Permanent residence permit in the Czech Republic

A Czech permanent residence permit (trvalý pobyt) is granted to a foreign national who, on the date of application, has stayed in the Czech Republic continuously for at least 5 years (§ 68 of Act 326/1999 Coll.). You need a Czech language certificate at A2, accommodation and regular income. The administrative fee is CZK 2,500, the decision takes 60 days, the status is permanent and the card is issued for 10 years.

Requirements for Czech permanent residence in 2026

Documents for permanent residence

• application form and passport;
• photograph;
• proof of accommodation in Czechia;
• proof of income;
• A2 Czech exam certificate or proof of exemption;
• at the Ministry's request, a criminal record certificate and consent to a tax authority enquiry.

Ukrainian documents need no apostille for Czechia (Article 18 of the 2001 Treaty on Legal Assistance between the Czech Republic and Ukraine); a certified Czech translation is required.

What permanent residence gives you

Permanent residence has no expiry date; the biometric card is issued for 10 years (for children under 15, for 5 years) and is simply replaced, with the status itself left untouched. The holder has free access to the Czech labour market, participates in public health insurance and may receive social benefits under the conditions set by law. Travel to other Schengen countries remains limited to 90 days in any 180-day period.

The rule on three consecutive offences, which since 01.01.2026 is grounds for refusing to extend a long-term permit (Act 314/2025 Coll.), does not apply to permanent residence.

Permanent residence for Ukrainians: temporary protection and special residence

For temporary protection holders the half rule applies: 4 years under protection count as 2 of the required 5. Special long-term residence (zvláštní dlouhodobý pobyt), granted for 5 years, counts in full; the 2026 window for expressions of interest closed on 30.04.2026. Anyone working on an employee card or running a business on a business visa and residence permit counts the 5 years from their first long-term visa or permit.

After permanent residence: citizenship

After 5 years of permanent residence (3 years for EU citizens), or once permanent residence together with prior lawful stay reaches 10 years, you can apply for Czech citizenship: B1 Czech, a civics exam, income and taxes for 3 years.

What we do

• We calculate your period: which stays count in full, which count at half, and whether continuity has been preserved.
• We prepare the document list and translations and check your proof of income.
• For entrepreneurs we combine permanent residence with company registration in Czechia (s.r.o.) with INNOVA Consulting Group.

Related pages: Czech residence permit: grounds and documents, Czech visa for Ukrainians, immigration to the Czech Republic.

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Sources (as of 09.10.2026): Act 326/1999 Coll. on the Residence of Foreign Nationals (§ 68); Czech Ministry of the Interior: permanent residence after 5 years; Government Regulation 199/2021 Coll. (A2 level); Czech language exam for permanent residence; Ministry of the Interior: exam exemptions; proof of income; special long-term residence; repeated offences; Czech–Ukrainian Treaty 123/2002 Coll. Int. Agr..