Not every study course works for a “Study” Visa

Are you a non-EU citizen considering a professional requalification course in the Czech Republic, to boost your career? Did you lose your job and think of a way to secure your residency in the Czech Republic? That’s a great idea, but it’s crucial to understand a key difference that can affect your long-term residency: the legal purpose of your studies.

Not all accredited courses are the same in the eyes of Czech immigration law.

The Problem of Accreditation

You might find a course that is “accredited” by the Czech government. That sounds promising. The problem is, which government body grants that accreditation?

1] Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MPSV) Accreditation:

Most professional requalification courses in the Czech Republic are accredited by the MPSV. This accreditation ensures the quality of the training and proves it meets the standards of the Czech labour market. These courses are primarily designed for citizens or foreigners who already have the legal right to work here.

This accreditation alone does not grant you the right to a long-term residence permit.

Please also note that most of these courses are offered only in Czech, so they may not be suitable for foreigners who do not speak the language.

2] A Residence Permit for “Studies” (Účel studium):

To get a long-term residence permit as a student, your course must fit the legal definition of “studies” as outlined by the Czech Ministry of the Interior (MOI). This means it must be a formal educational program under the Czech Education Act. These programs typically include:

• University studies: A full bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. program.
• Preparatory language courses: But only if they are organized by a public university specifically to prepare students for university-level studies.
• Find more information about what is considered “studies” here

Can I enroll for a Czech language school and get a residence permit?

In the Czech Republic, not all Czech language courses are the same from an immigration perspective:

1] Accredited language courses

These are officially recognised by the Ministry of Education and they are organized by a public university specifically to prepare students for university-level studies

If you enrol in a one-year full-time accredited Czech language course, you can usually apply for a long-term visa or residence permit for the purpose of study.

With this type of visa, you have free access to the labour market, which means you can work without needing a separate work permit.

In Brno, such courses are organized by Masaryk University, Mendel University and Brno Technical University.

2] Non-accredited language courses

These are private or commercial courses that do not have official accreditation.

Enrolling in such a course may still allow you to apply for a long-term visa or residence permit, but usually under the category “other” purpose of stay (code 99), not “study.”

A visa for “other” purposes does not give free access to the labour market. In this case, you would need to apply separately for a work permit if you want to work.

In Brno, such courses are organized for example by the Pelican language school.

Regardless of the type of language course, it is very important to actually attend classes and fulfil the declared purpose of your stay. The Ministry of the Interior checks this. If you fail to attend or drop out, your residence permit may be cancelled.

What This Means for You

While an accredited requalification course is a quality course, it is not considered “studies” for the purpose of immigration law.

In short, don’t confuse an accreditation from the Ministry of Labour with a student residence permit. If your main goal is to secure a long-term residency in the Czech Republic for your education, make sure your course is part of a university or an official educational program that falls into the “studies” category under Czech law.