Czech RepublicFamily
Czech Republic spouse visa for family members of EU citizens
Temporary residence permit of an EU citizen’s family member
In short
A non-EU spouse, child or dependent relative of an EU citizen living in Czechia enters on a free Schengen visa if their nationality needs one, and then applies in Czechia for a temporary residence permit of an EU citizen’s family member. The card is valid for up to five years, costs CZK 200 and is decided within 60 days.
Apply on Ministry of the Interior – application status (frs.gov.cz) checked 23 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Residence card for the expected length of the EU citizen’s stay, at most five years.
- Fee
- CZK 200Fee for the temporary residence permit, paid by card at the Ministry of the Interior office; the entry visa is free.
- Processing time
- 60 days for the residence permit; the Schengen visa usually within 15 days.
- Work
- Yes: family members of EU citizens have free access to the Czech labour market.
- Family
- Covers spouses, children and dependent relatives of EU citizens, and of Czech citizens who returned after living in another EU state.
- Path to permanent residence
- A permanent residence permit for EU citizens’ family members is available later (fee CZK 200).
- Where to apply
- Entry visa: at the Czech mission responsible for your place of residence, directly or through its external service provider; residence permit: in person at a Ministry of the Interior office in Czechia.
Who uses this route
The permit is for close family members of EU citizens who live in Czechia, and also for family members of Czech citizens who used their right of free movement, for example a Czech who lived in another EU state, married there and came back. A spouse of a Czech citizen who never lived elsewhere in the EU follows the national rules for family members of Czech citizens instead; ask the Ministry of the Interior which route applies.
Documents
The family relationship is proven by apostilled civil status records. For the residence permit, documents should be in Czech or officially translated, as required for proceedings before Czech authorities.
Required documents
Identity
- Schengen visa form and photo; for the permit, the Ministry of the Interior application form and photos
Travel
- Valid passport
Family
- Marriage certificate or birth certificate with apostille (Czech translation for the residence permit)
- Proof of the EU citizen’s nationality, such as passport or ID copy
Other
- Proof that the EU citizen lives in Czechia or will travel there with you
Entry visa
Family members of EU citizens pay no Schengen visa fee and may apply directly at the mission instead of an external service provider. Bring the marriage or birth certificate and proof of the EU citizen’s nationality and residence in Czechia.
- Contact the Czech mission responsible for your place of residence for an appointment as a family member of an EU citizen.
- Apply for the free Schengen visa with the relationship and EU nationality documents.
- Travel to Czechia with the EU citizen or to join them.
- Apply in person at a Ministry of the Interior office for the temporary residence permit and pay CZK 200.
- Collect the residence card once the decision is issued, at the latest within 60 days.
Residence permit in Czechia
In Czechia you apply in person at a Ministry of the Interior office. The residence card is issued for the expected length of the EU citizen’s stay, at most five years; the fee is CZK 200 and the legal time limit 60 days. Family members of EU citizens register their address within 30 days, and only if the stay exceeds 30 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay for the Schengen visa as the wife of a German citizen living in Prague?
No. Family members of EU citizens covered by free-movement rules are exempt from the visa fee and may apply directly at the mission.
Can I work in Czechia on this permit?
Yes. Family members of EU citizens have free access to the labour market and need no employee card.
Can I apply for a Czech long-term visa instead?
No. The Czech long-term visa is not intended for family members of EU citizens who hold or have applied for a family member residence card.
Official sources
- Ministry of the Interior (IPC) – Temporary residence permit of an EU citizen’s family member
- Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ankara – Visas
- Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Istanbul – Visas
- Czech MFA – Visa fee schedule
- Czech MFA – Registering entry and residence
- Czech MFA – Long-term visa
- Czech MFA – Employee Card
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Czech Republic
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
- Airport transit visa Maximum stay: Only the time needed in the international transit area; no entry into Czechia.
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Schengen visa: 90 days in 180; long-term visa: up to one year.
- Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Schengen visa: 90 days in 180; long-term visa for culture or sport: up to one year.
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.
- Self-employed and freelancer visa Maximum stay: Up to one year; extendable or convertible into a long-term residence permit for business in Czechia.
- Investor visa Maximum stay: Issued for up to two years; renewable in Czechia.
Study and training
- Student visa Maximum stay: For the length of studies; renewed in Czechia before expiry.
- Language course visa Maximum stay: Up to one year; can be extended in Czechia for up to another year.
- Researcher visa Maximum stay: For the duration of the research project; renewable in Czechia.
- Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Training visa: up to six months.
Work
- Job seeker visa Maximum stay: Up to nine months, no extension.
- Work visa Maximum stay: For the length of the contract, at most two years per card; renewable in Czechia.
- Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Depends on the permit obtained (employee card up to two years, Blue Card up to three).
- EU Blue Card Maximum stay: Contract length plus three months, at most three years; renewable.
- Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Duration of the transfer: at most three years for managers and specialists, one year for trainees.
- Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: Long-term seasonal visa: at most nine months in total, extensions included.
- Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: Long-term visa for up to one year, then a long-term residence permit for the same purpose in Czechia.
Family
- Family reunification visa Maximum stay: Same validity as the sponsor’s permit, at least one year; two years if the sponsor holds permanent residence.
Residence
- Permanent residence Maximum stay: Permanent; the residence card itself is renewed periodically.
Faster processing
- Fast-track and priority visa services Validity: Programme inclusion is generally valid for one year.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Processing time: Time limits follow the amended Asylum Act and the EU Asylum Procedure Regulation applicable since 12 June 2026; manifestly unfounded claims go through an accelerated procedure.