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Changes to the Act on the Residence of Foreigners

We have prepared an overview of the most important changes introduced by the amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals. The changes are effective from 2nd August 2021.

 

HEALTH INSURANCE IN THE SCOPE OF COMPREHENSIVE CARE

Comprehensive health insurance of foreigners may now be arranged exclusively with Pojišťovna VZP, a.s. If you already have insurance with another insurance company (concluded before 2nd August 2021), it remains valid and you do not need to conclude a new contract. The amendment will affect you when you extend your residence permit and arrange new insurance.

As of 2nd August 2021, the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals stipulates that foreigners who enter the Czech Republic to stay there for more than 90 days are obliged to arrange travel health insurance in the scope of comprehensive health care within 90 days from entering the CR.

The obligation does not apply to foreigners who are members of public health insurance, foreigners whose health care costs are covered based on an international agreement, and holders of valid EHIC and GHIC health insurance cards. Furthermore, this obligation does not apply to citizens of the European Union and their close family members.

For a period of 5 years from the entry into effect of the amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals (that is from 2nd August 2021 to 2nd August 2026), it will be possible to arrange travel health insurance in the scope of comprehensive health care as required by the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals exclusively with Pojišťovna VZP, a.s.(PVZP).

Foreigners may arrange insurance on-line on the website of Pojišťovna VZP, a.s. All documents, including the insurance card and confirmation of payment, will be delivered to their email address.
 

What to do if you are insured with PVZP and need to see a doctor?

Contact the AXA Assistance service and follow their instructions. The service is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The operators speak Czech as well as English, Polish, and Russian, they have an up-to-date list of contracted doctors and medical facilities, and if necessary, they can for example give the medical facility a guarantee of reimbursement. You can find the contact information for the assistance service on your insurance card.

Up-to-date information: The insurance company covers all medical care provided in connection with the coronavirus in more than 5,000 contracted medical facilities in the Czech Republic. It also pays for tests to detect COVID-19 prescribed by a doctor or a public health office.

 

HEALTH INSURANCE OF CHILDREN BORN IN THE CR 

Children born in the CR to parents with a long-term residence permit are insured within the public health insurance system during the first 60 days of their life. After that, their parents arrange comprehensive health insurance for them.

A child born in the CR to a mother with a long-term residence permit is now also insured within the public insurance system. However, the child is insured within the public health insurance system only for a limited period of time, i.e. from the date of birth until the end of the calendar month in which the child reaches the age of 60 days. Insurance premiums for the child are paid by the child’s legal guardian (usually a parent). The birth of the child needs to be reported within 8 days to the health insurance company with which the mother is insured. If the child’s mother is not insured within the Czech public health insurance system, the child is insured by the health insurance company of the father. If neither parent is insured within the public health insurance system, the birth of the child shall be reported to the General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Republic (VZP). More information, including how to register a child, can be found on the website of VZP.

After that it is necessary to arrange commercial health insurance for the child! 

More information in Czech is also available on the website of the Ministry of Health of the CR.

The following applies temporarily: Women with commercial health insurance arranged with another health insurance company (concluded before 2nd August 2021) are recommended but not obliged to arrange supplementary insurance for antenatal and obstetric care. The minimum insurance period is usually 12 months. Be sure to take note of insurance waiting periods!

 

CHANGES RELATING TO EU CITIZENS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS

  • The temporary residence permit document for EU citizens is changing – it will now be replaced by a “registration certificate”.
  • A new application fee.

EU citizens and their family members now have to pay a fee of CZK 200 in the form of a stamp for the submission of a residence application.

The fee applies to the following applications:

  • Application for a registration certificate of an EU citizen,
  • Application for a temporary residence permit for a family member of an EU citizen,
  • Application for an extension of the validity of a residence card or a residence permit card of a family member of an EU citizen,
  • Application for a permanent residence permit of EU citizens and their family members,
  • Application for a change in the residence document of EU citizens and their family members

Administrative fees are collected in the form of fee stamps. They cannot be paid in cash or by payment cards, as there are no cash desks or card payment terminals at the offices of the Ministry of the Interior .

  • The definition of a family member and the rules for applying for temporary residence for family members of EU citizens are changing.

More information is available at the website of the Ministry of the Interior of the CR.