SUBJECT:  Renewing a Residency Permit
in the Czech Republic ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
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(Applicable official Websites are given, below.)
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I believe it is safe to say that last year's small ordeal
has become this year's medium-to-large ordeal.


I will tell you what I needed to get the NEW "sticker"
in my passport, and you can add this to your "store
of information", should you be in a similar situation soon.
(The old green Prukaz books are no longer used.
You will not have them returned to you after renewal.)

If  I mis-remembered something, I'm sorry.
If my circumstances differ from yours, perhaps the
general information will help you to ask BETTER
questions, wherever you must go. The entire process
took me the better part of 6 weeks to accomplish.
The search-time (processing periods-) for some
documents is unbelievable (by western standards)
at some of the bureaucracies, here in Prague.

I STRONGLY suggest you find a Czech citizen
to help you with reading lists, making phonecalls,
pleading with bureaucrats and running errands on
days when you simply can't get time off of work.

A VERY FEW of the bureaucrats speak English or
German, and then VERY poorly.

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>>>> OF EXTREME IMPORTANCE:
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You MUST now start EXTRA early
to renew your visa !!!!!  (READ why BELOW)

You may (i.e., SHOULD) attempt to renew your visa
(at the Foreign Police office) ONE MONTH before it
expires.  You MAY NOT do so ANY earlier !!

At that time you will have ONLY 14 days to succeed
(or fail).


(When you are 14 days out from the expiration date, it is
ALREADY TOO LATE to renew it.  This is a MAJOR
CHANGE in the law from last year, when you used to
be able to register up to the actual expiration date,
if you paid a fine for waiting so long !!!  NOW this
"pre-grace" period is DEAD.)  If you arrive at the
Foreign Police office, exactly 14 days before your
renewal.... you can expect (most probably) to be told
that you must return to your HOME country to start
the registration process from the beginning,
via the Czech Embassy or Consulate or Trade Mission
there.  (And the requirements are HEFTY for
New teachers coming here, which you will then,
once again, be treated as.)

It is theoretically possible to get an extention if you
are waiting for documentation to arrive from another
government agency, but it's best to start early,
so you don't have to keep going to the Foreign Police,
AND, because they can (quite easily) refuse to give you
an extension OR require new documents when you return
3 months later.

BE AWARE:   That MOST documents have either a
3-month or 6-month MAXIMUM validity period.
That means, if they are older than their validity period,
they are absolutely NOT acceptable to the Foreign Police.
(Ask about these things, when you go to pick up the
new forms at the Foreign Police.)

CERTAINLY, there will be more changes in procedures,
both during this year and over the next several years,
as the Czech Republic struggles to meet EU-membership
requirements (and they seem to get half of it wrong the
first time).  In addition, there is a ongoing habit of
changing their internal procedures and the aceptable forms
(which they themselves issue) with absolutely no warning
or official notification sent to any of the foreign embassies here.


(Franz Kafka would be damned proud of his homeland.)


ALSO:
I'm SURE that the Foreign Police in Brno do things just
a little bit differently from those in Prague or Telc or
Olomouc, so ask in your local area......
.......to find out the "real deal" for you.

Have I scared you enough for one day?
(Then go use the toilet and come back.)
Here comes the real terror.
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My recent experiences (this month) in
RENEWING A RESIDENCY PERMIT
in the Czech Republic (as someone who has
a independent trader's license (Zivnostenske List):
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        I needed the following documents:
        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


1.  Evidence to prove where I lived:

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    a.)  a completed Rental Certificate Form (from the
    Foreign Police), with the landlady's notarized signature.

    (NOTE:  "notarized" signature)

    b.  An excerpt from the Title Deeds Office,
    showing who actually owns the apartment.

    c.  Because the property isn't directly owned
    by my landlady because she is a member of
    a housing cooperative (i.e., it's then, technically,
    a sub-let) I needed permission from the owner,
    (the board of directors of the coop) in the form
    of a letter or other document, with an original
    signature (i.e., no photocopy of her co-op contract
    that says "subletting is okay" would be acceptable.)

    d.  Because my landlady is in America this year,
     I needed her mother's signature (as representative)
    AND a certified copy of the power-of -attorney
    document, authorizing her signature as representative.

    e.  If the landlord had been a company (not a person
    or a cooperative), then I would have also needed an
     excerpt from the commercial registry (not more than
    3 months old), to show that it is a legitimate and
    properly-registered company.

2.   Criminal Records Check (Czech Republic only)
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        This you get from the courthouse, but you must have
        your original birth certificate (or a notarized copy)
        and a Czech translation, stamped by a court-
        approved translator.  (Like you needed last year.)

        I've also heard that ALL "incoming folks" (who are
        arriving for the first time) now need such a criminal
        records check from their own country, too.
        In the states, this means an FBI name-check.
        (Contact the Czech Embassy in your own country for
        details.  Hopefully they can help you.)

        Renewing people SHOULD NOT need such a check
        (from their own country)....however, one American
        said he was told to get one, and he's been here 5 years.
        (I told him to go back immediately again, to a new clerk
        see if she accepts his paperwork without it.)


3.   The NEW residency permit application form
        (4 pages long) and 3 passport photos.


4.   What I specifically needed because of
        my Independent Trader status:
        (i.e, because I have a Zivnostensky List)

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        a.   an excerpt from the commercial registry
                (Obchodni rejstrik).  The same as last year.

        b.  A statement that my Zivnostensky List was "active"
            (from the district's Zivnostensky urad)
                The same as last year.

        c.  A NEW document called "Osvedceni" (Hooks on the
            first "e" and on the "c", and a long "i"), from the same
            Zivnostensky urad. (Check the dates especially closely.
            I had to go here twice because of their mistakes.)


        d.  A new tax form showing that you paid your CZ income
            taxes for 1999.  (Obtainable at the Finance Office)


        e.  A new tax form showing that you have paid your CZ
            social security taxes for 1999.  (Obtainable at the Social
            Service office.)

         f.    A ONE-YEAR health insurance contract-- one
        which is acceptable to the Foreign Police.  I didn't want
        to take a chance, so I bought the official state insurance
        (General Health and Insurance Company of the Czech
        Republic, which, in Czech, is:  VZP CR).  It was, of course,
        automatically accepted.  (All others need to be
        translated into Czech and approved by the Foreign Police,
        so figure how long it will take to have your expats insurance
        policy clear that hurdle, and make a choice.

        It costs about 26,000 crowns (up front!) in cash. I think
        they'll learn to accept major credit cards later this year.
        (If you buy the tourist's plan, for half-price, I would expect
        the Foreign Police to NOT accept it, since you aren't here
        as a tourist, but a worker.  Keep this in mind, when the
        helpful insurance clerk volunteers this "cost-cutting" info.)


5.    A letter from my bank certifying that I have at least
        106,500 crowns on deposit to live on in emergencies.
        We also heard (but too late to try) that you can present
        a major credit card, as proof of your ability to cover your
        own living expenses (as a substitute for this bank letter).
        Ask the Czech officials, if you are interested in this option.



6.  If you have an employer,
you will NOT need this insurance (above) , BUT you WILL
need a valid work permit, which your employer should
(ideally) aid you in getting  AND you need a statement
from your employer (or his insurer) as to which insurance
company you are covered by.

7.   Additional Information for the prudent man

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Foreigners can only be given one-year visas (ironically called
"long-term" visas, by the Police), unless they marry a Czech
citizen, in which case they will get "permanent visas" (which are
probably not really permanent).

HOWEVER.... you will ONLY be given the time FROM the
moment the visa is approved TILL the earliest of these dates:

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''''''''''''
  (re-read the last sentence, please).       '''''''''''''

1.      365 days (i.e. one-year) from then
2.       the end of your current rental contract
3.       the end of your current work permit (which means
            the end of your current labor contract, as written)
4.        the end of the one-year insurance policy (if you had
            to buy one, because you are self-employed)
5.        the expiration date of ANY other required document
            (but most of them have none, so don't start worrying.)
**********************************************

I think that's all.  Maybe something on this list has already been
changed at the Foreign Police in your district.  Please ASK
at the Foreign Police Office before starting and
BE ALERT to:

    Dates on all documents.  (Are they incorrect or too old ?)
    Addresses on all documents (Are they incorrect ?)
    Almost ALL other facts on documents (Are they correct?)
    Signatures  (Should they be Notartized?)
    Backup proof of ownership/permission  (Do you have ALL?)
    Deadlines (can you finish 14 days BEFORE your visa expires?)
    Validity Periods (Will documents you get 4,5,6,7 months before
        your re-registration STILL be valid, when you turn them in?)
    Contacts with the expat community and your embassy  (Do you
            have any?  It might be a damned good time to find some.)

For the official version (with minimal information) see:
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http://www.czech.cz/washington

http://www.mvcr.cz

http://www.usembassy.cz


Good Luck.