Student Visa
19.05.2011 / 00:16
IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR APPLICANTS FOR STUDENT VISAS TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC
- All visas must be approved by the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic prior to the Czech Embassy being able to issue same. No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore final travel plans or the purchase of non refundable tickets should not be made until a visa has been issued.
- The applicant must submit a fully completed visa application and other required documents in accordance with the instructions below to the Czech Embassy.
- The school/programme has to be accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, if not then you are not eligible to apply for this type of visa, you have to apply for the visa for other purposes.
- Visa processing time for accredited student programs may take up to 60 days in accordance with Czech law. Visa processing time for non-accredited student programs may take up to 90 days.
- The visa for a stay over 90 days is granted for maximum lenght of 6 months.
- The Czech Embassy encourages each applicant to submit his or her application with ample time for visa processing. Please note that the Czech Embassy is neither able to speed up visa processing nor follow up on the visa process with the authorities in the Czech Republic.
- While lodging the application, an interview with the applicant can be conducted. A written record of the interview can be a part of the application. A record will be written down in Czech languge and will be signed by the applicant and the officer of the Consulate who will conduct the interview. In case you do not understand Czech you can bring an interpreter with you to translate the written record.
- All documents must be presented in their original form or as a notarized copy and may not be older than 180 days, except documents like travel document, birth certificate and marriage certificate.All documents (except the travel dokument) must be in the Czech language. Translations into the Czech language must be officially verified.
- Additional copies of all submited documents are required (one set of the originals or notarized copies and one set of copies including the application and data page of the passport).
- Each applicant must provide the Czech Embassy with proof of medical and travel insurance in accordance with the conditions listed below. The Embassy can not issue the visa without proof of medical and travel insurance.
- Student visas can only be issued by the same Embassy and Consulate General where the application for it was submitted. Hence, you cannot apply for a visa in the US and pick it up in Europe or the Czech Republic.
- The Czech Embassy strongly recommends that applicants do not travel to the Czech Republic to begin their study programs without valid visas.
- In case the visa has been refused, you have the right of appeal. The appeal should be addressed to the Department for Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic that made the decision about the application within 15 days after receiving the information about the refusal of the application.
- Please follow the instructions below when completing your application for a visa.
Where to apply
You may submit your application at the Consular Office (of the Embassy or Consulates General of the Czech Republic) in accordance with the jurisdiction where you permanently reside. Please note that sending the application to thewrong Consular Office will automatically result in it beingforwarded to the correct one and thus delay theprocessing time of your application.
Processing time
All visas have to be approved by the Czech Immigration Police. The processing time for the student visa lasts approximately
- 60 days for accredited students programs
- 90 days for non-accredited student programs
from the date the Embassy receives the fully completed application. Therefore, the Embassy strongly recommends to applicants to submit their applications on time.
Please understand that the Embassy is not able to speed up the process or follow up on it as it is handled by the authorities in the Czech Republic.
Required documents and fees
- Please read carefully as incomplete applications will immediately be returned and the process will be delayed.
- All documents must be presented in their original form or as a notarized copy.
- No documents (except for your passport or birth and marriage certificates) may be older than 180 days.
1. Completed application form
- The form "Application for Long-Stay Visa" must be filled out completely with a ball point pen or on a typewriter. Do not use red ink to complete the application.
Please do not forget - to sign the application in the place indicated at the bottom of the fifth page and
- to include your phone number and e-mail address for future communication.
2. Two recent passport photographs
3. Passport
You must submit
- your original passport or official travel document recognized by the Schengen countries with a validity exceeding your intended stay by at least 3 months and issued within the last 10 years,
- copy of the data page of the passport (the page with your personal data and photo).
Notes - Please make sure that your passport has at least two blank pages (for affixing a visa and administrative purposes).
- If you need your passport during the processing time, please send a request with your application as well as a stamped envelope so that the passport can be returned to you. The passport must be resubmitted at the end of the application process for the issuance of the visa after the Embassy has received the approval from the Czech authorities. During this time, you must be present in the US.
4. Proof of sufficient financial resources
You need to submit (please note that all documents must be translated into the Czech language, except the original bank statements):
- An original or notarized copy of the internationally recognized debit/credit card on your name with a validity during your stay in the Czech Republic + an original or notarized copy of a corresponding bank account statement held on your name
or - an original letter from the bank confirming the fact that you will be able to use your funds during your stay in the Czech Republic with the verified translation into the Czech language + an original or notarized copy of a corresponding bank account statement held on your name
or - another document confirming that you can use the financial funds during a stay in the Czech Republic (e.g. an original letter from the family member confirming the financial support during your stay in the Czech Republic signed by a person who will support you /notarized signature/ plus an original or notarized bank statement). In this case the letter from the bank confirming the right of disposal to your parents´ account accompanied by the certified translation into Czech is required!.
Requirements for financial means during your stay
Generally, for a long-term visa, the proof of finances is the amount of 15-times higher than the subsistence minimum (2.020 CZK) plus double the subsistence minimum (4,040 CZK) for each whole month of expected stay. So for a 4 month stay it would be (15 x 2020,- CZK) + (2 x 2020,- CZK x 4) = 30 300,- + 16 160,- = 46 460,- CZK (approximately 3 000,- USD,the amount in US dollars depends on the rate CZK/USD). Please note that the existential minimum is established by the Czech law and can be changed every year.
5. Proof of the purpose of your stay
- The original or notarized copy of a document certifying acceptance into a study program issued by a Czech university or school. This document must be in the Czech language.
6. Proof of your accommodation
- A document issued by a Czech university or school verifying your accommodation for the duration of your studies, or
- an original statement from the owner of an apartment or a house stating his or her ability and willingness to provide the accommodation (private accommodation), or
- a lease agreement for an apartment or a house, or
- a lease agreement and an affidavit signed by the owner of an apartment or a house confirming the sublet.
Important notes - The original or notarized copy of any of the mentioned documents must be submitted.
- The copies and signature of the owner must be notarized by a Notary Public in the Czech Republic.
- The documents confiming your accomodation must be in Czech language.
7. Criminal History Background
- An Affidavit confirming that you have never been indicted and sentenced for a felony of any kind.
If you are submitting your application by mail, your signature must be notarized by a Notary Public. If you come to the Embassy in person, you will have to sign the Affidavit here.
In addition: - US citizens: If you have lived in any other country besides the US for 6 months or longer in the previous three years, you are required to submit a Criminal History Record issued by that country.
- Non US citizens: You need to submit a Criminal History Record from the country of your nationality.
- There is a fee assessed for submitting your visa application (please see long-term visa for stay over 90 days in Visa Fees) . The fee must be paid either in cash or by money order made payable to the Embassy of the Czech Republic. We do not accept personal checks. The fee may change without prior notice.
Exception - Please note that there is no application fee for those who receive a written confirmation from a school listed in the Register of Schools and School Facilities and studies under the accredited study programs of the higher education institutions in the Czech Republic (includes the number of the accredited program).
10. Post delivery
- With your application, please enclose a pre-paid, self-addressed, over-night envelope using mail services Express Mail or Fedex. For future reference, we suggest you keep the tracking number of the envelope.
- Send the complete application to:
Embassy of the Czech Republic
Consular Section
3900 Spring of Freedom, NW
Washington DC, 20008
The Embassy shall not assume any responsibility for lost or damaged documentation.
Other notes
The Consular Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic
- does not provide translation services
- provides verification of translations of some types of documents (please see consular fees).