Which family route is yours?
| Your family member in the Czech Republic is... | Your route |
|---|---|
| an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, or a Czech citizen | Residence permit for a family member of an EU citizen: free labour market and the right to run a business. See EU citizens and family |
| a UK citizen covered by the Withdrawal Agreement | Residence permit for a family member of a British citizen. See UK citizens |
| a non-EU citizen with a long-term or permanent residence permit | Family reunification (společné soužití rodiny), see below |
Family reunification (společné soužití rodiny)
For family members of a non-EU citizen who lives in the Czech Republic and who want to stay longer than 1 year.
Who can come: a spouse or registered partner, children under 18 (also step-, adopted and foster children), adult children who cannot support themselves for health reasons, and a single parent of the sponsor who is over 65 or cannot take care of himself or herself.
The sponsor (the family member already in CZ) must meet one of these conditions:
- a long-term or permanent residence permit and more than 15 months in CZ (both spouses at least 20 years old), or
- an employee card and more than 6 months in CZ, or
- an EU Blue Card, an intra-company transfer card or a long-term residence for investment, or
- a residence permit for research (or an application for one), or an application for the job-search / business start-up permit.
Documents: the application form, passport, proof of accommodation, proof of money for the stay, a photo, comprehensive health insurance, the original marriage or birth certificate, and parental consent for under-18s. On request: a health certificate and criminal record extracts from countries where you lived more than 6 months in the last 3 years.
Where: in person at a Czech embassy or consulate abroad. After approval you collect an entry visa there. Applying inside the Czech Republic is only possible in a few cases.
Fee and time: 2,500 CZK (1,000 CZK under 15), usually decided within 60 days.
Validity: the same as the sponsor's permit, at least 1 year; up to 2 years if the sponsor has permanent residence (extensions: up to 5 years in that case). A biometric card.
Work: free access to the labour market, no work permit needed.
Ministry: family reunification.
Long-term family visa
The long-term visa for family purposes (up to 1 year) is for family members of a non-EU citizen with a residence permit in CZ, who want to stay more than 3 months. You apply in person at a Czech embassy; the consular fee is 2,500 CZK (children under 6 free), an extension in CZ costs 1,000 CZK. You collect the visa after showing comprehensive health insurance and register with the foreign police within 3 working days. According to the ministry, working as an employee needs a separate employment permit with this visa. Ministry: family visa.
Long-term residence for family purposes (účel rodinný)
For family members of non-EU citizens who already hold a family visa or another long-term residence permit. Valid up to 2 years, fee 2,500 CZK (1,000 CZK under 15), a biometric card, extension within 60 days. According to the ministry this permit does not give free access to the labour market: you cannot be employed on it. Ministry: residence for family purposes.
Long-term visa, long-term residence or EU family permit?
These three are often confused, and the difference matters for working as an employee:
- Family reunification (společné soužití rodiny, family of a non-EU resident): free access to the labour market.
- Long-term residence for family purposes (účel rodinný) and the family visa: no free access to the labour market. You cannot be employed without a separate permit.
- Temporary residence permit as family member of an EU citizen: the same rights as the EU citizen, so free access to the labour market and the right to run a business.
Trade license with a family visa or permit
A trade license is self-employment, not employment, so you don't need a work permit for it. Even with the long-term residence for family purposes, which does not allow employment, you can get a trade license. You can get a trade license with a family visa or permit, as long as the family purpose of your stay remains. Changing the purpose to business is possible only with a business visa or after more than 5 years of residence. See other visas and a trade license, and ask us before you plan: the combination of employment rules and family permits is tricky.
Source: the information portal of the Czech Ministry of the Interior, ipc.gov.cz, Visa and residence permit types, checked in October 2026. The rules change regularly; the ministry page is leading. Sample pictures of all documents: Vzory dokladů vydávaných cizincům (PDF).
