Woman/Foreigner Having a Child

Mum KNOWS - newborn care

MuM KNOWS II. - PREPARATION FOR DELIVERY

ARE YOU A FOREIGNER WHO HAS JUST GIVEN BIRTH TO A CHILD?

1. WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO IN THIS SITUATION? WHAT ELSE CAN HAPPEN?

The hospital will notify the local birth register.
The registry office will issue your child´s Czech birth certificate (this is a proof of birth, not a proof of residential status). You must apply for a residential status in the Czech Republic for your child within 60 days after his/her birth. If you and the father of your child have different types of residential status, you can choose the better one for your child.
If one of the parents is a Czech citizen and the other a foreigner, the child automatically has Czech citizenship and you do not need to apply for it. The child may also be entitled to another state’s citizenship, depending on that state’s laws.
You have to contact the Embassy of the state you are a citizen of, and have your child´s name written into your passport or have his/her own passport issued (this does not apply for an asylum and a subsidiary protection).
If the child‘s parents are not married, they make a mutual declaration of the fatherhood in the registry office or in a court (it can even be done during pregnancy before the birth).
If a mother or a father of the child are not in a mutual agreement about the fatherhood and want to claim or deny it, they have to file a paternity suit – in this case only the court denies or claims paternity. If you are in this situation, you have to file within 6 months from birth.
Parents and children in the Czech Republic have the obligation of mutual support. Parents are obliged by law to support their children until they are capable of sustaining themselves (usually by the end of their studies or vocational training).
In case of divorce the court grants a custody of the child to one of the parents. The court also decides how much should the parent, who does not have the custody, pay. The court´s decisions are based on capabilities and financial situation of the parents.

If a parent does not pay the child support, the other parent can file a suit to the court.

2. WHAT ABOUT YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE (2024)?

If you are a permanent resident, an asylum seeker, an applicant for international protection, an applicant for subsidiary protection, an EU citizen, or a long-term resident for employment purposes and are employed by an employer based in the Czech Republic, you have healthcare during pregnancy, and healthcare during and after childbirth covered by public health insurance.
If you receive maternity benefits or parental allowance and your employment continues, you are still covered by public health insurance.
If you are a long-term resident or a temporary resident of a family member and you are not employed by an employer based in the Czech Republic, you must take out comprehensive health insurance for foreigners.
Comprehensive health insurance is similar in coverage to public health insurance, but has exceptions and limitations.
Check the terms and conditions of the insurance - the insurance company will tell you the details and limits.

If you have no insurance or your insurance does not cover childbirth, you have to pay for your own health care during and after the birth.

3. AND WHAT ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH INSURANCE?

A child born to parents with permanent residence, asylum seekers, applicants for international protection, EU citizens working or doing business in the Czech Republic is covered by public health insurance from birth.

You can register your child with your health insurance company as soon as he or she is born. You will need your documents, the insurance card and the child's birth certificate, and the insurance company will issue a temporary registration for the child for 6 months.
You must apply for the child's residence permit within 60 days of birth. After the application for residence permit is processed, bring the decision to the insurance company, the insurance company will make a permanent registration.
The health insurance company may require a certificate from the Ministry of the Interior to register the child for the first time, stating that you have applied for the child's residence permit. 
The child's health insurance is paid for by the state.

A child born to a long-term resident parent is covered by public health insurance for the duration of the long-term residence permit procedure. However, the application for the child's residence permit must be made within 60 days of the child's birth. From January 1, 2024, a person under 18 years of age with a valid long-term residence permit is a participant in public health insurance. The costs associated with the public health insurance of a person under 18 years are always covered by the legal guardian, custodian, or trustee of that person. The person is a participant in public health insurance only until they reach the age of 18 or until the validity of the long-term residence permit expires.

The legal guardian pays the insurance premiums for the child and must report the child to the health insurer of his/her choice within 8 calendar days of birth.