Student Visa
Here’s what you need to do to secure a long-term student visa in the Czech Republic.
Step 1. Prepare All the Required Documents
The list of required documents is stated below. Incomplete applications may be considered inadmissible and returned to you, which can lengthen the process. Make sure you have all required originals, notarized copies, translations, and photocopies required by the Czech diplomatic mission where you will apply.
Step 2. Submit the Documents to the Czech Embassy or Consulate Where You Reside
In most cases, you must submit your application in person at a Czech diplomatic mission that has jurisdiction over you. This is usually in the country that issued your travel document, the country of your nationality, or a country where you hold long-term or permanent residence and have lived legally and continuously for at least two years.
Because processing can take time, start the process well in advance of your intended travel date. The legal processing time is 60 days for a long-term visa for the purpose of studies and usually 90 days for a long-term visa for the purpose of “other.” In some cases, the processing period may be suspended or extended.
Follow the appointment procedure of the Czech embassy or consulate where you will apply. Some consulates require appointment requests by email, while others may use a different system.
Step 3. Undergo an Interview as Needed
When you submit your application, the diplomatic mission may take your fingerprints and visual record. You may also be asked to attend an interview, either during submission or later at the request of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.
If an interview is conducted, it may be recorded, and you may be asked to review and sign the interview record.
Step 4. Wait for Your Visa to be Processed
The processing time for a long-term visa for the purpose of studies is 60 days. If you apply for a long-term visa for the purpose of “other,” the standard processing time is usually 90 days. The processing period may be suspended if the authorities ask you to correct errors or submit additional documents.
The consulate cannot fast-track your application. The decision is made by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, and the diplomatic mission acts as an intermediary.
Step 5. Track the Status of Your Visa
You can track the status of your Czech student visa through the Ministry of the Interior’s Status of Your Application portal or through the tracking instructions provided by the Czech diplomatic mission where you applied.
Note: If your application number or status is not yet visible, it usually means that no decision has been posted yet or the application has not yet appeared in the tracking system. Follow the instructions from your diplomatic mission and avoid making firm travel plans until your visa has been approved.
Step 6. Pick Up Your Visa
If your application is approved, the diplomatic mission will contact you to arrange visa collection. Before the visa is placed in your passport, you must provide proof of travel medical insurance that meets Czech requirements, unless you are exempt.
After arriving in the Czech Republic, you must register with the Foreign Police within three business days unless your accommodation provider completes this obligation for you.
Documents Needed for the Czech Student Visa Applications
The Czech diplomatic mission will process your application only if you submit the required documents. Supporting documents generally must not be older than 180 days, except for your passport and certain official documents. Documents must be submitted in Czech or with an official Czech translation, unless your diplomatic mission states otherwise.
Accomplished Application Form
You can fill out the application form online, then print and sign it. You may also download a blank form and fill it out by hand in block capitals using Latin characters. If you fill it out by hand, avoid red ink.
Make sure to sign the form where indicated, including at the bottom of the fifth page. Don’t forget to include your phone number and email address.
Two-Pieces Passport Photos
Prepare recent passport photo(s) according to the instructions of the diplomatic mission where you apply. Some consulates ask for two photos: one attached to the visa application form and another submitted separately.
The guidelines for the photos are as follows:
- Size: 3.5 x 4.5 cm
- Not older than six months
- Printed on matte or glossy photo paper
- Eyes open and visible, with no hair covering the eyes
- Mouth closed
- No head covering, except for religious reasons
Passport
Your passport must be valid for at least three months after the visa expires, must have been issued within the last 10 years, and must contain your signature. It should also have at least two blank pages. You must submit the original passport and the required copies of the passport data page with your application.
Document Proving the Purpose of the Stay
You should submit the original or a notarized copy of your confirmation of enrollment or confirmation of studies issued by your Czech institution. This document should be in Czech.
Proof of Accommodation
You can submit any of these documents as proof of accommodation. As with most required documents, they should be written in Czech or translated into Czech:
- A separate document issued by your institution verifying your accommodation during your studies
- Rental or lease agreement, accommodation agreement, or subletting agreement
- For sublets, you may need a copy of the lease contract and a notarized statement from the owner confirming the sublet
- Original accommodation statement from the homeowner, with the owner’s signature notarized by a Czech notary
A proof of accommodation is generally submitted as a separate document and should not be included only as part of your acceptance letter.
Document Confirming Financial Resources
You need to show that you have adequate financial means for your stay when you apply for a student visa in the Czech Republic. You can usually prove this through:
- A debit or credit card in your name, together with a bank statement or bank reference letter for the account connected to the card
- A bank statement showing that you have access to the required amount of funds
- An original bank reference letter confirming that you can use the funds during your stay in the Czech Republic; if it is not in Czech, it should be officially translated into Czech
- A document from a family member who will financially support your studies, together with the required supporting bank documents
- A scholarship, grant, stipend, or financial guarantee from a school, public authority, legal entity, or host organization
For long-term visa purposes, applicants generally need to show funds of at least 15 times the existential minimum for the first month and twice the existential minimum for every additional full month. As of the current official guidance, the existential minimum used for this calculation is CZK 3,130. This means you must show at least CZK 46,950 for the first month, plus CZK 6,260 for each additional full month. Applicants younger than 18 generally show half of the required amount.
For example, for a stay from January 1 to June 30, the required amount would be CZK 78,250: CZK 46,950 for the first month plus CZK 31,300 for the following five full months.
Background or Affidavit of Criminal History
Applicants must usually submit a document similar to a criminal record certificate issued by the state of their citizenship. Applicants under the age of 15 are exempt from this requirement.
US citizens applying through a Czech consulate in the United States may be asked to submit a criminal history affidavit. If you have lived in another country for a total of six months during the three years before your application, you may also be asked to submit a criminal record document from that country.
Non-US citizens should follow the checklist of the Czech diplomatic mission where they apply. Criminal record documents may need apostille or superlegalization and an official Czech translation.
Travel Health Insurance
If your application is approved, you must submit proof of travel medical insurance before the visa is placed in your passport, unless you are exempt. The insurance must meet Czech requirements and may be requested together with proof that the insurance premium has been paid.
For stays longer than 90 days, the insurance benefit limit must be at least EUR 400,000 per insured event, without cost-sharing by the insured person. If the insurance was obtained abroad, you must also submit an official Czech translation of the insurance policy and its general terms and conditions.
A medical report is not required from every applicant. However, the diplomatic mission or Ministry of the Interior may request one during the process.
We hope that this article on how to get a student visa in the Czech Republic was helpful. If you are interested in studying in Europe, make sure to check out Available Programs in Europe for International Students.
