Renting an apartment to foreigners 2026: documents, contract, reporting obligation

Today, every third tenant of In Prague is a foreigner - expats, IT specialists, students, employees of multinational companies. For landlords, this represents an attractive target group (typically higher incomes, better profile, willingness to pay a premium for a fully equipped apartment), but also specific obligations. This article will guide you through everything you need to know.

Document control - what a foreigner must document

Foreigners in the Czech Republic have different statuses according to origin and reason for stay. Before concluding the contract, check:

Citizen of the EU/EEA/Switzerland: stay in the Czech Republic without a permit for up to 90 days. For a longer stay, a certificate of temporary residence (issued by the foreign police). Proof of identity: passport or identity card of the home country.

Third-country citizen with a residence permit: must have a valid permit (short-term visa up to 90 days, long-term visa over 90 days, long-term residence permit, permanent residence permit, EU Blue Card). Always check the type and validity - if it expires in 6 months and there is no certainty of extension, consider a short-term contract.

Third-country national with asylum or subsidiary protection: international protection card. Full legal status for the rental agreement.

risk statutory sanctions; verify the current amount and conditions under the applicable residence law.

Online verification: The validity of the residence permit can be verified through the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic (form to verify the residence document number). Verify only what is necessary for the tenancy and required by applicable law. Do not request or retain a full document copy unless there is a documented lawful basis and it is proportionate.

Reporting obligation - within 3 working days

According to § 102 of Act No. 326/1999 Coll. about the stay of foreigners in the Czech Republic, where the Czech Foreigners Act imposes the duty, the relevant accommodation provider must report the foreign national within the applicable period, commonly three working days; confirm whether the landlord and this accommodation arrangement fall within the rule

Form of notification: electronically via the ePortal of the foreign police (cizinec.policie.cz) - the easiest, or by filling in the form "Application form" delivered to the office of the foreign police department or by post.

What is reported: foreigner's name, date of birth, nationality, travel document number, start date of stay, expected end date of stay, accommodation address.

Sanctions for non-compliance may apply under the current Act on the Residence of Foreigners; verify the current offence, amount and conditions before relying on this guidance.

Do not assume EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are exempt. Reporting duties depend on the provider, the person accommodated and the current Czech Foreigners Act; check the official accommodation-provider guidance.

• Deadline 3 working days from moving in
• Form: electronically via ePortal of the foreign police
• Details: name, birth, citizenship, document, date, address
• Statutory penalty may apply in case of non-compliance; verify the current offence and amount.
• EU status alone does not establish an exemption; check the current Czech reporting rule

Bilingual contract - yes or no

According to Czech law, the rental contract can be concluded in any language - there is no mandatory Czech language. In practice, however, a contract in Czech with an English translation is recommended (or only in English, if the tenant does not speak Czech).

Reason: if there is a lawsuit, the court looks at the will of the parties. If the tenant does not understand Czech and the contract is only in Czech, the court may declare some provisions (especially non-standard ones) to be irrelevant - because the tenant could not really understand and agree to them.

Recommended practice: contract with two language versions (Czech + English) in two columns or an appendix. In the event of a dispute, state Czech as the decisive language ("In the event of a dispute over the interpretation of this contract, the Czech language version is decisive.") to avoid double interpretations.

For Slovaks, Czech is sufficient (language similarity). For Polish and Russian-speaking tenants, we recommend the Russian or Polish version if they do not speak Czech.

Specifics of the contract with a foreigner

Decide in advance: how they will pay the rent (foreign account vs. Kč account), what is the foreigner's tax regime (resident vs. non-resident - affects your potential tax deduction, see below), who will communicate about repairs (the foreigner himself or through you), how to deal with the termination of the lease when returning home (subject to the statutory or contractual notice route applicable to the lease).

Tax residence depends on the applicable Czech rules, treaty and facts; 183 days is not a universal standalone test. Ask a tax adviser about the particular tenant and payment arrangement.

Specific provisions: shorter notice period when returning home (the legal 3 months cannot be shortened for the lessor, but an agreement to terminate on any date is always possible), consent to electronic communication in English (for everything - invoice, transfer protocol, notice), contact person in the Czech Republic (for in case the tenant gets lost - colleague from work, tenant's lawyer).

Deposit: foreigners usually have a higher deposit (3 months' rent = max. legal), especially if the tenant does not have a long work history in the Czech Republic. Some landlords prefer a bank guarantee instead of cash.

Practical tips

Find a corporate client. Multinational companies (IBM, Microsoft, Accenture, ČSOB, Komerční banka) are often looking for apartments for their expats. A contract concluded directly with the company (the company is the tenant, the expat is the user) significantly reduces the risk - the company is solvent and guarantees payments. You can find them through HR departments, relocation agencies (e.g. Crown Worldwide, MoveOne) or specialized real estate agencies (Premier Living, Prague Premium Living).

Furnished apartment = premium. Foreigners typically do not have their own equipment - they want to come with a suitcase and operate. A fully equipped apartment (kitchenette, fridge, washing machine, beds, couch, dining table, internet) generates a premium of Kč 2,500-5,000/month compared to an unfurnished one, which for a 2-year contract = Kč 60,000-120,000 more.

English communication. Even if a foreigner speaks Czech, most prefer English for important matters (contracts, billing). If you don't speak English, hire a translator or use software (DeepL is significantly better than Google Translate for Czech).

Locations. Prague expats typically prefer Prague 1, 2, 5, 6, 7. Those from Brno prefer the center and Veveří. Pilsen because of Foxconn and ŠKODA Bory.

Market experience: Foreigners are typically better quality tenants than average - higher incomes, fewer disputes, usually a shorter but stable stay (1-3 years), they pay exactly. Main disadvantage: higher fluctuations and seasonality in some locations. For an investor with 2+ apartments, we recommend focusing at least one apartment on the expat market.

Conclusion

Renting to foreigners requires compliance with the applicable residence, reporting, data-protection and contract rules. Check current official guidance for whether you are an accommodation provider and which notification deadline applies; a bilingual contract can help avoid misunderstandings. If you manage multiple apartments, the software (e.g. Grento) offers bilingual contracts, bilingual communication and automatic reminders for reporting obligations.

> Czech-law scope and editorial note: Legal, tax, accounting, tenancy, service-charge, condominium, metrology, insurance and data-protection statements in this article refer to the Czech Republic and the rules effective for the relevant date. Figures and examples are illustrative, not legal or tax advice. Verify current rules with the relevant Czech authority or a qualified adviser.

> Accommodation clarification: A stay length or EU status alone does not determine Czech licensing, § 7/§ 9 classification, VAT, contributions or foreigner-reporting duties. Check the actual service package, provider status, current municipal ordinance and current Czech Foreigners Act guidance.