Czechia EU free movement

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and work in Czechia; stays over 30 days are reported to the Foreign Police within 30 days, and a registration certificate for stays over 3 months is optional. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13}

Requirements

• Citizens of EU and EEA states and of Switzerland may live in Czechia under EU free movement rules. ^{12 1 8 9}
• Stays of up to 3 months need only a valid national ID card or passport. ¹
• Beyond 3 months, workers and self-employed persons may stay while they work. ⁴
• Beyond 3 months, persons not working need sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance. ³
• A valid national ID card or passport is needed. ²
• A travel document, proof of accommodation and, for studies or other purposes, medical insurance, support the certificate application. ¹²
• Report your place of residence to the Foreign Police within 30 days of entry if staying over 30 days. ^{11 13}
• The report is not needed when the accommodation provider reports your arrival, or for persons under 15. ^{11 13}
• A registration certificate for stays over 3 months can be requested at any time at a Ministry of the Interior office; it is optional. ¹²
• The certificate costs 200 CZK (≈ $9), is decided within 30 days and cannot be applied for from abroad. ¹²
• Not reporting the residence is a minor offence with a fine of up to 3,000 CZK (≈ $140). ¹³
• When the 10-year registration certificate expires, the holder can apply again or apply for a permanent residence permit. ^{12 5}

Stay

• No time limit; report the stay to the Foreign Police within 30 days of entry. A registration certificate is optional and valid 10 years.
• First 3 months up to 3 months: Valid ID card or passport only.
• After 3 months: Worker, self-employed person, student, or person with sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance.

Nationality

Citizens of the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Work

EU citizens may work in Czechia without a work permit on the same terms as nationals; some public-authority posts may be reserved for nationals.

Family

Family members of EU citizens, including third-country nationals, also report their stay within 30 days of entry and may stay on a family basis.

Checked 2026-10-10

Official sources

1. Residence rights when living abroad in the EU · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
2. Registering residence abroad after the first 3 months · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
3. Residence rights for economically inactive EU citizens · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
4. Workers: residence rights · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
5. Permanent residence (after 5 years) for EU nationals · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
6. Working abroad · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
7. Work in the public sector abroad · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
8. Free movement of EU nationals · European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion · checked 2026-10-10
9. Free movement of persons (Switzerland and the EU) · Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
10. Your non-EU spouse and children's residence rights in the EU · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
11. Obligations of EU citizens and their family members · Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic (ipc.gov.cz) · checked 2026-10-10
12. Registration certificate for EU nationals · Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic (ipc.gov.cz) · checked 2026-10-10
13. Registration of residence by an EU citizen or a family member after arrival in the Czech Republic · Public Administration Portal of the Czech Republic (portal.gov.cz) · checked 2026-10-10