Planning your permanent residency in Brno? Keep these key requirements in mind!
Timing and preparation are everything.
If you are a non-EU citizen living in Brno and considered applying for Permanent Residency (trvalý pobyt), ensure your application is successful by meeting specific conditions regarding your 1) stay and 2) language skills.
- The Five-Year Rule
The most fundamental requirement is 5 years of continuous residence in the Czech Republic. However, “continuous” doesn’t mean you can never leave the country; it means you must stay within these strict limits:
- Total absence: You must not have spent more than 310 days outside the Czech Republic in total over the 5-year period.
- Single absence: No single trip outside the country can exceed 6 consecutive months.
Longer absences are only permitted in exceptional cases for serious reasons (such as pregnancy, serious illness, or mandatory military service). It is crucial to calculate your days abroad carefully before submitting your application.
- Czech Language Exam (A2 Level)
Most applicants must prove their knowledge of Czech by passing an exam at the A2 level.
- Exemptions: You do not need the exam if you are under 15 years old, over 60 years old, or meet other specific legal exceptions (e.g., previous education in the Czech language).
- Important: Please note that you cannot skip the exam just because your spouse already holds permanent residency.
- Changes to the Exam in 2026
If you are planning to take the exam later this year, be aware of upcoming updates. Starting April 11, 2026, the format of the exam will change—specifically, the writing and speaking sections.
- The Level Remains A2: The exam is not becoming “harder” in terms of difficulty level, but it is being modernized to better reflect contemporary life and communication.
Practical Tips for Your Application
Verify Your Residence History: If you are unsure whether you have fulfilled the 5-year requirement accurately, you can request a Certificate of Residence History (Potvrzení o pobytu) from the Ministry of the Interior to get an official count of your days of stay.
Combining Residence Types: You can combine time spent on different types of visas and long-term residence permits. However, be aware that some periods—such as residence for “studying”—only count for half their length towards the 5-year total.
Maintain Valid Status: You must hold a valid long-term residence permit (povolení k dlouhodobému pobytu) throughout the entire processing period of your permanent residency application. Submitting the application does not create a “fiction of stay” (fikce pobytu) or extend the validity of your current permit automatically.
Family Reunification Rules: It is not possible to apply for permanent residency solely for the purpose of family reunification if you are married to someone who has permanent residency. Both spouses must meet the 5-year requirement individually. This specific option is generally intended for children under the age of 18.
Our advice:
Start tracking your days abroad and sign up for a Czech language course well in advance!
Where to get more information?
- Official Information Portal for Foreigners of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic
- Čeština pro cizince
Photo courtesy of: Brnoregion.com
