Living in the Czech Republic

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Czech Government and your local authority. You can also read our Czech Republic travel advice for our latest guidance.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in the Czech Republic, see our coronavirus travel advice.

Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up for email alerts to this guidance
• follow the British Embassy Prague on Facebook and Twitter

IfYou youcan werealso:

• read legally resident in the Czech RepublicMinistry beforeof 1Interior’s JanuaryFAQs 2021,on yourresidency rightsand willthe beWithdrawal protectedAgreement

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The Withdrawal Agreement.

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Residency

If Readyou are resident in the Czech government’sRepublic guidancebefore the transition period ends on visas.

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Passports

Check your passport is valid for traveltravel. beforeYour youpassport bookshould yourbe trip.valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

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

Passports from 1 January 2021

YouCheck your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

From 1 January 2021, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to the Czech Republic, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

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.

You will need to Renewrenew your passport before youtravelling book your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may need to show a return or onward ticket and that you have enough money for your stay. You may also have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. YouYour passport may alsobe needstamped tofor showvisits ato returnthese or onward ticket.countries.

Entry requirements

YouFrom can1 January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To stayThis longer,is thana 90rolling days180-day inperiod.

To 180-daystay period,for longer, to work or study, or for business travel, you mustwill need to meet the entry requirements set out by the country to which you are travellingtravelling. to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.

Periods of stay authorised under a visa or permit will not count against the 90-day limit. Travel to the UK and the Ireland will not change.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

Travel to the UK and Ireland has not changed.

Healthcare

ReadIf ouryou guidanceare onliving accessing healthcare in the Czech Republic andor makemove surethere youpermanently arebefore correctly31 registered.

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Read outour howguidance toon who can access healthcare asin athe postedCzech workerRepublic and how to register.

State healthcare: S1

If you havelive a registered S1 form and were living in the Czech Republic beforeand 1receive Januaryan 2021,exportable yourUK rightspension, tocontribution-based accessEmployment healthcareSupport willAllowance stayor theanother sameexportable ifbenefit, you aremay either:

• receivingcurrently abe UKentitled Stateto Pension
• receivingstate somehealthcare otherpaid ‘exportablefor benefits’
• aby frontierthe workerUK. whoYou livesmust inapply thefor Czecha Republiccertificate andof commutesentitlement toknown workas inan theS1 UK

certificate.

Read our guidance on usinghow an S1 form in the Czech Republic to ensureget youan areS1 correctly registered for healthcare.form.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in the Czech Republic, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC from the UK for healthcare in the Czech Republic.

IfWhen you weretravel livingfrom in the Czech Republic beforefor 1a Januarytemporary 2021,stay youin mayanother beEuropean eligibleEconomic forArea a(EEA) newcountry UK-issuedor EHICSwitzerland, ifyou you’re:

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Applymedically nownecessary foruntil ayour newplanned UKreturn EHIChome

• Anan EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.insurance

• For more information read our guidancetravel onadvice healthcare when travelling in Europepages and advice on foreign travel insurance.

There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.

You should also read guidance on:

• healthcare and studying abroad
• finding an English-speaking doctor in the Czech Republic
• checking your prescriptions are legal in the Czech Republic

Working and studying in the Czech Republic

If you wereare legallyregistered as a resident in the Czech RepublicRepublic, before 1 January 2021, you have the right to work,work asin longthe asCzech youRepublic. remainRead legallyour resident.guidance on working in an EU country.

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

• UK criminal records certificate
• extract from the Czech Criminal Register

If you are planningresident to come to the Czech Republic to work, you may need a visa.

Frontier workers

If you live in the Czech Republic andon were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country, before 131 JanuaryDecember 20212020, youyour mayright need a permit to showwork that you are a frontier worker.

Education and professional qualifications

You will benot eligiblechange, for broadly the same support as Czech nationals, as long as you wereremain legally resident in the Czech Republic before 1 January 2021. Check that you are correctly registered for residency.Republic.

Professional qualifications

ReadIf ouryou guidancehave on:

• continuingalready yourbeen studiesrecognised inby thean EU
• healthcare forcountry studentsas inholding thevalid Czechprofessional Republic

Movingqualifications, tothis thewill Czechremain Republicvalid toafter study

31 January 2020.

If you arehave planningnot tohad studyyour inprofessional thequalifications Czechrecognised, Republic, make sure you meetcan allsubmit visaan requirementsapplication beforeunder you arrive. Contact the relevantcurrent Higherrules Educationuntil provider31 inDecember the Czech Republic to check what fees you may have to pay.2020.

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Studying more information read studying in the EuropeanCzech Union.

Professional qualificationsRepublic

You maycan needcontinue toin, getor yourenrol professionalinto, qualificationstudy recognisedprogrammes iftaught you want to work in a profession that is regulated in the Czech Republic.free Whenof doingcharge this,after you31 willJanuary be2020. subjectFees tofor theprogrammes thirdtaught countryin regulations.

IfEnglish yourwill qualificationnot waschange officiallyas recogniseda byresult theof relevant regulator in the CzechUK Republicleaving before 1 January 2021, make sure you understand the terms of your recognition decision by checking with that regulator.EU.

Read the Czech government’s guidance on recognitioncontinuing ofyour professionalstudies qualificationsin the European Union.

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 you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in the Czech Republic have not changed.

Read guidance about:

• telling HMRC if you leave the UK to live abroad

• rates of tax on your UK income if you live abroad

• paying income tax in the Czech Republic

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

National Insurance

Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in the Czech Republic.

Banking

Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation. Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. If you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.

Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on banking, insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.

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.

Pensions

National Insurance

ReadFind ourout guidanceif onyou can pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to UKother benefits and pensionsallowances.

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

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:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre to claim
• your Czech and UK State Pension from the Czech Social Security Administration if you worked in the Czech Republic
• pensions from working in other EU countries

Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.

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.

Benefits

Pensions after 31 December 2020

ReadThere ourwill guidancebe no changes by 31 December 2020 to the rules on entitlementclaiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance.

If you are living in the Czech Republic by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If 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 31 December 2020.

If you are considering moving to the Czech Republic on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

You whilecan youcontinue areto livingreceive your UK State Pension if you live in the CzechEU, Republic.EEA or Switzerland and you can still claim your UK State Pension.

Benefits

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

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

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim whileif you live abroad
• use andour howtool to check which benefits you can claim them.
  while you live abroad

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.

Driving

Benefits after 31 December 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the CzechEU, RepublicEEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are residentliving in the CzechEU, Republic,EEA exchangeor yourSwitzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK licencebenefits you already receive. This will continue for aas Czechlong oneas (inyou Czech).live Youthere canand onlymeet exchangeall other eligibility requirements.

If you work and pay social security contributions in the Czech Republic, your UK licencesocial 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 31 December 2020.

If you haveare beenconsidering livingmoving to the Czech Republic on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and my change. Check our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU..

Driving in the Czech Republic

Driving forlicence 185rules days.will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

YouIf canyou 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 docan notstill haveuse toyour takeCzech licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a drivingUK licence without taking a test if you return to exchangelive yourin licence.the UK.

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

• what you need to drive abroad
• driving rules in the Czech Republic

Driving in the UK with a Czech licence

You can use your Czech licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test. We will update these pages if there are any changes to the rules, as soon as information is available.

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.

Voting

You cannot vote in local or national parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic or European Parliament elections.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections.

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter to vote

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:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad

• read guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in the Czech Republic

• consult a list of English-speaking funeral directors 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:

• English-speaking translators and interpreters in the Czech Republic

• English-speaking lawyers in the Czech Republic

Accommodation and buying property

Read guidance on how to buy a property abroad.

Pets

IfCurrent you have a pet passport issued by the Czech Republic or another EU member state, you can use it to travel withrules yourwill petstay tothe Greatsame Britainuntil and31 elsewhereDecember in the EU.2020.

AIf GB-issuedyou’re EUtravelling petwith passportyour ispet not valid for travel to the EUfirst ortime Northernyou Ireland.must Youvisit should speak to your vet before you travel to get thea necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.passport.

Read guidance on:

• on bringing your pet to GB
• travelling with your pet in the EUUK
• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel..

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

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.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

Disclaimer

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