Visa & Residence

Students who are EU or EFTA nationals (i.e. citizens of the 27 EU member states, plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland) do not require a visa to study in the Czech Republic. It is enough to arrive with a valid passport (or national ID card), and to register with the Czech Immigration authorities within 30 days of arrival. 

– All students who do not have a valid European Union passport or ID card and who plan on studying longer than 90 days in the Czech Republic, require a visa or a residence permit to study in the Czech Republic.

– Since AAU has two accreditations, depending on which one you are admitted to, you will either have to apply for visa type ‘OTHER’ or ‘STUDY’. Our Admissions team can help you determine which one you need. 

– Visas can only be issued to you by your local Czech Embassy or Consulate in the country of your origin (and/ or country of residence) and must be obtained before coming to Prague. 

– It is not possible to apply for the first visa in the Czech Republic, it is only possible to extend the visa in the Czech Republic.

– You will have to pick up your visa at the Embassy or Consulate where you submitted your visa application.

– It is not possible to obtain a visa after arriving in the Czech Republic and you will be required to return to your country of residence if you arrive without one. 

– You should start your visa process early. We recommend four to six months before the start of the semester. The actual visa appointment should be scheduled at least four months before the beginning of the semester you are applying for to be able to receive the visa and commence your studies on time. It is important to know that delays are common and in some cases, the visa process can take even longer. Please review the information you received from the Admissions team upon your admission to find out more. You can also email admissions@aauni.edu to see what experience we have with students obtaining a visa from your country. 

Take this VISA QUIZ to find out where you can apply for a visa and which documents you need! You will also find this information in the email you receive from the Admissions Office if admitted. You need to arrange the following documents (all documents must be originals in Czech and no older than 180 days):

– Application form
Completed and signed application form. Download here.

– Accommodation
For detailed information please contact the Housing Department via email at housing@aauni.edu. You can also learn more about our housing in this video. 

– Health insurance

As of September 20, 2023, Czech law requires individuals to have medical insurance through one of the authorized providers in the Czech Republic. Trusted insurance companies include AXA, Slavia, SV Pojišťovna, Uniqa, and Pojišťovna VZP. In summer 2024 there are a number of offers and the he annual premium decreased to a range of 12,900 CZK to 16,800 CZK. For assistance or the summer discounts, please reach out to AAU’s insurance agent, Ms. Michaela Lesnak, at michaela@helloinsurance.cz or through her website at https://www.helloinsurance.cz/.

It is essential that your insurance covers the full duration of your visa or residence permit validity period and is issued in the Czech language. Your insurance coverage should also be a minimum of EUR 400,000. As a student, you need a comprehensive insurance plan that includes essential medical services, hospital transfers, hospitalization, prescription medications, repatriation (within limits), and all forms of emergency care.

Please note that comprehensive coverage options assume good health without pre-existing conditions. If you have any pre-existing health conditions that you would like to have covered, please make sure to inform our insurance agent. Currently, PVZP and Slavia are the only companies offering such coverage, and they may assess an additional charge based on their evaluation (currently priced at 14,400 CZK per year). However, other healthcare providers in the Czech Republic also offer attractive products and strive to make the process of obtaining insurance as easy as possible without unnecessary documents and signatures.

– Pojišťovna VZP: Has the largest number of doctors and hospitals in contract (this results to less claims) and offers additional insurance options including liability, injury and hospital fees. 

– Slavia pojišťovna: Offers higher dental coverage comparable to other companies in the Czech Republic, with additional discounts and product improvements, and also partially covers services at private clinics (only to the level of a national health care costs).

– SV Pojišťovna: Provides access to the Unicare and other private clinics services (only to the level of a national health care costs).

– AXA: Known for its solid reputation and comprehensive coverage options at a very attractive price (with lower limits than others) 

If you need further assistance or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Michaela Lesnak (see above).

 – Proof of funds
You need to prove you have enough money to live as a student in Prague. For official information, please check here.

– Confirmation of acceptance from AAU
You will receive this letter from AAU after you pay your first semester’s tuition and fees in full. This will be written in the Czech language and must be submitted as the original.

– Valid passport– Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months longer than the time period of your visa (i.e for a 1-year visa, your passport needs to be valid for at least 1 year and 6 months). 

– 2 colored passport-sized photos Check your LOCAL CZECH CONSULATE OR EMBASSY as there can be specific requirements for specific regionsYou will receive more detailed information from the Admissions Office if admitted via email.

The administration of visas and residence permits is divided between the Ministry of the Interior (MOI), responsible for handling processes for foreign nationals already resident in the Czech Republic, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), responsible for running and coordinating the consular services at the Embassy where you will be making your initial visa application. 
Further information on the visa process can be found below:
Ministry of the Interior
General Immigration Information

Requirements for an application for a long-term visa for the purpose of “studies” 

Requirements for an application for a long-term visa for the purpose of “other” 

Downloadable Visa Application Forms

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Entry and Residence Information from the Point of View of the Consulate

List of Czech Diplomatic Missions Abroad (use this to find your local consulate and any local rules they may have)

If you feel like you need help with your visa process we suggest you contact one of the following agencies specialized in handling the visa application process:

Foreigners.cz specializes in providing assistance with the visa process, residence permit, Nostrification, document translation and other services. If interested, please contact Foreigners.cz directly at prague@foreigners.cz. (It is a paid service, but there is a 10% discount for AAU students).

Pexpats is a local agency that offers specialized services for students including visa applications, acquiring health insurance, opening bank accounts, relocation, nostrification, and many more which can all be completed on your behalf for a fixed fee. You can contact them at info@pexpats.com. (It is a paid service, but there is a 20% discount for AAU students).