Visa Requirements & Health Insurance

Visa Requirements

International students residing in the Czech Republic need a temporary stay visa. In many cases, the application must be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate of the Czech Republic in the student's home country; check with your local Czech Embassy or Consulate before you leave home!

U.K. Applicants 

Holders of a U.K. passport who intend to study in the Czech Republic for a long-term period may apply for a temporary stay permit at:
Embassy of the Czech Republic in London, England (UK)
26, Kensington Palace Gardens
W8 4QY
City: London
Phone: (+44) 20 7243 7913
Fax: (+44) 20 7727 7939
Web Site: http://czechembassy.org.uk/
Email: oeu.london@embassy.mzv.cz

Norwegian Applicants

Holders of a Norwegian passport who intend to study in the Czech Republic for a long-term period should contact:
Embassy of Czech Republic in Norway
Fritzners gate 14
N-0244
City: Oslo
Phone: +00 47- 22 43 00 02
Fax: +00 47- 22 55 33 95
Web Site: http://www.czechembassy.org/wwwo/?zu=oslo
Email: oslo@embassy.mzv.cz
Office Hours: 7.45 AM - 4.15 PM
 

Swedish Applicants

Holders of a Swedish passport who intend to study in the Czech Republic for a long-term period should contact:
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Sweden
Villagatan 21
Box 26156
114 32
City: Stockholm
Phone: +46-8-4404 210
Fax: + 46-8-4404 211
Web Site: http://www.mzv.cz/stockholm
Email: stockholm@embassy.mzv.cz
Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 07.45-08.15 - 16.15-16.45 Monday - Friday: 08.00 - 16.30 (Public)
 

Other Nationalities

To locate the Czech Embassy near you, please visit http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/CzechRepublic. 

Health Insurance in the Czech Republic

International students must prove health insurance coverage within the Czech Republic in order to obtain a temporary residency permit. 
 

Applicants from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland: Free or reduced-cost vital treatment is available on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC gives access to state-provided medical treatment only and the plan privides no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature. Note that the EHIC replaces Form E111, which is no longer valid. 

Other nationals: Medical insurance is mandatory; without this, entry may be refused. IMS will help students find a basic health insurance, either in their home country or in the Czech Republic. More information can be obtained from the Czech Ministry of Health: www.mzcr.czHealth.

Foreigners living in the Czech Republic receive health care:
    * Free of charge (on the basis of international treaties and bilateral agreements between states - applicable for   example within the EU). 
    * Without direct payment on the basis of public health insurance (mandatory health insurance) or
    * For direct payment (e.g. non-EU citizens).
Foreigners without permanent residency in the Czech Republic who are not employed in the Czech Republic cannot participate in public health insurance but they can sign up for a so-called contractual health insurance, which  is independent of public health insurance.
a) Long-term contractual health insurance is for foreign citizens and persons without Czech citizenship who do not meet conditions for participation in public health insurance and have no right to the provision of free health on the basis of bilateral agreements between governments but who have a temporary residency permit in the Czech Republic.  
b) Short-term contractual health insurance can be signed up for by foreigners visiting the country only for a short time, for example, tourists. This type of insurance for up to 365 days covers the costs of vital and urgent treatment the client may have received as a result of an accident or an unexpected illness that has occurred during their stay in the Czech Republic.

Only the General Health Insurance Company has a license to provide long-term contractual health insurance. An insurance company has the right to refuse to provide insurance to a person who according to the examination appears to be at risk.
Medical treatment without health insurance:
Foreigners without health insurance may receive free medical treatment if they come from countries with which the Czech Republic has signed bilateral agreements - contracts about the provision of free health care, and only to the extent defined by such an agreement (particularly when such treatment is provided to the strictly necessary extent).
Foreign students admitted to secondary school or universities at the expense of the Czech Republic (scholarships only) are provided with health care to the same extent and under the same conditions as Czech students. Students who study in the Czech Republic at their own expense pay for health care:
    * From their private funds.
    * From funds provided by contractual health insurance.
    * On the basis of existing agreements about the provision of free health care (does not apply to            
        students from Slovakia).

Health Insurance Companies

Health insurance companies sign contracts with doctors and healthcare centers. After treating a particular patient, the doctor informs the relevant health insurance company, which pays for such treatment on the basis of health insurance. 
There is only one state-controlled health insurance company - Všeobecná zdravotní pojiš?ovna (General Health Insurance Company). This insurance company has the largest number policies. The extent of care provided to patients from their health insurance is regularly defined by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic. 
Other commercial insurance companies decide on the extent covered by insurance individually and so create competition in the market. 
The list of Czech health insurance companies is regularly updated by the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic.

To contact IMS