FAQ

1. Who can use the Welcome Office, and what can you help with?

We support international students, doctoral candidates, staff and visitors at Palacký University Olomouc. We can help you find your way around the university and the city, navigate residence procedures, explore accommodation options and access relevant services. If another department is better placed to answer your question, we will help you find the right contact.

2. Where can I find you, and what should I include in my email?

You can visit us at Vodární 6 in Olomouc or email welcome@upol.cz. Please include your name, faculty or department, and a brief explanation of your situation. For residence enquiries, also tell us your nationality, the type and expiry date of your current visa or residence permit, your intended length of stay, and any official deadline you need to meet. Our current opening hours are available on our website.

3. Who should I contact about admissions, courses, Learning Agreements and Erasmus+?

Contact your faculty or study office about admissions, enrolment, courses and confirmation of studies. Your faculty or institutional coordinator handles Learning Agreements and mobility administration. The Welcome Office can help you identify the right contact and guide you through related practical matters.

1. What should I arrange before arriving in Olomouc?

Check the entry and residence requirements for your nationality, arrange accommodation and make sure you have suitable health insurance. Prepare your travel document, study or employment documents, and any required originals, certifications and translations. Confirm your arrival arrangements with your accommodation provider and follow the instructions from your faculty or host department.

2. Do I need a visa or a long-term residence permit?

This depends on your nationality, the purpose of your stay and how long you plan to stay. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa. Other nationals generally need a long-term visa or residence permit for study stays exceeding 90 days. A long-term visa allows a stay of up to one year; a long-term residence permit is usually more suitable for studies lasting several years.

3. Can I study in the Czech Republic with a residence permit from another EU country?

Not necessarily for the full duration of your studies. A valid residence permit from another Schengen country generally allows a short stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Certain study mobility programmes qualify for a special arrangement allowing a stay of up to one year. Your foreign study permit must meet the relevant conditions, including an endorsement referring to the mobility or exchange programme, and remain valid. Contact us before you arrive so we can help you check your document and programme.

4. Do I need to register my address after arriving?

Nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland generally need to report their place of stay to the Foreign Police within three working days of arrival, unless this requirement has already been fulfilled through their accommodation provider. According to the Czech Police, EU citizens planning to stay for more than 30 days must register within 30 days, with the same exception for registration through an accommodation provider. A separate procedure applies if you are arriving to collect a residence permit; see question 8.

5. I am arriving with a D/VR visa. What do I need to do?

Register at a Ministry of the Interior office within 30 calendar days of arrival. Bring your travel document. During registration, you will arrange the next steps for biometric data collection and collecting your residence card. These steps may require more than one visit. Different registration deadlines apply if you enter the country to collect a residence permit without a D/VR visa.

6. Does staying in a university dormitory cover all my registration requirements?

Dormitories normally fulfil the accommodation provider’s obligation to report your stay to the Foreign Police; check with your accommodation provider that this has been done. You are still responsible for any other residence requirements. In particular, if you arrive with a D/VR visa, you must complete the relevant procedure at the Ministry of the Interior in person.

7. What is the difference between the Foreign Police and the Ministry of the Interior, and where are they?

The Foreign Police handle, among other matters, registration after arrival. Their Olomouc office is at Smetanova 814/14. The Ministry of the Interior (MOI), whose immigration offices are commonly referred to as OAMP, handles long-term residence permits, extensions, changes and biometrics. Its Olomouc office is at třída Kosmonautů 989/8. Check the current opening hours and appointment arrangements before visiting.

1. How do I book a Ministry of the Interior appointment, and what if no slots are available?

For services available online, use the reservation system at ipc.gov.cz, or call +420 974 801 801. Make sure you book the correct type of appointment. Booking a visit does not count as submitting an application, and a lack of available appointments does not extend your legal deadline. If the deadline is approaching, use a submission method permitted for your application or contact the office promptly.

2. Is submitting an application the same as attending biometrics, and can I reschedule my biometric appointment?

Submitting your application and having your biometric data taken are separate steps. You must attend your biometric appointment in person and bring your travel document. If you cannot attend, ask the Ministry of the Interior for a new appointment in advance, following its instructions. The Welcome Office can explain the process, but the Ministry must confirm any change.

3. What documents do I usually need for a student residence application?

You will usually need an application form, a travel document, confirmation of studies, proof of accommodation, evidence of sufficient funds and, where required, a photograph. When and how you provide proof of health insurance depends on the application type and stage of the procedure. Some applications require additional documents, such as parental consent or a criminal record certificate. Always follow the checklist for your specific application.

4. Do foreign documents need a certified translation and an apostille?

Documents in languages other than Czech or Slovak generally need a certified translation into Czech. Foreign public documents may also require an apostille or superlegalisation, depending on the issuing country, the type of document and any applicable exemption. A translation does not replace the required authentication. Check the requirements before arranging these services.

5. Is a scanned accommodation agreement sufficient as proof of accommodation?

For a paper submission, you generally need the original document or a certified copy; an ordinary scan is not sufficient. A confirmation of accommodation must also meet the applicable requirements concerning the person issuing it and their signature. For applications submitted in the Czech Republic, your accommodation provider may be able to send an electronic confirmation directly to the Ministry, subject to the relevant conditions.

6. How much money do I need to show, and how can I prove that I have it?

The required amount depends on the type and length of your stay and your age. The Ministry of the Interior’s current example for a standard one-year study stay for an adult is CZK 115,810. You can usually provide a bank statement; in eligible cases, a scholarship or a commitment to cover your costs may also be accepted. Check the current calculation and acceptable evidence before applying.

7. When should I apply to extend my residence permit?

For an extension of a long-term residence permit for studies, you can apply no earlier than 120 days before it expires and no later than its final day of validity. Start preparing well in advance. Long-term visas follow a different procedure and application window; a visa cannot be extended beyond a total stay of one year.

8. What if a document is missing and my residence permit is about to expire?

If you are eligible to apply to extend your long-term residence permit, do not miss the deadline because a supporting document is missing. You may submit an incomplete application and provide the missing documents later, following the Ministry’s instructions. Check which submission methods are permitted and keep proof of submission. The exact procedure depends on your residence status.

9. How can I check my application status, and what should I do if I receive a letter from the Ministry?

Check your application status at ipc.gov.cz using your application reference number. Respond promptly to any request for additional documents or other official correspondence, and meet the stated deadline. If you do not understand a letter, contact us and tell us when it was delivered. Check mail sent to your delivery address regularly, as well as your Czech Data Box if you have one.

10. Can I travel outside the Czech Republic while my extension is being processed?

This depends on the validity of your documents and whether you have the legal right to remain while your application is pending, known as the fiction of residence. Permission to remain in the Czech Republic during the procedure does not itself replace the document needed to re-enter. If your current document will expire, contact the Ministry about a bridging visa before travelling, and check the entry requirements of your destination and any transit countries.

11. What do I need to report if I move or receive a new passport?

Holders of a long-term visa or long-term residence permit must report a change of address within 30 days if they intend to stay at the new address for more than 30 days. A change of travel document must be reported within three working days. Prepare the relevant form and supporting documents. Different conditions may apply to EU citizens, permanent residents and temporary protection holders.

12. How will changing university, interrupting my studies or graduating affect my residence status?

These changes may affect whether you continue to meet the purpose of your residence permit. Contact us before a planned change and check with the Ministry whether you need to provide new confirmation, report a change or apply for a different residence permit. After your studies end, do not assume that the date printed on your card alone guarantees your right to stay. If you meet the conditions, a residence permit for seeking employment may be an option.

1. How can I arrange a dormitory room or private accommodation?

For university dormitories, follow the instructions from UP Accommodation and Dining Services for your study or mobility category. For exchange students, the relevant coordinator may arrange the reservation. Private accommodation is arranged directly with the provider. Before paying, check the offer, the contract terms and whether you can obtain valid proof of accommodation. We can help you understand the available options.

2. What health insurance do I need, and is insurance from another country sufficient?

This depends on your residence status and insurance coverage. A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) provides access to medically necessary care through the public healthcare system under the applicable conditions. Many non-EU nationals staying long term need comprehensive health insurance unless a legal exemption applies. Do not assume that a foreign policy is sufficient: check whether it is accepted and provides the required coverage throughout your stay.

3. How can I find a doctor, and what should I do in an emergency?

Your insurer’s assistance service can help you find a healthcare provider covered by your policy. Healthcare contacts are also available on the Welcome Office website. Before a routine visit, check appointment arrangements, the language spoken and how payment is handled. Bring identification and proof of insurance. In a serious medical emergency, call 155 or the European emergency number 112.

4. My ISIC card, university email, UP Portal or IS/STAG is not working. Who should I contact?

Report technical problems through the UP Helpdesk. For card issues, choose the category for identification cards and ISIC/ITIC. Describe the problem and, if helpful, attach a screenshot without passwords. If the issue is related to your enrolment not yet being processed, also contact your study office or coordinator.

5. Can I work or take a part-time job while studying?

This depends on your nationality, residence status and study programme. EU citizens and, for example, students enrolled full time in accredited university degree programmes have free access to the labour market. Non-EU nationals must also maintain a valid right of residence and continue to meet its conditions. If you are studying in another format, check the rules before starting work.

6. I am joining UP as an international employee or researcher. Who can help me get started?

The Welcome Office can help you settle in, navigate residence procedures and find practical information about life in Olomouc. Contact Human Resources and your host department about your employment contract, salary, statutory contributions and the arrangements for starting work. Together, we can help you identify the steps and documents relevant to your situation.

1. What are Orientation Days, and which programme should I attend?

Orientation Days introduce university systems, residence requirements, support services and life in Olomouc. Choose the programme that matches your study category and follow the instructions from your faculty or coordinator; Erasmus+ students and some faculties may have separate programmes. Check the relevant invitation for dates, the language of the programme and registration details.

2. Where can I find your events, and how do I register?

We publish upcoming events on the Welcome Office website and social media. Each event listing explains who it is for, whether registration is required and whether there is a participation fee. Follow the instructions on the page for the activity you would like to attend.

3. I have registered for a workshop but can no longer attend. What should I do?

Please let us know as soon as possible, or cancel using the instructions in your registration confirmation. Once you register, we expect you to attend, and cancelling promptly allows someone else to take your place. For workshop series, check the specific attendance and certificate requirements, as these vary between activities.

4. Where can I find support if I feel overwhelmed, lonely or find it difficult to settle in?

You can contact the Welcome Office for help finding suitable support. UP offers psychological and psychotherapeutic counselling, with options depending on your faculty, study category, preferred language and provider. Supportive workshops, such as Find Your Way, can also help you navigate change and stress. Check availability and any fees with the relevant service.

5. Who are the Welcome Office ambassadors, and how can I get involved?

Our ambassadors are students who share their experiences, help others find their feet, contribute to community life and represent the university. If you are interested in becoming an ambassador, visit the Ambassador Programme page and application form, or email us. We will let you know about the next steps.

6. What is the Mobility Tandem Programme, and how can I join?

The Mobility Tandem Programme, part of the INSIGHT project, connects students to exchange experiences and offer peer support for international mobility. If you are interested, email the Welcome Office to find out who can join and how to apply. Dates, participation requirements and any certificate are set out in the relevant call for participants.

7. Where can I learn Czech?

Options include university Czech courses for international students, language courses and classes offered by integration organisations in Olomouc. Choose a course that suits your level, timetable and goals, including whether you need academic credits or preparation for an exam. The Welcome Office website provides an overview; check current conditions and fees with the course provider.