Brno Expat Centre

Are you an EU or non-EU citizen?

non-eu

Am I obliged to register at the Foreign Police?

Yes. This is the only obligation for EU citizens.

If you’re planning to stay in the Czech Republic for more than 30 days, you have to register your place of residence in this country within 30 days of your arrival. Note, however, that this rule doesn’t apply to children younger than 15 years of age.

The place to do this is the Foreign Police office at Cejl 62b. Read “How do I register?” below.

Your accommodation provider may have already done this for you: commercial accommodation providers have to register their guests with the Foreign Police if they provide accommodation to 5 or more foreigners. Most hotels, hostels, and dormitories carry out this duty. Landlords in private apartments don’t. You should check with the Foreign Police to see if you’ve been registered, and in any case it’s best to get a stamp in your passport from them.

How do I register?

Registering with the Foreign Police is easy. All you need to do is visit their office (Cejl 62b, office hours) and fill in a short form. Bring just your passport or ID card and make sure you know your exact address, the name of the property owner, and the day of your arrival in the country. In exchange for the form, you’ll get a stamp in your passport with the address filled in or a separate sheet in case you came with your ID only.

The officers don’t usually speak English. But the process is easy enough to manage without speaking Czech.

What if I later change my address? Or name or passport number?

Subsequent changes (of address, family status, name, passport number) after the registration with the Foreign police don’t need to be reported.

However, if you applied for and now hold a residence card – a certificate of temporary residence of EU citizen – issued by the Immigration Office, you have to report the changes. Read how to do that in a different guide.

What's the next step?

If you intend to stay in the country for more than three months, you have the right to apply for a residence card. The certificate of temporary residence (“potvrzení o přechodném pobytu”) should be requested through the Ministry of the Interior’s regional Immigration Office, located at Tuřanka 1554/115b.

Though possession of the certificate isn’t obligatory, you’ll find that the certificate, along with the national birth number (“rodné číslo“) that is assigned along with the certificate and serves as something like a social security number, may well simplify your life in the future. For example, for things such as obtaining a mortgage or registering your car, you’ll require this certificate, or if you should wish to take out permanent residence in the Czech Republic down the line sometime, the certificate will provide proof of the length of your stay in this country.

Click here to read a separate guide on how to obtain your certificate of temporary residence.

Am I obliged to register at the Foreign Police?

You’re obliged to inform the authorities about your arrival and register your place of residence with the Foreign Police within 3 working days of your arrival or the Immigration Office within 30 calendar days of your arrival in the country.

The Foreign Police office (at Cejl 62b) is your point of registration if you arrived with a long-term visa. If you arrived with a visa for entry but are expected to pick up your long-term residence card (and submit biometrics), you have to go to the Immigration Office (at Tuřanka 1554/115b).

Registering with the Foreign Police is not obligatory for children younger than 15 years of age.

How do I register?

With a visa enabling you to pick up your employee card or any other long-term residence permit (“DVR” visa), skip the Foreign Police visit and go directly to the Immigration Office (Tuřanka 1554/115b).

If your purpose of stay is employment, bring along a confirmation from your employer that you’re about to start work. You’ll receive a temporary certificate (a single-page document before they issue a residence card) that will allow you to start working.

With a short-term visa, or if you can’t make it to the Immigration Office in time – within 3 days – visit the Foreign Police (Cejl 62b, office hours) and register your arrival there.

Registering with the Foreign Police is easy. All you need to do is visit their office and fill in a short form. Bring just your passport or ID card and make sure you know your exact address, the name of the property owner, and the day of your arrival in the country. In exchange for the form, you’ll get a stamp in your passport with the address filled in.

What if I later change my address? Or name or passport number?: Any subsequent changes must be reported to the Immigration Office (Tuřanka 1554/115b) – within 3 days in the case of name, marital status or passport number, or 30 days in the case of change of address. Read our guide for residence permits to find out more.

What's the next step?

The Foreign Police are in charge of everything regarding a short-term visa (up to 90 days). Anything longer is dealt with through the Immigration Office.

For any issues regarding your long-term visa or residence permits contact the Immigration Office of the Ministry of the Interior (located at Tuřanka 1554/115b). Arranging an appointment beforehand may save you a couple of hours of waiting time – use the Foreign Registration System server to arrange a meeting.

All visas to enter the country must be applied for at a Czech embassy abroad. Visa requirements are listed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

More information about the residence permits can be found directly at the Immigration Office website: immigrationportal.cz.

General info

Shortly after your arrival in Brno, you should head over to the Immigration Office or Foreign Police to validate your visa and register your place of residence.