Family reunification in Czechia (Czech: sloučení rodiny, officially "dlouhodobý pobyt za účelem společného soužití rodiny") is a residence permit that lets you bring your spouse and minor children to join you if you're already legally living in the country. The key conditions for 2026: the sponsor must hold a valid long-term or permanent residence permit and have lived in Czechia for at least 15 months, while the family must prove sufficient income and housing.
Below we break down who's eligible to apply, what documents and translations are required, where to file, how long the ministerstvo vnitra (Ministry of the Interior) takes to decide, and why refusals are so common. We also cover the simplified regime for family members of EU citizens.
This is a type of long-term stay (over 1 year) for relatives of third-country nationals who already hold status in Czechia. The law refers to the sponsor as the "nositel sloučení" — it's to them that the family relocates. This regime doesn't apply to EU citizens and their relatives — a simpler procedure applies to them instead (see below).
The right to bring relatives over depends on the sponsor's status and how long they've lived in Czechia. The main options for 2026:
| Sponsor's status (nositel sloučení) | Minimum time in Czechia |
|---|---|
| Long-term or permanent residence permit (trvalý pobyt / dlouhodobý pobyt) | 15 months |
| Zaměstnanecká karta (employee card) | 6 months |
| Modrá karta (Blue Card), intra-corporate transfer card (ICT), or residence permit for scientific research | no minimum required |
Additionally, when spouses are reuniting, each of them must be at least 20 years old. The marriage must be valid and, as a rule, registered before the application is filed — for how to get married in Czechia, see our guide on registering a marriage.
The following can apply as part of family reunification:
The family must prove an "úhrnný měsíční příjem rodiny" — a combined monthly income sufficient to support everyone. The formula is set by law: income must be no lower than the sum of the subsistence minimums (životní minimum) of all family members plus the standard housing costs (normativní náklady na bydlení).
Important: the base životní minimum rates were revised in 2026 (with an increase effective May 1, 2026), so older sources may cite different figures. Approximate amounts for mid-2026:
| Category | Amount per month |
|---|---|
| Person living alone | CZK 5,500 |
| First adult in the household | CZK 5,000 |
| Second and each additional adult (15+, not a dependent) | CZK 3,750 |
Dependent children have their own rates depending on age. The standard housing costs are added to the subsistence minimum: for two people, the highest rate (Prague) in 2026 is CZK 18,577 per month. In practice, for a couple in Prague, the combined net income should be roughly CZK 27,000 per month, but the exact amount depends on the family's composition and region. This is just the calculation mechanism — check the current životní minimum and normativní náklady rates using the calculator on the MPSV website before applying.
Income is proven with pay slips, a tax return, or a bank statement. You'll also need a separate doklad o zajištění ubytování — a lease or property ownership document with the owner's notarized consent.
The basic set of documents for the application includes:
Foreign documents usually require an apostille or super-legalization, followed by a certified translation into Czech. Important rule: almost all documents (except the passport and photos) must not be older than 180 days at the time of filing. For details on insurance for this type of residence permit, see our separate guide on insurance for residence permit renewal.
Where you file depends on where the family member is currently located:
| Where to apply | Processing time | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Zastupitelský úřad (Czech embassy/consulate) — from abroad | up to 270 days | CZK 2,500 |
| Pracoviště ministerstva vnitra — if the applicant is already legally in Czechia | up to 60 days | CZK 2,500 (CZK 1,000 for under 15s) |
| Family of a Modrá karta / Blue Card holder | up to 90 days | CZK 2,500 |
Applications must be filed in person, and biometrics (fingerprints) are taken. Once approved, the card is issued within 60 days of the biometrics appointment. The residence permit's validity matches the sponsor's status (minimum 1 year; 2 years if the sponsor holds permanent residence).
Given the YMYL nature of this topic and the high cost of mistakes, many people turn to migration specialists for help. You can find support among our migration lawyers, while certified translations can be done by our translators.
If the sponsor is an EU citizen (in some cases, a Czech citizen as well), their relative from a third country falls under a different regime — "přechodný pobyt rodinného příslušníka občana EU" — rather than sloučení rodiny. The differences are significant: the application is filed within Czechia at any ministerstvo vnitra office within 3 months of entry, processing takes up to 60 days, and the relative is entitled to remain in the country while the application is being processed. There's no minimum residence requirement for the sponsor and no strict income threshold — it's enough to prove the family relationship (oddací list, rodný list) and housing. After 5 years (sometimes sooner in specific cases), this family member can apply for trvalý pobyt (permanent residence).
Yes, but only under special conditions: the sponsor's single parent aged 65 or older, or a parent who cannot support themselves due to their health condition. Standard reunification with healthy, working-age parents isn't provided for.
No — if you hold a zaměstnanecká karta, 6 months is enough, and with a Modrá karta, ICT card, or a residence permit for scientific research, there's no minimum period at all.
Yes, a residence permit obtained through family reunification grants free access to the labor market — no separate work permit is needed.
Yes. Foreign civil status documents must be submitted with an apostille/super-legalization and a certified translation into Czech; without one, the application won't be accepted.
From abroad — up to 270 days; for the family of a Modrá karta holder — up to 90 days; and if the applicant is already legally in Czechia — up to 60 days. These are maximum limits; in practice, a decision sometimes comes sooner.
Yes, if the family member holds a valid residence permit or another legal basis for staying in the country. In that case, the application is filed with the pracoviště ministerstva vnitra, and processing takes up to 60 days.
The decision can be challenged: for applications filed within Czechia, through an appeal (odvolání); for applications filed at a consulate, through a request for a new review of the grounds (žádost o nové posouzení důvodů). The deadline is generally 15 days from the date the decision is served; the exact procedure is always stated in the decision itself.
The životní minimum and normativní náklady na bydlení rates are updated by government regulation. Before applying, check the current figures using the calculator on the MPSV website or consult a migration lawyer to make sure your income requirement is met accurately.
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