Registering after you arrive

Most non-EU newcomers must register within 3 working days of arrival; EU citizens staying over 30 days have 30 days.

Czech law wants to know where foreigners are staying. If you came on a long-term visa (type D), report your address to the Foreign Police within 3 working days of arrival. Bring your passport, the registration form (available at the police office) and proof of travel health insurance.

If you were granted a D/VR visa, which is the visa used to come and collect an employee card or another residence permit, you register at the Interior Ministry office instead, within 30 calendar days of arrival. At that visit they book your fingerprint appointment for the card.

You do not have to register yourself if your hotel, hostel or student dorm already did it for you, if you are under 15, or if the Interior Ministry arranged your housing. A private landlord does not normally register you, so check rather than assume.

EU citizens who plan to stay longer than 30 days report their address to the Foreign Police within 30 days of arrival. The Police page says 30 days; the Ministry's English page phrases it as 30 working days. To be safe, count calendar days.

Many people who received a long-term residence permit from 2021 onwards must also take a four-hour adaptation and integration course within one year of collecting their card. It costs CZK 1,500 and skipping it can mean a fine of up to CZK 10,000. Students, EU citizens, under-15s and over-61s and some highly qualified programme participants are exempt; the course website has a quiz if you are unsure.

In Brno

Brno's Foreign Police residence unit is at Cejl 712/62b, 602 00 Brno (phone +420 974 628 131), open Monday and Wednesday 8:00 to 17:00 and Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 to 14:00. D/VR visa holders go to the Interior Ministry office at Tuřanka 1554/115b instead.

In Prague

Prague's Foreign Police residence unit is at Olšanská 2176/2, Praha 3 (phone +420 974 889 125). Opening hours are not clearly published, so call before you go. D/VR visa holders go to the Interior Ministry office for their district instead.

Step by step

1. Check which visa is in your passport: a plain long-term visa (D) or a D/VR visa for collecting a permit.
2. If your accommodation is a hotel or dorm, ask whether they registered you. If yes, you are done with this step.
3. D visa: go to the Foreign Police within 3 working days with your passport and insurance proof and fill in the form there.
4. D/VR visa: go to the Interior Ministry office within 30 days and book your fingerprint appointment.
5. EU citizen staying over 30 days: register at the Foreign Police within 30 days.
6. If you got a new long-term permit, check whether you must take the integration course and book it within the year.

Last checked 2026-11-09. Open this guide in the app to add the dates to your calendar.