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Route 02

Family reunification

For joining a family member who already lives legally in the Czech Republic. Fewer applicants take this route than the study route, and it demands far more patience.

Who can be reunited with whom

Czech law lets certain close family members join a person who already holds long-term or permanent residence there. The person already in the Czech Republic is the sponsor; the person applying from Nigeria is the applicant.

The relationships that generally qualify:

  • A spouse joining their husband or wife
  • A dependent minor child joining a parent
  • In defined circumstances, a dependent parent joining an adult child

Relationships outside that list (fiancés, siblings, cousins, adult children, partners who are not married) do not normally qualify under this route, however genuine the relationship is. That is one of the first things we check, because it saves people a great deal of wasted money.

What is assessed

Four things the application has to prove

Family reunification decisions turn on evidence, not sympathy. These are the four pillars, and a weakness in any one of them is what causes refusals.

1. The relationship is genuine

Marriage or birth certificates, properly legalised and translated by a court-appointed translator. Where a marriage is recent or the couple has spent long periods apart, expect the relationship itself to be examined more closely, and expect to evidence it beyond the certificate.

2. There is somewhere to live

Proof of accommodation in the Czech Republic that is adequate for the number of people who will live in it, with the owner's consent properly evidenced. A tenancy in the sponsor's name alone is often not sufficient on its own.

3. The household can support itself

Combined household income has to clear a threshold set by Czech law, which scales with the number of people in the household. This is arithmetic, not judgement, and it is where applications most often fail. We calculate it before you apply, not after.

4. Health cover and good standing

Compliant health insurance for the applicant, plus a criminal record extract from Nigeria, legalised and translated. Straightforward on paper, but both have validity windows. Obtain them too early and they expire before the decision.

The hardest part is the waiting

You should go into this route knowing that Czech law allows a substantially longer statutory decision period for family reunification than for study applications, and in practice that period is routinely used in full. This is the single biggest difference between the two routes.

For families, that is genuinely hard. It can mean a spouse or a parent waiting many months with little visible movement, and no meaningful way to speed it up. We will give you the current statutory limits for your case at the consultation, rather than an encouraging estimate that falls apart in month five.

What we do during the wait

  • Track validity windows, so nothing in your file expires before the decision lands
  • Respond promptly to any request for additional information. These carry deadlines, and missing one can end the application
  • Keep both the applicant in Nigeria and the sponsor in the Czech Republic informed at the same time
  • Prepare the arrival steps in advance, so nothing is improvised once approval comes

Two people, two countries, one adviser

Family cases are the clearest reason our Czech and Nigerian numbers both exist. The sponsor can reach us on +420 776 708 423 in the Czech Republic and the applicant on +234 806 571 5680 in Nigeria, without either of them relaying messages through the other, and without waiting for a time zone to line up.

After approval

Arrival is not the finish line

A residence permit comes with obligations, and the first one has a three-working-day clock on it. We walk you through each of these.

  1. Register with the Foreign Police

    Required within a short window of arrival (generally three working days) unless your accommodation provider registers you. Missing it starts your residence with a compliance problem.

    First 3 working days

  2. Biometrics and residence card

    Attend the Ministry of the Interior to give biometrics and collect your biometric residence permit card, which is your actual proof of status.

    First weeks

  3. Health insurance transition

    The cover that satisfied the visa stage is often not the cover you need as a resident. Getting this wrong creates both a legal and a financial exposure.

    On arrival

  4. Practical set-up

    Bank account, registering with a doctor, school places for children, and understanding what you must report to the authorities and when.

    First months

Family visits

Inviting your parents to the Czech Republic

As a resident of the Czech Republic, you can invite your parents for a short-term visit. This is different from family reunification: it is a temporary visit visa, not permanent relocation. The process is straightforward if you follow the steps carefully.

Key facts about parent visit visas

  • Visa duration: Short-term visit visas are typically valid for 90 days within any 180-day period (Schengen rules)
  • Not permanent: This is temporary family visiting, not permanent relocation. For permanent family reunification, see the family reunification section above
  • Your role: As the Czech resident/student, you are the "sponsor" providing the invitation letter and proof of support
  • Cost to you: You must demonstrate sufficient income to support your parents during their visit. Your salary/stipend and accommodation must be proven
  • Processing time: Typically 2-3 weeks from appointment to visa decision
  • Appointment booking: Opens on the 15th of each month for the Czech Embassy in Abuja. Slots fill quickly

Step 1: Get an invitation letter from Foreign Police

Where: Czech Foreign Police Office (Olšanská 2176, Praha 3)
Booking: portal.gov.cz/formulare/epozvani

  • Documents you need to bring:
    • Code generated from the booking portal
    • Your passport
    • Your Czech residence card (or long-term visa)
    • Your house lease or accommodation proof
    • Recent bank ATM receipt showing your balance
    • Your ATM/debit card (original for verification)
    • 300 CZK in stamps per invited person (for the invitation letter fee)
  • Important: The invitation letter is official proof that you are inviting your parents and can support them financially
  • Useful links:

Step 2: Book visa appointment at Czech Embassy, Abuja

When: Booking opens 15th of each month
Where: mzv.gov.cz/abuja

  • Send email to Czech Embassy with:
    • Scan of first page of each parent's passport
    • Copy of your Czech residence card
    • The original invitation letter from Foreign Police
    • A clear subject line with passport numbers
  • Sample email template: State your parents' full names, dates of birth, passport numbers, purpose (family visit), and your contact information. Confirm you understand they must appear in person for biometric data
  • Response time: Embassy usually replies within 1-2 days with appointment date and time
  • Instructions: Full booking instructions available at mzv.gov.cz/abuja visa appointments

Step 3: Prepare and send required documents

What you send via courier before the appointment:
The original invitation letter must be sent by courier (not scanned). Your parents cannot complete their appointment without it.

  • Documents to send to your parents in Nigeria:
    • Original invitation letter (via courier only)
    • Copy of your house/apartment lease or accommodation contract
    • Copy of your employment contract (if working) or student registration
    • Copy of your employment ID or residence card
    • 3 months of stamped bank statements from a Czech bank showing your regular income
    • Travel health insurance (can purchase from AXA or other providers - minimum coverage)
    • Return flight reservation
    • Hotel reservation or confirmation of accommodation during their stay
    • Salary slips (additional proof of your financial means)
    • Completed Harmonised Schengen visa application form (filled and signed)
  • Important: Your parents must receive these documents in time to prepare for their appointment
  • Use professional courier: DHL, FedEx or similar services. Track delivery to ensure arrival

Step 4: Parents attend visa appointment in Abuja

When: On their scheduled appointment date
Where: Czech Embassy in Abuja
Important Link: Official short-term visa requirements

  • Documents they must bring from Nigeria:
    • Valid Nigerian passport
    • Photocopy of first page of passport
    • 1 passport photograph with white background (4x6cm approximately)
    • Copy of marriage certificate (if married)
    • Copy of birth certificate or declaration of age
    • Personal bank statement (optional, but useful extra proof)
    • Visa fee: 80 EUR in Nigerian Naira (exchange rate applies on day of payment, cash only)
  • At the appointment: Your parents will be asked about their visit, your relationship, and their finances. Be honest and direct in answers
  • Biometric data: They will provide fingerprints and possibly a second photo
  • Passport: They will surrender their passport for visa processing (usually 5-10 working days)

Step 5: Collect visa and book travel

Collection: Usually on a Friday (specific date given at appointment)
Alternative: Use DHL to collect and send the passport if travel to embassy again is difficult

  • After visa approval: Your parents can now book their flights to Czech Republic
  • DHL option: If your parents cannot travel back to Abuja for collection, the embassy can arrange DHL pickup (you coordinate and pay)
  • Visa validity: Check the exact dates on the visa (typically 90 days within 180 days)
  • Multiple entry: Short-term visas may be single or multiple entry depending on the decision

Step 6: Your parents arrive and register

Within 3 days of arrival: They must register at the Foreign Police
Registration form available at: Czech Police website

  • Where to register: Your local Foreign Police office (no appointment needed, just walk in with a queue ticket)
  • Address for Prague: Olšanská 2176, Praha 3
  • Documents to bring:
    • Their valid passport and visa
    • Medical insurance
    • The original invitation letter
  • Form: Available to fill at the Foreign Police office itself
  • Important: Registration is compulsory. Failure to register can result in fines or visa complications

Common questions about parent visits

  • How long can they stay? Short-term visas allow 90 days in any 180-day period. They must leave before the 90 days expires or face overstay penalties.
  • Can they extend the visa? Generally, short-term visas cannot be extended in the Czech Republic. If they need longer, they must return to Nigeria and apply for a new visa.
  • What if they want to stay longer? They could apply for long-term residence on a different basis (family reunification, if eligible), but that is a separate, much longer process.
  • Do they need travel insurance? Yes, absolutely. It is a mandatory Schengen requirement. Cost is roughly 20-30 EUR for 2-3 weeks.
  • What if my parents are retired? They still need to show proof of sufficient funds to support themselves during the visit. Pension statements work well for this.
  • Can I support them financially? Yes, that is the point of the invitation letter. Your income and accommodation are evidence of your ability to host them.
  • What if the visa is refused? The embassy will give reasons in writing. Common reasons are insufficient proof of your financial capacity or insufficient ties to Nigeria (implying overstay risk). We can advise on reapplication.

Find out where you actually stand

Book a consultation and get a straight answer on whether your plan is realistic, what it will cost, and how long it will take, before you spend money on it.

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