Czech authorities have instituted new health insurance requirements for foreign nationals, including both short-term visitors staying in Czech Republic for 90 days or less and long-term residents. The new requirements took effect on January 1, 2010 and apply to foreign nationals seeking entry and those who already reside in Czech Republic. However, the Czech foreign police have stated that there is an unofficial grace period, until March 31, 2010, for foreign nationals already living in Czech Republic to obtain the necessary insurance. If a long-term resident fails to obtain the required health insurance coverage from an approved company by March 31, his or her immigration status may be revoked and he or she would have to leave the country.

Insurance Requirements for Short-Term Visitors

Foreign nationals seeking to stay in Czech Republic for 90 days or less must possess travel health insurance with minimum coverage of €30,000 and no deductible for the duration of their stay. The insurance policy must be able to cover the costs of treating an injury or sudden illness during the foreign national’s stay, including transportation costs. A foreign national may purchase the required insurance policy from any company authorized to provide such coverage in his or her country of citizenship or legal residence or in Czech Republic.

Foreign nationals must be able to present a certificate of insurance when applying for a visitor visa or when seeking entry at a port of entry, if visa exempt. They must also be able to provide proof of insurance if subjected to a residence check by Czech authorities.

Insurance Requirements for Long-Term Residents

Foreign nationals seeking to remain in Czech Republic for more than 90 days must obtain medical insurance from a company that is registered in Czech Republic and appears on a list of authorized companies maintained by the Czech National Bank. A list of approved insurance companies, provided by the Czech Foreign Ministry, is available by clicking here. There are reports that additional companies, including BUPA and CIGNA, will be added to the list in the near future, but the exact timing is unknown. The insurance policy must provide sufficient coverage to cover the cost of treating an injury or sudden illness.

Foreign nationals must submit a certificate of insurance together with their long-term residence permit application, a residence permit extension application, or a long-term visa application. They must also be able to provide proof of insurance if subjected to a residence check by Czech authorities. It is unclear at this time if long-term visa applicants will also have to present the proof of insurance when collecting their visa from the consular post.

In preparing this article, Fragomen has worked closely with International Business Support s.r.o. The content herein is provided for informational purposes only.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen Global Immigration Services or send an email to emea@fragomen.com.