Foreign Police Registration in Prague (2025 Guide)

Registering with the Foreign Police in Prague is mandatory for most foreigners. Learn when, where, and how to register, what documents to bring, and the current opening hours in 2025 in this article.

Why You Need to Register with the Foreign Police

There are couple reasons for the Foreign Police registration – from tracking/preventing illegal migration, through tracking movement of foreigner nationals in the Czech Republic, to statistics (i.e. how many foreigners visit CZE every year). Most importantly though, it is a legal requirement under Czech immigration law.

Who has to get registered with the Foreign Police in Prague?

Generally speaking every foreigner (EU and non-EU) who enters the Czech Republic (even for one day visit) must get registered with the Foreign Police.

Non-EU citizens: must register their address within 3 working days of arrival (applies to people coming under the visa-free stay, under a short-term visa or first time under a long-term visa),
EU citizens: must register within 30 days if staying in the Czech Republic longer than 30 days.

If you fail to register with the Foreign Police on time, you can be fined up to CZK 3,000.

Who does not have to get registered with the Foreign Police?

As with almost everything, also here there are some exceptions. People meeting the following criteria might not need to get registered:

visitors who have been registered by their hotels, hostels, AirBnbs, dormitories or other official accommodation providers – official accommodation facilities are obliged to register all their guests with the Foreign Police on their behalf so they do not have to go to the Foreign Police in person (this is why you often fill in the white questionnaire at a reception),
EU citizens already holding the Registration Certificate or the Permanent Residence Permit,
non-EU citizens holding a long-term residence permit, temporary residence permit for EU family members, or a permanent residence permit.

Where to Register with the Foreign Police in Prague

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not confuse the Foreign Police with the Ministry of the Interior. Visitors have to get registered with the Foreign Police, not with the MOI!

The main Foreign Police office (Cizinecká Policie) for the whole of Prague is in Olšanská 2, Praha 3, with the closest tram stop being Olšanská.

Foreign Police Prague-Olsanska

You have to get registered with this Foreign Police branch if you live/stay in any part of Prague (1-10).

If you live in Praha – Západ or Praha – Východ or somewhere around Prague, you might need to go to a different branch!

Current Opening Hours of the Foreign Police in Prague (as of October 2025)

Olšanská 2, Praha 3 Foreign Police Office

Monday: 8:00 – 18:00
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 8:00 – 18:00
Thursday: 8:00 – 15:00
Friday: Closed
Weekend: Closed

Opening hours may change—always verify directly before your visit. Sometimes they inform people on their Google Profile, sometimes you only find out they are closed written on the entry door 🙂

In the past, we would have given your advice to go early in the morning (say 7:30) to avoid queues. These days, it does not really matter when you go, you might be done in 15 mins or you might wait for two hours.

The main advice though would be not to go on Monday since that is the first day they open after three days of being closed so Mondays are usually packed with people.

What to Bring to the Foreign Police Registration

When visiting the Foreign Police, prepare the following:

Passport with your visa (for non-EU citizens arriving under a visa) or your national ID card (for EU citizens).
Completed registration form – the form is available on site but we recommend filling it in advance, definitely before you take the number. The form takes a few minutes to fill in and some Foreign Police officers do not like if they call you in and you do not have the form ready (which can happen if there are no or very few people waiting).
Proof of accommodation – e.g. lease agreement or confirmation from your landlord. If you are a non-EU citizen, bring the proof of address you used for your visa application.
Health insurance proof – for non-EU citizens, this would be the private health insurance contract, EU citizens can bring their EHIC card or the private insurance as well.
Czech speaker – although the place is literally called Foreign Police and their main agenda is dealing with foreigners, oftentimes the officers do not speak English. If you are lucky, you can get an officer who speaks even Spanish and wants to practice with you. If you are not that lucky, they will should at you in Czech and ask you to come back again with a Czech speaker. If you use services of Move To Prague relocation experts, you always have one of our team members with you 🙂
Patience – as mentioned above, sometimes you might be done in 15 minutes with English speaking officer and no problems. Sometimes you can spend there two three hours and have one of the most terrifying experiences of your life. Count with that and prepare (including mentally) in advance.

There is no administrative fee for the registration unless you need a confirmation of the registration (i.e. for a business visa applicants). In such case, your Immigration Specialist provides you with the details.

Foreign Police Registration Process – Step by Step

Prepare all the required documents in advance.
Go to the correct Foreign Police office within their opening hours.
Take a queue number from the ticket machine for “Tourist Registration” agenda.
Wait for your turn and present your documents to the officer. Sometimes they invite you to their room, sometimes they just take your documents at the counter and ask you to wait there.
The officer verifies your documentation and information and put everything into the immigration system. In some cases, they can ask you additional questions about your trip and your previous or current stay. In some cases, these questions can get pretty intense but it is usually fine for 90% of people.
Once the officer finishes the registration process (usually 10-15 mins), they give you your documents back and wish you a good day. You do not get any confirmation unless you specifically requested that and paid for it (i.e. for the business visa applicants).

Foreign Police Registration – Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an appointment?
Usually not. Foreign Police offices in Prague operate on a walk-in basis.

Can someone come with me?
Yes. If you don’t speak Czech, it’s best to go with a Czech-speaking assistant. Move To Prague can arrange one for you.

Do I have to pay a fee?
Generally no, registration is free of charge unless you need a confirmation for a trade license office or similar authority.

Is Foreign Police the same place as Ministry of the Interior?
No, these two are two different authorities with two different agendas. Foreign Police is primarily responsible for the registration process, the MOI for all visa or residence permit related processes.

What if I register late?
You might be fined, potentially (depending on your nationality and specific situation), you might also get into more serious trouble. Make sure you do not miss the registration window.

How often do I have to get registered with the Foreign Police?
It depend in your status in the Czech Republic. If you are here as a tourist (visa-free stay, short-term visa or EU citizens without the Registration Certificate), you should officially register every time you enter the Czech Republic.

Useful Tips from Move To Prague

✅ Count with spending couple hours at the Foreign Police. If it is less, great.
✅ Bring originals of all documents (passport, insurance contract, lease agreement).
✅ Check if your lease agreement/proof of accommodation is signed.
✅ If unsure, contact Move To Prague and we’ll go to the Foreign Police with you.

Foreign Police Registration is automatically included in most Move To Prague services (such as visa assistance) so if you work with us on your visa process, you will get all the instructions when the time comes.

If you do not work with us and you just need assistance with the Foreign Police registration, contact us and we’ll be happy to take care of that for you.