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Permanent Residence for a Non-EU Family Member of an EU Citizen

CzechiaLong-term residence

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

What exact status does accumulated residence lead to?

Permanent residence for a third-country family member of an EU citizen or of a citizen of Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Switzerland: a permanent residence permit or permanent residence card issued for 10 years and repeatedly renewable by 10 years; it is a condition for rights such as obtaining citizenship.

See recorded sources

What qualifying residence period is required and when does the period begin?

5 years of continuous temporary residence in Czechia, or 2 years of continuous temporary residence for a close family member of an EU citizen holding permanent residence or of a Czech citizen with permanent residence, provided the family relationship has lasted at least 1 year.

See recorded sources

Which types of residence count fully, partially or not at all where the official rules specify this?

Counted in full: temporary residence as an EU citizen's family member (including while the application was pending); visa-free or short-visa stay immediately before that application; long-term visa and long-term residence (including study); asylum or subsidiary protection; temporary protection. Not counted: time in international-protection proceedings and time in prison.

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What absence/continuity rules affect accumulation of the qualifying residence period?

Continuity is kept if absences total no more than 6 months a year; exceptionally longer for compulsory military service or serious reasons (pregnancy and childbirth, serious illness, study or vocational training, work posting abroad), but then for no more than 12 consecutive months.

See recorded sources
  • https://ipc.gov.cz/spravni-rizeni/nepretrzity-pobyt-obcane-eu-a-jejich-rodinni-prislusnici/
    Nepřetržitost přechodného pobytu je považována za zachovalou, pokud nepřítomnost rodinného příslušníka občana Evropské unie na území Česka nepřesáhne celkem 6 měsíců ročně. Ve výjimečných případech je možné považovat pobyt rodinného příslušníka občana Evropské unie za nepřetržitý i při přesáhnutí 6 měsíců ročně, pokud k tomu dochází: z důvodu plnění povinné vojenské služby, nebo ze závažných důvodů, zejména jde-li o těhotenství a narození dítěte, závažné onemocnění, studium nebo odborné školení, anebo z důvodu pracovního vyslání do zahraničí – v takových případech však nepřítomnost na území nesmí být delší než 12 po sobě jdoucích měsíců.

What other major conditions apply, how is the status obtained, and what renewal, document-validity, retention or loss rules matter?

Holders get public health insurance and the right to work and do business. Some applicants may apply without the prior-residence condition, e.g. a bereaved family member of a Czech citizen who had permanent residence in Czechia. The permanent residence permit or card is issued for 10 years and is repeatedly renewable by 10 years. The official source does not state loss or revocation rules.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Loss/revocation rules and the full list of exceptions are not covered by these citations.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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