Basic Supporting Documents
List of the basic supporting documents to the Schengen visa application and long-term visa. In case of further questions on Schengen visa please contact relevant Czech consulate where the application will be submitted. More information on the long-term visa is available in the Department for Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic (e-mail info line: pobyty@mvcr.cz, phone: 974 832 418, 974 832 421).
- Purpose of stay
- Application form (forms can be dowloaded here)
- Photograph
- Travel document
- Financial means
- Accommodation
- Travel medical insurance
- Confirmation of an entity receiving in the territory of the Czech Republic
1. Purpose of stay
Before the travel to the Czech Republic/Schengen area it is necessary to know the purpose of the travel.
Schengen visa:
Schengen visa with the purpose of tourism, business, medical treatment, presence at the seminar/conference, culture, sport, study, scientific research, employment, visit of the family and friends, invitation, other.
Long-term visa:
Long-term visa with the purpose of employment, business, family reunion, study, sport, culture, medical treatment.
Long-term residence permit:
Long-term residence permit with the purpose of study, family reunion and scientific research
Please be aware of the fact that except the purpose of stay “employment” it is not possible to submit the application for a Schengen and long-term visa at the same time.
2. Application form
In visa process at the Czech consulates these types of application forms are being used:
- Application for a Schengen visa (also used for the airport transit visa)
- Application for a long-term visa
- Application for a long-term residence or permanent residence
- Application for a Blue card and Green card is generated by the system of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
All applications must be filled in Latin letters in all points where the information is available. Every application form must be signed by the applicant or by his/her legal representative.
3. Potograph
Photograph must have dimensions: 35 x 45 mm (classical passport photo) and must correspond to the citizen's current appearance.
Photograph must be taken in front view of the face with the size of the head from the crown to chin of at least 13 mm, in plain clothes, without dark glasses (except for blind people) and without a head cover, unless its use is justified by religious or medical reasons; in such case, the head cover must not obscure the face in a manner preventing the citizen's identification (the “photograph”).
A photograph required for the issue of an identity card must have a smooth surface and may be black and white or colored. The portrayed person must have a neutral expression and his mouth must be closed, eyes must be open and hair must not be covered. If the citizen's appearance has not changed, it is possible to use an older photograph, provided that it meets all of the above conditions (i.e. the ¾ profile used in older photograph may no longer be used).
4. Travel document
Persons older than 15 years of age must travel with their own travel document. Exception is given to spouses travelling on the basis of a family passport, however, the family passport must contain a photograph of each person registered in it.
Children below 15 years of age travelling unaccompanied must possess their own travel document with a photograph corresponding to their current appearance.
The travel document must have been issued within last ten years and must be valid at least 90 days after the intended departure from the Czech Republic/Schengen area. This condition id valid also for persons travelling within the visa free regime.
The travel document must be recognized by the Czech Republic (the information will be verified by a relevant Czech consulate abroad).
You are obliged to present a travel document, which allows you to return to the state:
• whose citizen you are;
• that has issued the travel document (this applies e.g. to stateless persons);
where you hold a residence permit.
Travel document must contain at least 2 blank pages and its validity must be 3 months longer than expected stay in the Czech Republic/Schengen area.
5. Financial means
A) Proof of financial means when applying for a Schengen (short-term) visa:
• document proving existence of sufficient financial means for subsistence during a stay in the Schengen area, for return to a country of residence or for a transit to a third country, in which the applicant resides or can obtain financial means legally;
• document proving that services associated with stay have been paid for or that these services will be provided free of charge;
• official Invitation form.
Amounts of financial means:
· If the planned stay does not exceed 30 calendar days, the applicant needs to present the amount of financial means of 1 100 CZK for a day of stay.
· If the planned stay exceeds 30 calendar days, the applicant needs to present the amount of 33 000 CZK + 4 400 CZK for every concluded month of stay.
Existence of financial means can be documented for example by one of the following: bank statement (for at least last 3 months), internationally accepted credit card, cash in convertible currency, traveller´s cheques, salary slips, employment confirmation, document about finances provided by a third party, document about accommodation in private.
B) Proof of financial means when applying for a long-term visa:
• generally for a long-term visa, submit a proof of finances in the amount of 15-times the subsistence minimum (2.200 CZK) + double the subsistence minimum (i.e. by 4,400 CZK) for each whole month of expected stay;
• in case of entrepreneurship, submit a proof of finances in the amount of 50-times the subsistence minimum(2.200 CZK), i.e. 110.000 CZK;
• in case of studying, submit as a proof finances a confirmation by a state authority or a legal entity that it will cover your stay by providing funds equivalent to the subsistence minimum (2.200) for 1 month of expected stay, or a confirmation that all costs will be covered by the school. If the sum referred to in the undertaking does not reach this amount, you shall be obliged to submit a document proving the ownership of funds equivalent to the difference between the subsistence minimum and the amount of the commitment for the period of your expected stay, however, not more than 6 times the subsistence minimum. Document on the provision of financial means may be replaced by a decision or an agreement on the allocation of a grant acquired pursuant to an international treaty by which the Czech Republic is bound.
Persons younger than 18 years submit a proof of financial means equaling to a half of the required amount.
Existence of financial means can be documented for example by one of the following:
• a bank account statement in the name of the alien confirming that the alien can use the funds in the required amount during a stay in the Czech Republic;
• another document, such as a valid internationally recognized credit card.
Proof of bank account can be used only if the bank has been granted a banking license in the Czech Republic – see web site of the Czech National Bank.
Applicants younger than 18 years present half of the amount of financial means stated above.
6. Accommodation
All the documents confirming hotel accommodation should be fully paid and attached to the Visa application.
Consular Department will not accept any reservations made via booking.com and other Internet portals.
Accommodation for long-term stays is governed by Section 100 (d) of Act No. 326/1999 Coll., on Stay of Aliens in the Territory of the Czech Republic, as amended, in conjunction with Section 53 (4) (a) and with the second sentence of Section 53 (4) of the Decree of the Ministry for Regional Development No. 137/1998 Coll., on general technical requirements for construction, as amended. According to these legal provisions, the minimum floor area must be as follows:
• 8 square metres for the accommodation of one person;
• 12.6 square metres for the accommodation of two persons;
• if more than two persons are accommodated in the same room, 12.6 square metres plus 5 square metres for each additional accommodated person.
If the accommodation does not fulfil these criteria, proof of accomodation will be considered to be lacking. This condition does not apply to Schengen (short-term) visas.
7. Travel medical insurance
A) Travel medical insurance – Schengen visa applications
Applicants for Schengen visas must prove that they are in possession of travel medical insurance to cover any expenses which might arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment or death, during their stay(s) on the territory of the Member States. The insurance must be valid throughout the territory of the Member States and cover the entire period of the person´s intended stay or transit. The minimum coverage is EUR 30 000.
Applicants for a uniform visa for multiple entries must prove that they are in possession of adequate and valid travel medical insurance covering the period of their first intended visit. In addition, such applicants must sign the statement, set out in the application form, declaring that they are aware of the need to be in possession of travel medical insurance for subsequent stays.
Holders of diplomatic passports and family members of the EU citizens are exempt from the requirement to hold travel medical insurance.
The travel medical insurance covered by the official invitation is valid for the Czech Republic only; in case of issuing a uniform Schengen visa document on travel medical insurance for the whole Schengen area must be presented.
B) Travel medical insurance – long-stay visa applications lodged at embassies and consulates
The applicant must provide proof of holding travel medical insurance before the visa is affixed to his travel document. The insurance must cover the entire period of the applicant´s stay in the Czech Republic as determined by the validity of the visa.
What is an adequate travel medical insurance?
Travel medical insurance must cover the cost of emergency medical care, including medical evacuation or, in the event of death, repatriation of remains to the country that has issued the applicant´s travel document or to the applicant´s country of residence. The insurance policy must not exclude coverage for injuries and damage caused by the applicant´s intentional acts, injuries and damage caused by fault or contributory fault on the part of the applicant, and injuries and damage caused by the consumption of alcohol, narcotic and psychotropic substances by the applicant. The minimum coverage is EUR 60 000 per one insured event without any coinsurance or copayment.
Travel medical insurance may be purchased from:
- An insurance company licensed to sell such insurance in the Czech Republic or
- An insurance company licensed to sell such insurance in any other Member State of the European Union or in any Contracting Party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or
- An insurance company licensed to sell such insurance in the country that has issued the applicant´s travel document or in the applicant´s country of residence.
Translations into Czech
The proof of travel medical insurance must be accompanied by a certified Czech translation of the insurance policy and general insurance terms and conditions, proving the existence of travel medical insurance, the scope of coverage, the amount of coverage (at least EUR 60 000), and proving that there is no coinsurance or copayment. The applicant may be requested to present proof of insurance covering the entire period of stay in the Czech Republic.
Who is exempt from presenting proof of travel medical insurance?
A) Applicants covered by medical insurance in terms of special legislation – Act No. 48/1997 concerning public medical insurance and amending certain related acts as amended;
B) Applicants whose medical costs are covered on the basis of an international treaty;
C) Applicants who present a written undertaking from a government authority proving that their medical costs will be covered under another arrangement, in cases where the applicant´s stay in the Czech Republic will benefit the development of spiritual values, protection of human rights and/or other humanitarian values, protection of the environment, cultural monuments and traditions, or the development of science, education, physical education and sports;
D) Applicants who present a Letter of Invitation certified by the Aliens Police of the Czech Republic containing the undertakings referred to in Section 15 of Act No. 326/1999 concerning the residence of aliens in the territory of the Czech Republic as amended.
3. Travel medical insurance – visa applications and visa extension applications lodged in the Czech Republic
Applicants for long-stay visas and for extension of visas who lodge their applications in the Czech Republic may purchase their travel medical insurance only from insurance companies licensed to sell such insurance in the Czech Republic (Insurance Companies Act No. 363/1999). The insurance policy must cover comprehensive medical care (defined as medical care provided to the policy holder at medical institutions contracted by the insurance company, with no costs charged to directly to the policy holder; the care is designed to help the policy holder sustain the state of health he enjoyed before taking out the policy). The insurance must cover preventive and dispensary care and medical care related to pregnancy and birth.
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