Issuance of a departure order by the authority

Main information

A departure order is a document issued to foreigners so that they leave the Czech Republic. It may be issued, for example, in the case that they continue residing in the Czech Republic after the validity of their residence permit expired or was revoked or after they were sentenced to administrative removal. A departure order is issued ex officio by the police or the Ministry of the Interior, so no documents are required.

The departure order allows you to stay in the territory for the period specified in the departure order. The departure order ceases to be valid when you leave the territory.

If you have been issued with a departure order, you must leave the Czech Republic within the specified period. You cannot apply for a long-term visa or a long-term or permanent residence permit while the departure order is in effect. Exceptions are:

- a long-term residence permit for the purpose of protection in the territory,

- long-term visa for the purpose of leave to remain,

- an application for a temporary or permanent residence permit for so-called close family members of EU citizens.

Information on how you can travel with a departure order if you are subject to a visa requirement within the Schengen area can be found on the Information Portal for Foreigners.

This applies to you if

The police will issue a departure order in the following cases: 

• after the revocation or expiration of the validity of a short-term visa,  
• after the termination of temporary residence,
• in association with issuance of obligation to leave the territory,
• when a decision that a foreigner must leave the country or a decision setting a time limit for a foreigner to leave the country is taken, 
• in the case of administrative removal. 

Most often, the Ministry of the Interior will issue a departure order in the following cases: 

• after the revocation or expiration of the validity of a long-term visa,
• upon non-recognition status of person without nationality,
• after a denial of an application for a long-term or permanent residence permit, if the current visa had expired,
• after the annulment or expiry of a long-term or permanent residence permit,
• after the revocation of a temporary residence permit of an EU citizen and an EU citizen’s family member,
• or after expiry of provided protection on the territory according to special legal regulation.

In most cases, a departure order is not issued to foreigners who, after their residence permit’s expiration, can stay in the Czech Republic for a period of 90 days without a visa. 

Additional information

What is the benefit of this service

The departure order allows you to stay in the territory for the period specified in the departure order. The departure order ceases to be valid when you leave the territory.