Czech Long-Term Residence — Investment / Business
Czech Republic CZE
The Czech Long-Term Residence permit for investment/business is the route for non-EU nationals establishing or running a Czech company, typically an s.r.o. or a.s. entity, or a Trade Licence (zivnostensky list) registered for specific trades.
There is no fixed income test, but applicants must show capital sufficient for the venture (a practical floor around USD 80,000-150,000) plus a detailed business plan, accommodation, clean record, and Czech health insurance. Application costs are modest (~USD 250 fee; USD 7,000-15,000 first year excluding business capital) and processing runs about 4 months. Spouse and children can join via family reunification.
The permit does not allow employment for other entities without a separate Employment Card, and status ends if the business ceases; the first renewal at 24 months demands demonstrated viability, so passive shells fail. Czech tax residents pay 15% flat (23% above CZK 1.6M) on worldwide income. PR follows after 5 years (Czech A2), citizenship after 10 (B1, civic test); dual nationality is allowed.
Program Details
- Category
- Investment
- Processing Time
- 4 months
- Application Fee
- $250
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- $80,000
- Family Included
- Spouse + dependent children may join via family reunification once primary permit issued
- Path to PR
- Yes — 5 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 10 years
- Physical Presence
- Continuous residence; absences over 6 months affect renewal.
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Czech tax resident on worldwide income at 15% flat (23% above CZK 1.6M/yr). 19% corporate tax on Czech business profits.
- Renewal Cost
- $200
No fixed income threshold. Applicant must demonstrate sufficient resources for self and dependents and capital sufficient for the proposed Czech business activity. Practical floor is around USD 80,000-150,000 in capital + business plan demonstrating economic value.
Application Timeline
Apply
4mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 10 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Czech-registered business entity (s.r.o., a.s., or Trade Licence holder)
- ✓Sufficient capital for the business and personal support
- ✓Detailed business plan
- ✓Valid passport, accommodation in Czech Republic, clean criminal record
- ✓Health insurance valid in Czech Republic
Am I eligible for Czech Long-Term Residence — Investment / Business?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Nationality eligibility
Select your nationality to check.
Minimum investment / capital
Programme requires $80,000.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Nationality Restrictions
This program restricts applications from nationals of: EU/EEA/Swiss nationals do not require this permit
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Register Czech business entity / Trade Licence
destinationRegister s.r.o. (CZK 1 minimum capital since 2014 reform but practical CZK 200,000+ recommended), a.s., or Trade Licence at the relevant Trade Licensing Office.
Typical duration: 2-6 weeks
- 02
Apply for Long-Term Residence at Czech embassy
home countrySubmit application with business-registration documents, business plan, capital evidence, accommodation, criminal record.
Typical duration: 8-16 weekssource ↗
- 03
Travel to Czech Republic, register
destinationEnter on D visa; register with Foreign Police; collect residence card from Ministry of Interior.
Typical duration: 2-4 weeks
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| Czech business registration / Trade Licence | Czech registry | No | — | 90 |
| Business plan | Applicant | No | cs | 90 |
| Capital evidence | Bank | No | cs | 30 |
| Criminal record certificate | Home country | Yes | cs | 90 |
| Accommodation proof | Landlord | No | cs | 90 |
| Health insurance | Insurer | No | — | 365 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, translations, apostilles, health_insurance_first_year, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.
Excludes the USD 80k-150k+ business capital. Czech accountancy and lawyer fees are modest by EU standards.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 24 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 24 months
- Renewal fee
- $200
- Requirements
- Continued business activity; demonstrated viability; tax compliance.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Max days absent / year
- 180
- Language test
- Czech for Foreigners (A2)
- Integration test
- Not required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 10
- Language test
- Yes (B1)
- Civic test
- Required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- No
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- Yes
Banking Setup
- Open account before arrival
- Possible with bridge fintechs
Bridge fintechs
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse may register own Trade Licence or work with separate Employment Card
- Child school enrolment
- Czech public schools free; international schools in Prague, Brno
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Trade Licence (živnostenský list) framework is broad but requires registration of specific trades / professions
- ⚠First renewal at 24 months requires demonstrated business viability — passive shell companies typically fail review
- ⚠Czech corporate tax is 19% (raised from 21% reform reversed); not the lowest in CEE
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Employment with non-applicant entities without separate Employment Card
- ×Continued status after the underlying business ceases
Last known legislative update for this programme: 2024-01-01.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from Estonia or Lithuania startup visas?+
Estonian and Lithuanian startup visas focus on tech / innovation startups with formal accelerator endorsement; Czech Long-Term Residence is broader, covering traditional business investment, professional services, and Trade Licence holders. Czech requires somewhat more capital but no tech-startup framing.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
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Sources & last verified
- Official source
- Last verified
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