In this section, you will find information about administrative formalities to be arranged before your arrival.
- Invitation letter
In some cases you might need an Invitation letter (for visa purposes, for your university). Please contact your host person or the Mobility Coordinator at UCT Prague.
- Valid passport
- Finances
Please make sure that you have sufficient funds at your disposal after your arrival. Although it is not complicated to open a bank account in the Czech Republic (if you already don’t have an IBAN=International Bank Account Number), you will need to make some payments the first days after your arrival. You can open the bank account after signing the work contract.
You will be asked by the Czech embassy when getting your visa to purchase a commercial health insurance (comprehensive) valid for the first month of your stay in the Czech Republic. Afterwards you are insured by the title of your employment. In case you are not employed at UCT Prague you will be asked to purchase health insurance for the whole length of your stay.
You should bring with you a filled and signed Medical history form, as well as report from your general practitioner and medical test results (requirements will be sent to you by the Mobility Coordinator). Please keep the payment receipt confirmation for reimbursement.
- Fill-in the UCT registration form
Before your arrival, you will be asked to fill-in a registration form in the UCT Prague mobility system Mobis. The link will be sent to you by the Mobility Coordinator.
- Accommodation
If you wish to stay at the Residence Halls of UCT Prague, the mobility coordinator will book a room for you where you can stay for up to 3 months. It is highly recommended to start looking for private accommodation during this period. We can provide you with links and useful information about renting an appartment in Prague or its surroundings.
Short-term stay (up to 90 days)
You will need a short-term visa (Schenghen visa). If you are exempt from visa requirement, you can stay up to 3 months without a visa. The time delay for getting this type of visa should not exceed 1 month.
There is an obligation to register your address with the Foreign Police department no later than 3 days after your arrival. Hotels, dorms or hostels usually fullfill this obligation for you.
If you have come to the Czech Republic to pick-up a long-term or a permanent residence card, you fullfill this obligation directly at the Ministry of the Interior while providing biometric data for your card.
There is a 90/180 rule: the length of your stay should not exceed 90 days during any 180 days period. It is recommended to use the Schengen calculator.
If you are a holder of a residence permit in one of the Schenghen countries, you can stay in the Czech Republic for up to 3 months without any visa. You may not work based on this type of visa.
If you are a holder of a residence permit with the purpose of scientific research issued by another EU country (except Ireland and Denmark), you can stay and work in the Czech Republic as a researcher up to 1 year without any visa, as long as your residence permit from another EU country is still valid. You must as well provide a signed hosting agreement from UCT Prague, and intend to temporarily stay in the Czech Republic for more than 3 months. If you wish to ask for a residence permit with the purpose of scientific research in the Czech Republic later on, you are entitled to submit your application at the Ministry of the Interior in the Czech Republic under the condition that you plan to stay longer than 1 year. The same conditions are valid for your family members.
Long-term stay (more than 90 days) with a purpose of scientific research
You will need a long-term visa or a residence permit. As a researcher, you will apply for a Long-term residence permit for the purpose of scientific research. The validity of this permit is a maximum of 2 years.
We recommend you start preparing documents for the visa application 3 - 4 months prior to your planned arrival. You will have to submit all requested documents to the Czech Embassy abroad before they start processing your application.
For your visa application, you will need:
(the Mobility Coordinator will send it to you), it must be submitted in original signed by the Rector of UCT and yourself
(the Mobility Coordinator will send it to you), it must be submitted in original signed by the Rector of UCT
(the Mobility Coordinator will send it to you), it must be submitted in original signed by the accommodation provider and yourself
- Criminal record
Also called the Extract from the Penal register record, Police clearance certificate or Certificate of good conduct. It must be provided from the country of your citizenship stated in your passport and from all countries you have lived in over the past 3 years for more than 6 months. Sometimes you can get this document at the Embassy but the conditions vary from country to country. The document must always be translated into Czech. For this purpose, you will need an official / certified translation. Some Czech Embassies require a higher verification of the document, so called apostille or superlegalization. If you have doubts whether you need such kind of verification, please contact the Mobility Coordinator. Make sure that this document is not older than 180 days.
- Travel document (passport)
shall not be older than 10 years, it must contain at least 2 free pages and its validity must be at least 1 year at the time of submission
- 2 passport pictures
35 x 45 mm
- GREEN application form
Can be downloaded here, the official name is "Long-Term and Permanent Residence Permit Form".
Should be filled-out and printed in colour. You can contact our Mobility Coordinator for assistance with filling in the form.
- Getting the visa
You will have to pay visa and other consular fees which you will find on the web pages of a relevant Czech Embassy abroad.
Once you have your documents ready, you will make an appointment at the Czech Embassy in the country of your citizenship, where you will file an application for a Long-term residence permit for the purpose of scientific research. If you are a holder of a residence permit in a different country, you can apply there as well. As a researcher, you should get an appointment within 14 days and the processing of your visa application takes a maximum of 60 days.
After the approval, you will be contacted by the Embassy to collect your visa and submit proof of a medical health insurance valid from the date of entry until the date you will be covered by the public health insurance in case you will be employed. At this moment you can start booking your flight.
After your arrival you will be in contact with your Mobility Coordinator, who will book an appointment for you at the Ministry of the Interior, where you will provide your biometric data (fingerprints and photo) and register your address. Usually it is done 3 days after your arrival. Your residence card will be ready within approximately 2 weeks. You will have a D/VR visa in your passport, which is a visa for the purpose of collecting your long term residence permit. Based on this, you can be employed before having your residence card.
Family members from non-EU countries
We will help you with obtaining visas for your family members as well.
The spouse/partner and children are entitled to file an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification (with a scientific researcher) = Sloučení rodiny s vědeckým výzkumníkem.
Other family members should file an application for a visa for the purpose of family.
Long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification :
The advantage of this type of permit is a shorter approval time limit (60 days).
The basic requirement for this type of permit is a marriage certificate for spouse/partner, a birth certificate for a child and a criminal record for both (children under 15 years are exempt). Besides the certified translation into Czech, a higher verification, so called apostille or superlegalization might be required as well.
Once you all live in the Czech Republic and the time comes for the permits to be extended, we will again provide you with the documents needed for the application.
1. Documents for the Immigration office:
The supporting documents for the application shall not be older than 180 days except for the travel document, birth certificate, marriage certificate and the photograph of the foreign national if it corresponds to his / her actual appearance.
Spouse/partner:
- Travel document (passport)
Shall not be older than 10 years, it must contain at least 2 free pages and its validity must be at least 1 year at the time of submission
- 2 photos
- GREEN application form
Can be downloaded here, the official name is "Long-Term and Permanent Residence Permit Form".
Should be filled-out and printed in colour. You can contact our Mobility Coordinator for assistance with filling in the form.
- Supporting documents proving:
Family relationship :
Marriage certificate (verified if needed), accommodation contract, photos etc., in case of partnership filled and signed a Sworn statement of partnership (Čestné prohlášení o partnerském vztahu), the Embassy will require a Czech version.
Monthly family income:
"Potvrzení o zaměstnání a výši budoucího příjmu": confirmation about your future employment and net salary income. It will be sent to you by your Mobility Coordinator.
Accommodation:
In case you will be staying at UCT Residence halls, the Mobility Coordinator will provide your family member with a confirmation about accommodation. Otherwise you will need to present a valid accommodation contract.
A declaration that the researcher will provide all necessary material and financial security during spouse’s/partner’s entire stay.
- Criminal record
Also called the Extract from the Penal register record, Police clearance certificate or Certificate of good conduct. It must be provided from the country of your family member's citizenship stated in the passport and from all countries he/she has lived in the past 3 years for more than 6 months. Sometimes it is possible to get this document at the Embassy but the conditions vary from country to country. The document must always be translated into Czech. For this purpose, he/she will need an official / certified translation. Some Czech Embassies require a higher verification of the document called apostille or superlegalization.
- Fee
She/he will have to pay visa and other consular fees which can be found on the web pages of a relevant Czech Embassy abroad.
Children:
- Travel document (passport)
Shall not be older than 10 years, it must contain at least 2 free pages and its validity must be at least 1 year at the time of submission
- 2 photos
- GREEN application form
Can be downloaded here, the official name is "Long-Term and Permanent Residence Permit Form".
Should be filled-out and printed in colour. You can contact our Mobility Coordinator for assistance with filling in the form.
- Supporting documents proving:
Family relationship:
Birth certificate (verified if needed).
Monthly family income :
"Potvrzení o zaměstnání a výši budoucího příjmu": confirmation about your future employment and net salary income. It will be sent to you by your Mobility Coordinator.
Accommodation:
In case you will be staying at UCT Residence halls, the Mobility Coordinator will provide your family member with a confirmation about accommodation. Otherwise you will need to present a valid accommodation contract.
a declaration that the parent will provide all necessary material and financial security during the child´s entire stay.
Or consent of any other statutory representatives or guardians with the residence of the child in the Czech Republic. Parental consent or consent of any other statutory representative or guardian is not required, if it is the parent, statutory representative or guardian, who submitted the application for the child, or with whom the child resides in the Czech Republic, or if the foreigner demonstrates, that he/she is unable to submit this agreement due to reasons beyond his/her control, or if the child resides in the Czech Republic pursuant to a long-term visa or a long-term residence permit for other purposes.
- Criminal record :
Also called the Extract from the Penal register record, Police clearance certificate or Certificate of good conduct. Only for children above 15 years of age. It must be provided from the country of your family member's citizenship stated in the passport and from all countries he/she has lived in the past 3 years for more than 6 months. Sometimes it’s possible to get this document at the Embassy but the conditions vary from country to country. The document must always be translated into Czech. For this purpose, you will need an official / certified translation. Some Czech Embassies require a higher verification of the document called apostille or superlegalization.
- Fee
You will have to pay visa and other consular fees which can be found on the web pages of a relevant Czech Embassy abroad.
2. Appointment at the Czech Embassy
After having collected all documents they have to make an appointment at the Czech Embassy in the country of their citizenship to submit the application. If they are holders of a residence permit in a different country, they can apply there as well. As a family member of a researcher, they should get an appointment within 14 days and the processing of their visa application takes a maximum of 60 days.
After the visa approval, they will be contacted by the Embassy to pick-up their visa and to submit a proof of a medical health insurance valid for the whole period of their stay.
Make sure to buy the health insurance only if the application has been approved.
After the arrival the UCT Mobility coordinator will book an appointment for them at the Ministry of the Interior, where they will provide their biometric data (fingerprints and photo) and register their address. Usually it is done 3 days after the arrival. The residence card will be ready within approximately 2 weeks. In their passport they will have a D/VR visa which is a visa for the purpose of collecting the long term residence permit.
Residence permit issued by another EU country
If the researcher is a holder of a valid residence permit with the purpose of scientific research issued by another EU country (except Ireland and Denmark), their family members, who are also holders of a valid residence permit issued by another EU country, can stay in the Czech Republic for up to 1 year without any visa. If they wish to ask for a residence permit with the purpose of family reunification in the Czech Republic later on, they are entitled to do so at the Visa Centre of the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Dresden.