After You Arrive

Registering Your Address in the Czech Republic

Students from India and Pakistan must report where they live soon after arrival. Your visa decides who you report to. A long-term visa: the Foreign Police (the police office for foreigners). A D/VR visa (the visa to collect a residence permit): a Ministry of the Interior (MOI) office.

Registration Basics

Address Registration in the Czech Republic

Reporting your address is a legal duty for foreigners. It is also the first step to your residence permit card if you came on a D/VR visa.

When to Register

Your visa decides the time limit: 3 working days or 30 calendar days. The Time Limits table below gives the details.

Offices You Deal With

Each office has its own job.

Foreign Police

Takes the address report from long-term visa holders.

Ministry of the Interior (OAMP)

Registers D/VR visa holders, takes biometrics and issues residence permit cards. OAMP is the Czech short name of its Department for Asylum and Migration Policy.

Your university

Gives you a confirmation of studies (a letter that says you study there) and often helps with these steps.

Others to Tell When You Move

Your university: Keep your contact address up to date in the university system.
Your bank and health insurer: Update your address so letters reach you.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Register Your Address

Follow these steps in your first days in the Czech Republic.

Find a place to live

Get a rental contract (lease) or a confirmation of accommodation. The building must be marked with a building, registration or street number.

Check your visa type

Long-term visa: Foreign Police. D/VR visa (the visa to collect a residence permit): MOI office.

Report within the time limit

Your visa decides the limit. See Time Limits below.

Give biometrics

D/VR visa: the MOI books a time for your photo and fingerprints for your residence permit card.

Collect your card

Collect your residence permit card within 60 days of your biometrics.

Report later moves

Tell an MOI office within 30 working days each time you change address.

Time Limits

Working days are Monday to Friday. Calendar days count every day, weekends too. The Foreign Police and change of address limits use working days. The D/VR limit uses calendar days.

Institution	Deadline	Method
Foreign Police (long-term visa holders)	Within 3 working days of arrival	In person with the registration form
Ministry of the Interior (D/VR visa holders)	Within 30 calendar days of arrival	In person at an MOI office
Ministry of the Interior (change of address)	Within 30 working days of moving	In person at an MOI office

Advisor Tip

Registration, biometrics and collecting your card usually take more than one visit. Plan your first weeks around them.

Required Documents

Papers to Bring

Bring originals. The office copies your passport.

Foreign Police (long-term visa)

Passport
Registration form, available at the police department
Proof of travel medical insurance

MOI office (D/VR visa)

Passport
Registration form

Proof of accommodation

Confirmation of accommodation with a certified signature (stamped as real by an official)
Or a rental contract (lease) or a sublease signed by both sides

Czech Address Numbers

Czech buildings can have more than one kind of number. Your accommodation must have at least one of them.

Example:

Your name

Street name, building number (popisné číslo) or street number (orientační číslo)

Postcode and town

Important Notes:

The building must be marked with a building number, a registration number or a street number.
It must be a building meant for living, staying or recreation under Czech building law.

Important Information

Special Cases

Some housing needs extra papers.

Dormitory

A dormitory or hotel can report your stay for you. Check that it did.

Sublease

A sublease means you rent from a tenant, not from the owner. Also bring the lease between the owner and that tenant, or another paper that proves this link.

Housing cooperative

A housing cooperative is a group that owns a building together. If your landlord is a member, add a paper that shows the link between the member and the cooperative.