Effective 1 October 2026, the Czech Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MPSV) and the Ministry of the Interior have updated the minimum-income formula that many foreign nationals must meet when applying for long-term or permanent residence permits. Under the amended rules, an applicant’s household must now demonstrate a combined monthly income that is at least equal to (1) the subsistence minimum for each family member plus (2) a new, higher normative housing allowance that reflects current rental and energy costs. The MPSV has set the individual subsistence minimum at CZK 5 500 per month, while the maximum normative rent now ranges from CZK 15 680 for a single person up to CZK 24 120 for households of five or more. As a result, a single applicant must evidence at least CZK 21 180 in regular net income each month; a married couple must show CZK 27 740; and a family of four with school-age children must prove roughly CZK 38 800. The calculation applies to applications for permanent residence, long-term residence for business purposes, EU long-term resident status, and several family-reunification categories. It does not affect short-term (up-to-90-day) Schengen visas, employee cards, or the special long-term permit (ZDP) available to certain holders of temporary protection. Applicants may submit alternative evidence of actual housing costs if those are lower than the normative figures, but officials warn that lump-sum bank balances alone will not suffice; income must be stable and documented through payslips, tax returns or similar records. The Interior Ministry has already incorporated the new amounts into its Foreigners’ Information Portal and is training case-workers to apply the formula consistently. Immigration advisers say the change could catch some families off-guard—especially those seeking to reunite with relatives—because the housing component has risen by as much as 8 % compared with the previous quarter. Employers that sponsor executive or investor permits are likewise urged to review salary packages to ensure that assignees continue to meet the higher threshold. From a practical standpoint, corporate mobility teams should: (1) recalculate projected net income for any applications filed on or after 1 October; (2) secure updated rental contracts or utility bills where real housing costs are lower than the standard norm; and (3) alert employees whose family-size or dependent status could change the required figures. Given that the current housing norms are valid only until 31 December 2026, companies should also prepare for another adjustment in early 2027. The revision underscores a broader policy trend in Czech immigration: authorities increasingly link residence eligibility to demonstrable economic self-sufficiency. While the government continues to streamline digital filing and appointment systems, foreigners must expect more granular financial scrutiny—particularly as rising living costs feed into welfare calculations. Mobility managers are therefore advised to monitor quarterly notices from the MPSV and Interior Ministry so that budget forecasts and assignment planning remain accurate.
Source: Czechia Online
