18th March 2020

The Czech Republic: COVID-19 - immigration implications

  • all consular posts of the Czech Republic have been closed until further notice and will not be accepting any applications;
  • all applications submitted at the Czech consular posts has been put on hold until further notice.

 The emergency status has been applied as of March 12, 2020 for 30 days (April 11th, 2020). Therefore, all immigration processes should re-start after this date. 

Impact on your company – Please find below an overview of situations which are affected by these measures:

NON-EU citizens who already submitted the applications:

  • Application submitted – application processing postponed at least for 30 days as of today;
  • Application approved (entry visa collected) – employee can travel to the Czech Republic and finalize the residency permit process, in case the employee is traveling from country affected by the travel ban, will need to be self-quarantined for 14 days (travel not recommended);
  • Application approved (entry visa not collected)– visa collections are postponed at least for 30 days as of today, travel to the Czech Republic is not possible;

NON-EU citizens who are yet to submit the applications:

  • Documents collection – it is recomended continue to collect all the required documents, filing of the application will be postponed until the consular posts will re-open (at least for 30 days as of today);
  • Application prepared – filing of the application will be postponed until the consular posts will re-open (at least for 30 days as of today);

In case any client has the appointment for submission of the application scheduled with the respective Embassy of the Czech Republic, the appointment will be canceled.

 

NON-EU citizens currently in the Czech republic with valid residency permits/in extension process/with new application submitted on the territory of the Czech Republic:

Such applications are not affected and will be processed as usual.

NON-EU citizens with valid residency permits currently abroad on business trips/vacations in countries affected by the travel ban:

As those citizens hold long-term residency permits in the Czech Republic, they will be allowed to enter the Czech Republic. Provided they are traveling from one of the countries affected by the travel ban, the clients will need to undertakte the precaution measures (contact the Czech Hygiene Authority and remain self-quarantined).

In case they are returning to the Czech Republic from abroad via Germany or Austria, they can travel only by plane or individual road transport (car) via designated border crossings.

EU citizens holding at least confirmation of temporary residency in the Czech republic currently abroad on business trips/vacations in countries affected by the travel ban:

As those citizens can prove the residency in the Czech Republic, they will be allowed to enter the Czech Republic. Provided they are traveling from one of the countries affected by the travel ban, they will need to undertate the precaution measures (contact the Czech Hygiene Authority and remain self-quarantined).

In case they are returning to the Czech Republic from abroad via Germany or Austria, they can travel only by plane or individual road transport (car) via designated border crossings.

EU citizens not having at least confirmation of temporary residency in the Czech republic currently abroad on business trips/vacations:

In our opinion, those clients will not be able to enter the Czech republic as they cannot prove their residency in the Czech republic. 

 List of countries affected by travel ban as of 12th March, 2020:

  • China;
  • Iran;
  • Italy;
  • South Korea;
  • France;
  • Spain;
  • Germany;
  • Switzerland;
  • Norway;
  • Denmark;
  • The Netherlands;
  • Sweden;
  • Great Britan;
  • Belgium;
  • Austria.

List of designated border crossings for individual road transport with Austria and Germany:

  • Hora Svatého Šebestiána – Reitzenhein;
  • Krásný Les – Breitenau;
  • Pomezí nad Ohří – Schirnding;
  • Rozvadov-dálnice – Waidhaus;
  • Folmava – Furth im Wald/Schafberg;
  • Železná Ruda – Bayerisch Eisenstein;
  • Strážný – Phillippsreut;
  • Dolní Dvořiště – Wullowitz;
  • České Velenice – Gmund;
  • Hatě – Kleinhaugsdorf;
  • Mikulov – Drasenhofen.

Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Petyovský & Partners team

Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic