Students from non-EU or EFTA countries, do require a visa or a residence permit to study in the Czech Republic. Visas and Residence Permits are issued at Czech Embassies in your country of origin (and/ or country of residence), and must be obtained before coming to Prague. It is not possible to apply for a visa after your arrival, or even to pick up a visa you have previously applied for. A decision on the outcome of your visa application should be issued within 60 days after submitting your application at the respective Czech Embassy. Delays are common; therefore, we strongly urge all applicants to contact their local Czech consulate in good time.
Please thoroughly review the VISA QUIZ to find out what type of visa / residence permit you need and how to apply!
We recommend preparing and applying for the visa up to 6 months in advance. At the latest, it is recommended to have your visa appointment 2.5 months before the start of the semester you are applying for to be able to receive the visa and commerce your studies on time.
Should the application for the long-term visa or residence permit be refused, you have the right to appeal the decision within 15 days from receiving the decision. It should be addressed to the Department for Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic.