What I need to include with my application?

In addition to the application itself, you may need to attach the following:

The applicant must attach to the application an extract from the criminal record of a foreign country in which the applicant has resided continuously for more than 6 months in the 5 years preceding the date of application, or an extract from the criminal record in which the information is annexed.

If the applicant is not a Czech citizen, he or she shall also attach to the application a document similar to the extract from the criminal record of the State of which he or she is a national or an extract from the criminal record, which shall include this information. If such State does not issue a document similar to the extract from the criminal record, the applicant shall attach an affidavit of good repute made before a notary or authority of the State of which he is a national, or before a notary or authority of the State of his last residence.

These documents must not be older than 3 months.

If the applicant is a foreigner residing in the Czech Republic on the basis of a visa that does not in itself allow them to be employed in the Czech Republic (e.g., a tolerance visa under the Foreigners Residence Act), they must also attach a relevant document proving the authorization for employment in the Czech Republic. This document is necessary to determine whether the applicant can be considered credible.

In the case of EU Member States, in most cases, a criminal record extract can be obtained at Czech POINT contact points (more information on the Criminal Register website here).

In certain cases, documents issued by foreign states are required to be certified by an apostille or superlegalization, depending on whether the state in question has an international treaty with the Czech Republic. More information regarding the authentication of documents, including a list of contracting states to the Apostille Convention and a list of states with which the Czech Republic has concluded a bilateral legal aid treaty specifying public documents that are exempt from further authentication, is available on the website of the Ministry of the Interior here.

If you have any doubts or difficulties in obtaining a criminal record or similar document, we recommend contacting the relevant embassy.

For documents not written in the Czech or Slovak language, an officially certified translation into the Czech language is also required in accordance with Section 16(1) and (2) of the Code of Administrative Procedure. Documents written in English language are generally accepted as well (with exemptions such as extensive or elaborate documents).

Under the conditions set out in Regulation (EU) 2016/1191, selected public documents issued by EU institutions are exempt from legalisation and certified translation. This exemption also applies to the extract from the criminal record, but under the condition of no criminal record existence. If the applicant has a criminal record, Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 does not apply.