BREXIT
PLEASE NOTE: In connection with the amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreigners effective from August 2nd, 2021, the website is currently under construction and is being continuously updated. Thank you for your understanding.
Residence of UK citizens from January 1st, 2021
CITIZENS' RIGHTS
The residence rights arising from the withdrawal agreement remain in place for UK citizens who were legally resident in the territory of the Czech Republic before 31 December 2020. Legal residence may be proven by presentation of a confirmation of temporary residence, or a permanent residence permit issued to UK citizens before 1 February 2020, or a residence document of the same format issued after 1 February 2020, bearing a stamp with “UK Withdrawal Agreement” on page 2 (in the confirmation of temporary residence) or page 4 (in the permanent residence permit) or by presentation of a biometric residence permit bearing the stamp “článek 50 Smlouvy o EU” (“Article 50 of the Treaty on EU”). For this reason, as of 31 December 2020, it is important that all UK citizens living long-term in the Czech Republic hold a confirmation of temporary residence or a registration certificate or, for UK citizens resident in the territory of the Czech Republic for over 5 years, a permanent residence permit.
You may apply to the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic for a biometric registration certificate, temporary or permanent residence permit. Legally resident persons covered by the withdrawal agreement may make their first application for a residence document even after 1 January 2021, nevertheless such applications may be expected to take longer to process due to the need for more in-detail investigation to prevent cases of abuse of such rights and bogus applications, and a higher degree of administrative consideration of errors in applications.
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VISA
UK citizens travelling to the Czech Republic after December 31st, 2020 will fall into the third country citizens’ category. For stays in the territory of the Czech Republic exceeding 90 days the UK citizens will have to request a long-term visa or long-term residence at the diplomatic mission of the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic will start accepting the applications for the entitlement to long-term residence from UK citizens on January 1st, 2021. The UK citizens will be entitled to submit the long-term residence applications at all diplomatic missions of the Czech Republic abroad, i.e. the applications can be submitted not only through the Czech embassy in London, but also at other diplomatic embassies of the Czech Republic within the EU, e.g. in Berlin, Brussels, Bucharest, Dublin, Sofia, Warsaw, Vienna or Zagreb.
As far as short-term stays not exceeding 90 days during any 180-days period are concerned, UK citizens will be obliged to apply for a Schengen visa only if they travel to the territory of the Czech Republic to perform profit-making activities. The above mentioned period includes stay in both the Czech Republic and other countries of the Schengen area.
COVID-19
Please be aware that due to the EU coordination on temporary travel restrictions from third countries to EU+, after January 1st, 2021 UK citizens might be allowed to travel to the EU/Czech Republic only in justified cases. If, due to the unfavourable epidemiological situation, the UK is not listed as a safe country from epidemiological perspective, persons who do not hold a residence permit or do not fall into the exempt categories will not be able to travel to the Czech Republic at all.
BORDER REGIME
With effect from January 1st, 2021, UK nationals and British citizens benefitting from the Withdrawal Agreement will not be able to undergo border checks at the designated EU/EHP/CH checkpoints. They will not be able to use the easyGO system for automatic border control either.
The border checkpoints are sufficiently staffed, nevertheless, longer waiting times in the checkpoints queues can be expected with regards to the flights scheduled. Another factor which will prolong the waiting time is the detailed border check procedure of nationals within the meaning of Article 8(3) of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council 2016/399 (Schengen Border Code), which includes more operations.
In the future, UK citizens will be subject to a registration procedure in the entry/exit system (EES) and an obligation to hold a travel permit obtained through the European Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This, however, does not apply to those benefitting from the Withdrawal Agreement - they will be outside the scope of EES and ETIAS, as they will have the right to free movement and residency.