Czechia (the Czech Republic) does not officially have a Citizenship by Investment or a Golden Visa program.
It is not similar to other nations like Portugal, Greece, or Malta, where you can just passively invest, say, by purchasing real estate. Or depositing money in a government fund, and getting Czech citizenship or instant permanent residency.
Any claims about a direct offer of a Golden Visa to Czechia are not correct or misguided.
The legal Avenue: Investment in residence
Nevertheless, there is an acceptable but more challenging way out for investors. The Czech government is providing a Long-Term Residence Permit, which is intended to be used in business. This is not a free pass to a passport but a license to stay in the country, depending on your big and serious investment in business.
The main agenda of the Czech system is sincere contribution and engagement, not a financial exchange.
How it works (The real process)
Business Investment: You invest actively (usually at least CZK 2,000,000 / approx. EUR80,000) to fund or acquire a real and operating business in Czechia that contributes to the local economy (e.g. provides employment, innovates).
Residence Permit: You are issued a temporary business residence permit (upon approval of a detailed business plan). This should be renewed regularly.
Permanent Residence: Once you have had 5 years of continuous temporary residence, you are allowed to become a permanent resident. This involves the passing of a Czech language examination and integration.
Citizenship: You may apply to be a citizen only after 10 years of total legal residence (including time as a permanent resident). And by meeting very stringent qualifications, such as high proficiency in the English language, and passing a civics exam. One of the conditions is the renunciation of your former citizenship because Czechia does not normally permit dual citizenship of naturalised citizens.
No Shortcut: The Czech citizenship is impossible to buy. It is a long (10+ years) process, and it has to be implemented fully into the Czech society.
Active, Not Passive: It should not be a passive investment in the form of property; it should be an active business.
Be Wary of Frauds: Be very suspicious of any such service offering to issue a Czech Golden Visa. They are usually frauds that take advantage of the loopholes in the law or give false information.
Guided Professional help is Necessary: It is necessary to seek the assistance of a respected Czech immigration attorney to navigate through the business and immigration regulations.
Czech immigration policy is built on the principles of residence, integration and real attachments to the country rather than on financial investments in particular.
Nevertheless, investors and entrepreneurs have legal routes through which they may acquire residence permits that may ultimately qualify them for permanent residency. And after a long period of citizenship. It is a radically different process from that of just buying a passport.
Business residence permit requirement
You will have to prove that your business activity will benefit the Czech Republic to qualify. This is not an easy minimum capital entry point. The authorities will assess.
Business Substance: You should demonstrate that you are actually setting up and running a business, and not a shell company. This will involve a workable business plan.
Financial Investment: You are required to invest a lot of capital in your business. Although unofficially mentioned, a popular minimum amount is CZK 2,000,000 (c. i.e. EUR80,000 / $85,000 USD). The higher the investment, the greater the application.
Economic Benefit: Your business is expected to provide employment to Czech or EU nationals, bring in new technology, export products/services, etc. to the economy.
Physical Presence: You should have a physical office or business address in Czechia (a virtual office is not adequate).
Trade Licence (Zivnostensky list): You will need to obtain a trade licence for your particular business activity.
Accommodation: Evidence of secured accommodation in Czechia.
Clean Criminal Record: Since the time you have resided in your own country, as well as any country that you have been in longer than 6 months in the past 3 years.
All-inclusive Health Insurance.
The application process
Obtaining a visa in your home country, depending on your business plan, at a Czech Embassy.
On arrival in Czechia, you are required to enrol at the Foreign Police.
Once you have the first visa, you will submit an application for a Long-Term Residence Permit at the Czech Ministry of the Interior.
This permit is usually issued for one or two and it has to be renewed.
It is a lengthy process which demands an unceasing presence and assimilation.
Permanent Residence (Povoleni k trvalemu pobytu): This is available to you after 5 years of continuous legal residence in Czechia. You should also complete a Czech language test (A2 level) and demonstrate inclusion into Czech society.
Summary
Investing in a Czech business may be your way to legal residence, but it is a serious, active and long-term commitment to live and operate in the country, not a short, sharp passport-seller. A well-known Czech immigration attorney should be employed to work through this complicated procedure. In short, although investing in the Czech economy may be your legal passport to acquiring residence, that is all it is, the beginning of a long-term investment in living and running an actual business in the country, not a passport buy.
You can also view these posts:
Traveling to Czechia: Visa requirements
Living in Czechia
Preparing for the immigration interview in Czechia
