Move to Czechia

Heart of Central Europe, with fairy-tale towns, forests and serious beer

Czechia has no general digital nomad visa. The government Digital Nomad Program fast-tracks IT and marketing specialists from 13 countries who earn at least 1.5 times the Czech average wage. Other freelancers can use the business (trade-licence) long-term visa, but it's slow and some embassies limit it with quotas.

Routes we checked
3
Digital nomad visa
Yes
Budget from
$1,870 a month
Language
Czech
Currency
CZK
Last checked
30 October 2026

Digital nomad visaStudent visaFreelancer and self-employed

Ways to live in Czechia

These are the residence routes in Bordr's guide that we have checked against official sources. Each one links to the government page.

Programme details are shown in English.

Digital nomad visa Digital nomad visas →

Digital Nomad Program (Ministry of Industry and Trade)

A government program for highly skilled IT and marketing specialists who are citizens of Australia, Brazil, India, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, the USA or Taiwan. It guarantees you can file a long-term visa application at a Czech embassy and get a decision within 45 days.

What you need
An employee of a foreign company with 50+ staff, or a freelancer with a Czech trade licence for IT or marketing, earning at least 73,823 koruna gross a month (1.5 times the Czech average wage, May 2026 to April 2027). You also need a STEM or marketing degree or 3+ years of IT experience, and no Czech long-term visa or permit in the past year.
Income
from about $3,470 a month
How long
Long-term visa for up to 1 year, then a long-term residence permit can be requested in Czechia
Renewable
Yes
Cost
No program fee; the standard long-term visa fee applies (5,000 koruna for the business visa used by freelancers)
Processing time
Visa decision within 45 days of filing
How to apply
Email the form and attachments to digitalnomad@mpo.gov.cz. Once admitted, apply in person for a long-term visa at the Czech embassy, then register with the foreign police within 3 working days of arrival.
Family
Family members can come with you
Path to permanent residence
Before the visa expires, participants apply for a long-term residence permit for the same purpose (family members for family purposes). Admission to the program does not guarantee a visa.

Official page

Student visa Student visas →

Long-term residence permit for study

For students admitted to an accredited Czech university programme or to a preparatory language or professional course at a public university. Lets you live in Czechia for the length of your studies and travel around the Schengen area.

What you need
Confirmation of enrolment from the school, proof of funds for the stay, proof of accommodation, comprehensive health insurance, passport and photo. Applying from abroad you also need a criminal record certificate, and parental consent if under 18.
How long
Usually 1 year, up to 2 years in some cases
Renewable
Yes
Cost
2,500 koruna for the application and for each extension
Processing time
60 days
How to apply
In person at a Czech embassy or consulate (in your country of citizenship or long-term residence), or at a Ministry of the Interior office in Czechia if you already hold a long-term visa or permit.
Path to permanent residence
Can be extended repeatedly, up to 2 years at a time, while you continue a university degree; a preparatory course permit can be extended only once. Students may work without a separate work permit.

Official page

Freelancer and self-employed Freelancer and self-employed visas →

Long-term visa for the purpose of doing business (trade licence / živnostenský list)

Long-term visa for third-country nationals who will do business in Czechia, e.g. as self-employed with a trade licence or as a company director.

What you need
Registration in the Trade Licensing or Commercial Register, proof of accommodation, proof of funds, criminal record certificate, passport and photo. Comprehensive health insurance must be shown before the visa is issued.
How long
Up to 1 year in total, including extensions; longer stays require a long-term residence permit
Renewable
Yes
Cost
5,000 koruna consular fee; extension 1,000 koruna
Processing time
Up to 90 days (120 in complex cases)
How to apply
In person at a Czech embassy in your country of citizenship or of 2+ years' legal residence; some embassies apply quotas for this visa. Register with the Foreign Police within 3 working days of arrival.
Family
Family members can come with you
Path to permanent residence
After the visa you can apply in Czechia for a long-term residence permit for business purposes.

Official page

Cost of living

Monthly amounts in US dollars.

Room in a shared flat$500
One-bedroom flat$690
Two-bedroom flat$1,120
Bills$250
Typical local salary$1,550
Budget for one person$1,870

Cities to consider

Climate by month, neighbourhoods and costs for each city are in the Bordr guide.

What life is like

Programme details are shown in English.

Why people move

Prague offers a stunning historic centre, cheap public transport and lively neighbourhoods like Vinohrady and Žižkov. Brno is younger and more relaxed, and the countryside is full of castles, hiking trails and spa towns.

Day to day

Trains and buses connect towns well and cheaply. Healthcare is good through public insurance, though English-speaking doctors take effort to find. Cards and contactless are standard, internet is fine, and Czech is needed for official matters.

Trade-offs

Bureaucracy and the immigration office are notoriously slow. Czech is a hard language, locals can seem reserved, and winters are long and grey.

Before you move: visa-free entry

Most people arrive as visitors first, then apply from inside the country or come back with the right visa. How long you can stay as a visitor depends on your passport:

Visa rules for every passport

Questions

Does Czechia have a digital nomad visa?

Yes. Czechia offers: Digital Nomad Program (Ministry of Industry and Trade).

How much money do I need to live in Czechia?

A single person can live on from about $1,870 a month. A one-bedroom flat costs about $690 a month.

How can I move to Czechia?

The routes we have checked are: Digital nomad visa, Student visa, Freelancer and self-employed.

When was this information checked?

The residence routes for Czechia were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.

Sources and last check

Residence routes for Czechia were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026.

This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm with the official government page or a licensed adviser before you apply.

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