To renew a long-term residence permit in Czechia, you need comprehensive health insurance (komplexní zdravotní pojištění) with coverage of at least EUR 400,000 per insured event, valid for the entire period of the requested stay. A standard travel policy or a "basic" plan covering only emergency and urgent care (nutná a neodkladná péče) won't work for a residence permit renewal — the migration department (OAMP) will not accept it.
Below we break down exactly which type of insurance is required in 2026, what the Ministry of the Interior (Ministerstvo vnitra) checks when you apply for renewal, which insurers offer such policies, what's included in the coverage, and how much it costs.
For long-term residence (dlouhodobý pobyt) and its renewal, the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals (No. 326/1999 Sb.) specifically requires comprehensive insurance, not a travel policy. The difference is fundamental:
Holding comprehensive insurance is one of the mandatory conditions for issuing and renewing a long-term residence permit, unless you're already covered under the public system.
When you file your renewal application, OAMP checks the insurance policy against several criteria. Current requirements for 2026:
An insurance certificate must be attached to the application; a policy taken out abroad must be submitted together with a certified translation into Czech. It's a good idea to check the required document set in advance with migration lawyers and to arrange the translation through translators.
Not all foreign nationals need a commercial komplexní policy. Many are automatically covered under the public health insurance system (veřejné zdravotní pojištění), which is cheaper and broader in scope.
| Category | Type of insurance needed |
|---|---|
| Employee under an employment contract | Public (veřejné) — registered by the employer |
| Permanent residence (trvalý pobyt) | Public (veřejné) |
| Children under 18 with long-term residence | Public — contributions paid by parents |
| Self-employed / živnostník (no employment contract) | Commercial komplexní |
| Family reunification, non-working spouse/dependent | Commercial komplexní |
| Students (not employed) | Commercial komplexní |
Check your status in advance: if you're employed under a contract, public insurance is usually already arranged by your employer, and there's no need to buy a commercial policy for the renewal. For more on how the two systems differ, see our separate guide on health insurance for foreigners in Czechia. If you're a živnostník, also check our guide on self-employed taxes and contributions.
Since 20 September 2023, PVZP's (Pojišťovna VZP) monopoly has been abolished — any company licensed in Czechia can now offer comprehensive insurance. Such policies are currently offered by, among others:
Note: these same companies also sell "basic" products covering only emergency care, and some insurers (ERGO, for instance) no longer sell comprehensive insurance for foreigners at all. Before buying, make sure the product is explicitly named komplexní zdravotní pojištění cizinců and that the limit meets the EUR 400,000 threshold. Policies differ in price, claim processing speed, availability of Russian-language assistance, and terms around pregnancy and chronic conditions — compare offers using the insurers' online calculators.
Comprehensive insurance (using PVZP's product line as an example) typically includes:
Policy terms typically range from 1 to 60 months (up to 5 years). For newborns, there's a separate supplementary "Novorozenec" plan with no waiting period. For more on managing a pregnancy, see our guide on childbirth and pregnancy in Czechia, and for a child's insurance policy, see our piece on pediatricians and children's insurance.
The exact price of a komplexní policy depends on age, term, insurer, and health status, so there's no single "price tag." Children and older adults pay more, while longer paid-up terms bring the monthly cost down.
Price is affected by:
To get an exact figure for your situation, run a quote through your chosen insurer's online calculator or through a broker, and confirm the final price before paying. Important: as of 1 January 2026, contributions to public health insurance can no longer be paid in cash — only cashless methods are accepted (bank transfer, card, QR code). This applies to self-employed individuals, people without taxable income, and parents paying contributions for their foreign-national children; it does not affect commercial komplexní policies.
Applications to renew long-term residence can be filed no earlier than 120 days before the current permit expires, and no later than its last day of validity. If filed on time, the previous permit remains valid until a final decision is issued on the application. Check the exact document list on the Ministry of the Interior's portal or with a migration lawyer.
No. Renewing a long-term residence permit requires comprehensive insurance (komplexní) with a EUR 400,000 limit. Travel insurance covers only emergency care and is not accepted.
At least EUR 400,000 per insured event, with no deductible or co-payment. The previous EUR 60,000 limit is no longer valid.
No. Since September 2023, there's no longer a monopoly. You can take out a policy with any licensed insurer — for example, PVZP, Maxima, Slavia, UNIQA, or AXA Assistance. The key requirement is that the product be genuinely komplexní.
Usually not — employees are covered under the public insurance system, arranged by their employer. Commercial komplexní insurance is needed by those who are self-employed (na živnosti), joining family members, or studying without employment.
It should cover the entire period for which you're requesting a residence permit renewal. Policies are typically issued for terms of 1 to 60 months; the longer the paid-up period, the better the monthly rate.
No earlier than 120 days before your current permit expires, and no later than its last day of validity. If filed on time, your previous permit remains valid until OAMP issues a decision.
There's no fixed rate: the price depends on age, policy term, insurer, and health status. Children and older adults pay more, and a longer paid-up term lowers the monthly cost. Your chosen insurer's online calculator will give you an exact figure.
Planning a move or applying for your first residence permit? Start with our checklist of first steps in Czechia. If you're setting up a živnost, our guide on how to open a živnost in Czechia will help, and for booking a doctor's appointment, see how to make a doctor's appointment. Our migration lawyers can help you take out a policy, prepare documents, and submit the application, while our translators can translate your certificates.
Insurance requirements and limits for foreign nationals fall under the category of important, life-affecting decisions (health and legal residence status). Before filing, double-check the current rules on the official Ministry of the Interior (Ministerstvo vnitra) portal, the OAMP website, or with your insurer — rules and amounts may be updated.
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