New insurance policy for foreigners!

From August 2, 2021, the amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals is effective, bringing a new insurance policy: obligation to take out travel medical insurance covering comprehensive health care with Pojišťovna VZP.

This obligation applies to foreign citizens coming for a long-term stay (more than 90 days), with the following conditions:

• If you submitted your application for a long-term visa/residence permit by or on August 1, 2021 and arrived by or on August 1, 2021, the obligation does not apply.
• If you submitted your application for a long-term visa/residence permit by or on August 1, 2021 and arrived on or after August 2, 2021, you are obliged to contract comprehensive health insurance with Pojišťovna VZP within 90 days of entering Czechia.
• If you submitted your application for a long-term visa/residence permit on or after August 2, 2021, you must submit the document on travel medical insurance before the visa is indicated in your passport:
  • This insurance must cover the necessary and urgent care for the first 90 days. For the remaining period of stay you have to submit also the document on comprehensive health insurance contracted with Pojišťovna VZP.
  • Alternatively, you can contract comprehensive health insurance with Pojišťovna VZP for the entire period and submit that.
  • If you contracted comprehensive health insurance with another Czech insurance company on August 1, 2021 at the latest, you may submit that.

If you have been residing in Czechia based on a long-term visa or long-term residence permit already, you will only need to contract comprehensive health insurance with Pojišťovna VZP when applying for renewal of your residence authorization. 

This obligation does not apply to:

• EU citizens
• Holders of a valid EHIC or GHIC health insurance card
• Foreign nationals covered by the Czech public health insurance scheme
• Foreign nationals whose health care is covered under an international agreement (see the list here)

 Download PDF with detailed information here.