A foreigners’ baby born in Czechia: birth certificate, residence permit within 60 days and health insurance
Updated: 13 November 2026
A new baby is a joy — but for foreign parents in Czechia it also starts several deadlines that are easy to miss in the first weeks. Here is what to do and when.
- The birth certificate is issued by the registry office (matrika) for the place of birth — the maternity hospital reports the birth itself.
- Apply for the child’s residence within 60 days of birth; fee CZK 1,000 (no fee for a visa).
- The child gets the same type of stay as the parents (permanent residence, long-term residence or visa).
- If the mother has long-term residence, the baby is publicly insured until the end of the month in which it turns 60 days old; report the birth to the insurer within 8 days.
- After that, unless a parent has permanent residence, private health insurance is needed.
1. Birth certificate
The maternity hospital reports the birth to the registry office, which issues a Czech birth certificate (rodný list). Parents submit their documents — passports, marriage certificate — with Czech translations, and a declaration of the child’s name. If the parents are not married, paternity is acknowledged at the registry office.
2. The child’s passport
A passport or other travel document is issued by the embassy or consulate of the parents’ country based on the Czech birth certificate. Ukrainian authorities do not require an apostille on the Czech certificate (legal assistance treaty), but a translation is needed.
3. Residence permit — within 60 days
- One legal representative applies in person at a Ministry of the Interior office.
- Type of permit: permanent residence if at least one parent has permanent residence; long-term residence if at least one has long-term residence (including an employee card); long-term visa if the parents hold visas.
- Documents: application, birth certificate, the child’s travel document. If the passport is not ready, file on time and add documents later.
- Fee: CZK 1,000 for long-term or permanent residence; no fee for a visa.
- Until the permit is granted, the child may stay in Czechia without a visa for no more than 60 days.
4. Health insurance
- If on the day of birth the mother has long-term residence and the father does not have permanent residence, the baby is in the public system until the end of the month in which it turns 60 days old.
- Report the birth to the insurer within 8 days — the mother’s insurer (or the father’s; if neither, VZP).
- For this period the parents pay a one-off premium calculated from the minimum wage.
- After that — private insurance for the child unless they obtain another status. Children of parents with permanent residence are publicly insured.
Common mistakes
- Missing the 60-day residence deadline — the child is left without status.
- Not notifying the insurer within 8 days.
- The child is left uninsured after 2 months — you pay medical bills yourself.
- Waiting for the passport and not filing on time.
We help with documents and insurance
We prepare the child’s residence application and arrange private insurance from the first day after the public period.
Sources
- Portál veřejné správy — povolení k pobytu pro dítě narozené na území ČR
- VZP ČR — zdravotní pojištění novorozených dětí cizinců
- Ministerstvo zdravotnictví — novorozené děti cizinců ve veřejném pojištění
This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Check the current rules before making a decision, or contact us.