Original document : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-the-czech-republic

Change description : 2019-09-23 16:54:00: Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement [Brexit]

Showing diff : 2019-09-03 16:31:10 +00:00..2019-09-23 17:16:33 +00:00

Guidance

Living in the Czech Republic

Official information British people moving to and living in the Czech Republic need to know, including Brexit guidance, residency, healthcare and driving.

This page tells you what to do ahead of Brexit. It will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.

Brexit: what you should do

You should:

Brexit updates

To keep up to date:

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for the Czech Republic.

You need to secure a Czech residence permit before Brexit if you want to guarantee your stay in the Czech Republic.

You must register your stay with the Czech Foreign Police (in Czech) first. You will need this confirmation of your registration with the Foreign Police when you apply for Czech residency status.

Read our guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

Visas and residency after Brexit

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal you will need to enter the Czech immigration scheme. To do this, you must make an appointment with the Czech immigration authority.

If you have a certificate of temporary residence, you will need to apply for either a long-term residence permit or a permanent residence permit before the end of 2020.

If you have a permanent residence permit, you will need to change your current documents for a new biometric card by the end of 2020.

You can look at this flowchart from the Czech Ministry of Interior which explains the process.

In the event of changes to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from the Czech Republic.

You can look at our travel advice for the Czech Republic and sign up for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.

Passports and travel after Brexit

After Brexit, the rules on travel will change. Check your passport is valid for travel. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. During this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

If there’s no deal, new travel rules will apply. You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

If there is no deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You must retain evidence of travel (e.g. train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence.

Healthcare

Read the NHS guidance on healthcare in the Czech Republic.

If you live in the Czech Republic and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You must apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

If you are resident in the Czech Republic, you cannotmust not use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK for healthcare in the Czech Republic.

When you travel from the Czech Republic for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:

If you are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.

You can find an English-speaking doctor in the Czech Republic.

You must also check your prescriptions are legal in the Czech Republic.

Healthcare after Brexit

If there is a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in the Czech Republic will remain the same until the end of the implementation period, as long as you remain a resident in the Czech Republic.

If there’s no deal, you will still be able to access the Czech healthcare system if:

  • you are employed by a Czech employer

  • you have a permanent residence permit

  • you are self-employed, as long as your circumstances don’t change

If there’s no deal, your S1 form will no longer be recognised by Czech authorities. You must take action now to decide how you will ensure access to healthcare if there’s no deal. UK nationals will be able to return to UK for treatment.

For more information, read the Czech Health Insurance Bureau’s website for guidance on access to the Czech healthcare system after Brexit.

If you currently have your healthcare costs paid for by the UK government, we can help if you are asked to pay for treatment during the first 6 months after Brexit. To organise a payment, you must give your healthcare provider’s details to the NHS Business Services Authority’s Overseas Healthcare Services.

Your EHIC may not be valid if there’s no deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme if there’s no deal, however this is reliant on the Czech Republic continuing to accept UK EHICs.

Read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals living in the Czech Republic and how it may change after Brexit.

Working in the Czech Republic

If you are registered as a resident in the Czech Republic, you have the right to work in the Czech Republic. Read our guidance on working in another EU country.

You may need to apply for one of both of the following:

Working in the Czech Republic after Brexit

If there is a deal, your right to work will not change until the end of the implementation period.

If there’s no deal, you may need to apply for a work permit if you are switching jobs and do not hold a permanent residency permit.

Read the guidance on providing services after Brexit if you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after Brexit.

If you gained your professional qualification in the UK before Brexit, it will continue to be recognised by Czech authorities.

Money and tax

If you work in the Czech Republic, you have the same tax rights and duties as Czech citizens.

The UK has a double-taxation agreement with the Czech Republic to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Read guidance about:

You should obtain professional advice on paying tax in the Czech Republic.

Declaration of overseas assets

If you live in the Czech Republic for more than six months in the current year, you will need to pay tax on your worldwide income here. This may include income from securities, insurance, annuities, and property. We recommend that you check with your local Czech tax office.

National Insurance

Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

If you are employed or self-employed in the EU and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.

If the end date on your form is after 31 October 2019, you should contact the relevant EU, EEA or Swiss authority to confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31 October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.

Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.

Money and tax after Brexit

Brexit will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in the Czech Republic. Send your individual taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

If there’s no deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in the EU. Read more about using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU.

Pensions

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

If you retire in the Czech Republic, you can claim:

Life certificates for UK state pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible – your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

Pensions after Brexit

The UK government will continue to pay a State Pension to those eligible in the EU after Brexit. Your UK State Pension will be uprated in April 2020, 2021 and 2022 if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

If there’s no deal and you work and pay social security contributions in the Czech Republic, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Czech pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

If there’s no deal, the Czech government will take into account periods of work in the UK before Brexit when calculating your Czech pension.

Read our guidance on pensions if there’s no deal.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in the Czech Republic.

Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Czech benefits

You may be entitled to Czech benefits. To find out if you are entitled to Czech benefits and how to claim, you can read the European Union’s guidance on claiming benefits in an EU country like the Czech Republic.

You can request proof of the time you have worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Benefits after Brexit

The UK government will continue to pay child benefits, and disability benefits to eligible people in the EU after Brexit.

If there’s no deal and you work and pay social security contributions in the Czech Republic, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Czech contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.

If there’s no deal you must:

Driving in the Czech Republic

If you are resident in the Czech Republic, exchange your UK licence for a Czech one (in Czech). You can do this at any municipality with extended competence (in Czech). You will need to provide at least two documents proving you are resident in the Czech Republic for more than 185 days in a calendar year. This can be your permanent residency permit, temporary residency permit, lease agreement, property ownership listing, employment contract, etc.

You can still use your Czech licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

For information on driving in the Czech Republic, read our guidance on:

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle into the Czech Republic

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

If you spend more than 185 days in the Czech Republic with your UK-registered car, you must register your vehicle with Czech authorities.

Driving after Brexit

If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.

Read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections.

If you are resident in the Czech Republic, you can vote in municipal and European parliamentary elections. You cannot vote in national parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic.

Voting after Brexit

UK nationals will no longer be eligible to vote in local or European Parliament elections after Brexit.

Births, deaths and marriages

If your child is born in the Czech Republic, you will need to register the birth with local authorities and register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in the Czech Republic:

Find out how you can get married abroad.

You will need to make a declaration in the Register of Vital Records (matrika) in the municipality where you plan to get married.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for British nationals in the Czech Republic. As of February 2019, you may no longer need to provide Czech translation of your document to Czech authorities. Find out about a new EU regulation which simplifies the authentication process.

You may also need:

Accommodation and buying property

Read guidance on how to buy a property abroad.

Pets

You will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret when the UK leaves the EU, but the rules will change. Read guidance on pet travel to Europe after Brexit.

While the UK is still a Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport. If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you must visit your vet to get a pet passport.

Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK.

For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on exporting horses and ponies: special rules.

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number on 112 or:

  • 158 for police
  • 156 for local police
  • 155 for health emergencies
  • 150 for firefighters

If you are the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Prague.

Returning to the UK

Read our guidance on:

Tell the UK and Czech authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently. To help prove you are now living in the UK, you must deregister with Czech authorities.

If you receive UK State Pension or benefits payments, you must tell the International Pension Centre.

If you get healthcare in the Czech Republic through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 form is cancelled at the right time.

Disclaimer

This information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Czech authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.

Published 15 November 2013

Last updated 323 September 2019 + show all updates
  1. Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
  2. Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
  3. EU Exit update: information in the "Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU" section updated
  4. Births, deaths and marriages: We added information on the the EU Regulation on Public Documents (Regulation 2016/1191) which simplifies the circulation of certain public documents.
  5. EU Exit update: updated EU Exit information in visas and residency, healthcare and driving sections
  6. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.
  7. Updated information on passports: you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip
  8. EU Exit update: added information on an outreach event in Brno on 19 February
  9. EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare
  10. EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving
  11. Added information about an outreach event planned for January 2019 in the "EU exit: what you need to know" section.
  12. EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section.
  13. Brexit update: added in official recommendation from the Czech Ministry of the Interior
  14. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
  15. Updated information on Brexit.
  16. Added Brits in the Czech Republic Facebook page to the information on expat communities in the Czech Republic.
  17. First published.

Update history

2024-03-27 12:16
Annual review and update of the content and links

2023-01-25 08:40
annual review

2022-03-11 09:00
Important information in the Working in the Czech Republic, and National insurance sections if you work in the Czech Republic, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.

2022-02-23 15:13
Updated the Visas and residency section to include information on the process for UK nationals with Czech residency to exchange their residency permit for a biometric card before 31 August 2022.

2021-03-01 08:23
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.

2020-09-07 15:05
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021.

2020-01-24 09:22
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

2019-09-23 16:54
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement

2019-09-03 17:04
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.

2019-05-31 09:42
EU Exit update: information in the “Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU” section updated

2019-04-26 13:20
Births, deaths and marriages: We added information on the the EU Regulation on Public Documents (Regulation 2016/1191) which simplifies the circulation of certain public documents.

2019-04-10 14:03
EU Exit update: updated EU Exit information in visas and residency, healthcare and driving sections