The Czech Republic aka Czechia is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordering Austria, Poland, Slovakia and Germany. The country is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Zone (the biggest passport-free area in the world). For the foreign travellers this last information means that if they have a tourist visa to the Czech Republic, they can go to all Schengen Zone countries without applying for the national visas. Holders of the Czech tourist visa can travel between all the Schengen Area member-states for up to 90 days within 180 days period.
As all the countries of the Schengen Zone have a unique tourist visa policy, a Czech visa’s bearer can cross the Czech border via air, land, or sea and then travel in all passport-free zone freely. They can leave UE from any Schengen Zone state but enter the Zone only at the border of the Czech Republic. This is important to remember because if you have only a Czech short-stay visa, the EU immigration services of other countries will not let you in.
Tourist visa to Czechia
A Czech tourist visa is the Schengen short-stay visa at the same time. Every member-state of the Schengen Zone is authorized to issue the short-stay visa that is valid for all the Schengen Area. However, it applies only to short-stays visas and every country in Europe runs its own national long-stay visas policy. It means that you can stay inside the Schengen Zone for up to 3 months only for indicated reasons. Which are they? Check the list below.
Tourist purposes:
- Holidays, visiting, sightseeing
- Reunion with the family and/or friends
- Participation in sports events
- Participation in cultural events
Business and education reasons:
- Internship or a short-term training course (less than 3 months)
- Business meetings, negotiations, conferences, etc.
- Research
Others:
- Official visit
- Airport or seafarers transit
- Medical reasons (planned treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, etc.)
Keep in mind that the Schengen (Czech) short-stay visa does not authorize you to get a paid job, study longer than 3 months, or settle down in the Czech Republic. If you want to come to this country for a longer period of time, you should apply for a Czech long-term visa according to the purpose of your stay.
To Czechia without a visa
If you legally stay in one of the Schengen Zone countries (have a citizenship or residence permit) – you do not need a visa to enter the Czech Republic. Also, if you hold one of the following documents:
- valid long-stay visa issued by one of a Schengen country
- EU family member’s residence or EU long-term residence permit
- passport of a “British National Overseas”, “British Overseas Territories Citizen”, “British Protected Person”, “British Subject”
- special residence card as a diplomatic or consular staff
But even if you are not national or resident of any state of the Schengen Zone, you can be eligible to travel visa-free to Czechia and all the Schengen Area. Check if your country is on the list below:
| Albania | Andorra |
| Antigua And Barbuda | Argentina |
| Australia | Bahamas |
| Barbados | Bosnia And Herzegovina |
| Brazil | Brunei Darussalam |
| Canada | Chile |
| Colombia | Costa Rica |
| Dominica | El Salvador |
| North Macedonia | Georgia |
| Grenada | Guatemala |
| Vatican City State | Honduras |
| Israel | Japan |
| Kiribati | Malaysia |
| Marshall Islands | Mauritius |
| Mexico | Micronesia |
| Moldova | Monaco |
| Montenegro | New Zealand |
| Nicaragua | Palau |
| Panama | Paraguay |
| Peru | Samoa |
| San Marino | Seychelles |
| Serbia | Singapore |
| Solomon Islands | South Korea |
| St Kitts And Nevis | St Lucia |
| St Vincent And The Grenadines | Trinidad And Tobago |
| Tuvalu | Ukraine |
| United Arab Emirates | United States Of America |
| Uruguay | Vanuatu |
| Venezuela | United Kingdom |
If you do not fulfil the conditions indicated above, it means that you need a visa to the Czech Republic.
Countries you can visit with a Czech visa
A Czech short-stay visa enables you to enter the country and stay there for up to 90 days. As indicated above, you can travel to other Schengen Zone member states too, just make sure that you do not overstay in Europe. With a Czech tourist visa, you can go without passing by immigration to:
Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
There are also 3 micro-states you can visit with a Czech visa: Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. You can also go to overseas territories of Spain (the Canary Islands, Azores), and of Portugal (Madeira island). These states keep their borders with Schengen countries open and you will not be asked about visa or passport going there.
Czech visa application
The institutions authorized to issue a Czech visa are this country’s diplomatic missions.
When you decide to apply for a Czech short-stay Visa, download and complete the visa forms. Check twice if you introduced correct information which complies with that in the other documents.
The documents you need to submit are:
- A biometric passport (it must be at least 3 months after the date you are planning to leave the Schengen Area and have 2 blank pages)
- two printed color photos – taken in the last 6 months and satisfying standards
- itinerary including dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen Zone
- European or Czech travel insurance policy (it must cover a minimum of €30,000 of medical costs)
- a hotel booking or a rental agreement with addresses of your places of accommodation in Czechia and the Schengen Zone
- letter of invitation from your family member or a friend who will host you if so
- a bank account statement that you have enough money to support yourself financially throughout your stay in the Czech Republic
- a sponsorship letter (if applicable) from a person that confirms to be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen Area including their bank account statement
- a visa fee payment confirmation
Usually, a tourist visa is a one-entrance permit. You can check in the form if you apply for a single-entry visa, double-entry visa or multiple-entry visa. Keep in mind that even if you are granted the multiple-entry visa, your total stay in the Schengen Zone must not take more than 90 days within a 180-day period.
Usually, there are all needed documents, but you may be asked about submitting additional documents such as for example a certificate of the criminal record of the home country (you must have no open crime case involvement) or proof of your civil and marital status (marriage certificate, birth certificates of children, death certificate of spouse, ration card if applicable).
Czech visa appointment
As the next step, you have to make an appointment. In most cases, this is possible to set the visa interview online but in some regions, it may be impossible and you will need to make a call.
The visa interview is a 10-15 minutes conversation about the purpose of your visit to Czechia. The consular officer can ask you about your travel plan, how many days you plan to be in the Schengen Zone and which countries you are going to visit if more than one. We present some typical question you may be asked during the visa interview:
- Why do you want to visit the Czech Republic?
- Have you been to Czechia before?
- Do you want to travel to another European country?
- Which countries you are going to visit and for what reasons?
- Do you know someone in the Czech Republic?
- What do you do for a living? Do you have a job?
- Are you married? Do you have children? How many?
- Do you have a family or a life partner in Czechia?
- Do you want to move to Czechia?
Don’t be stressed about these questions – they are some sort of formality and if you have confirmed accommodation and tickets back to your country, getting a visa is not complicated. Just answer honestly and truthfully.
After the meeting, wait a while for a printed report, check all the details and sign it.
Since now, your application will be processed. The usual processing time is 20 working days for a short-term visa but it can be different in different regions. In the case of an application for a long-term stay visa, it may take up to 60 days. In every situation, the embassy or consulate will inform you about the official decision about your visa.
Every year some applications for the Schengen visa for Czechia are rejected. If it happens to you and you believe that the visa refusal was unjust or a mistake, you can submit a request for a re-evaluation of the application. The new processing time takes normally up to 2 months. If you do not receive any answers from the embassy or the consulate within this time – that means that you will not get a visa to the Czech Republic.
Entrance to the Czech Republic
When you arrive at a Czech port-of-entry from the country outside of the Schengen Zone, you will be subject to immigration control. Be prepared for a short conversation with the immigration officer. They will ask about your passport and visa, and may ask you about:
- the purpose of your visit
- period of your stay in the Czech Republic
- address of the hotel in Czechia where you have booked a room
- contact details of your host if you go to visit someone
If you are permitted to enter, the immigration officer gives you a visa stamp on your passport. This stamp is very important; don’t forget to take it! This is proof that you crossed the Czech border legally.
Long-stay Czech visas and permits
As you know, with the short-stay Czech visa you can visit this country and all the Schengen Zone only for some reasons and you must not stay there more than 90 days. If you want to come back then, you need to wait another 90 days until your current visa expires. What to do if you want to stay in the Czech Republic longer? Maybe your intention is to find a job here or join your family? If yes, you can apply for a long-term national Czech visa.
This permit is valid for up to 1 year but authorises its holder to stay all this time only in the Czech Republic. However, holders of a valid long-term visa can stay for up to 90 days within any 180 days in other countries of the Schengen Zone for tourist or business purposes.
To obtain a long-term visa you have to prove the purpose of your stay during all this period. It may be the invitation, trade licence, confirmation that you have a job or you study in the CR.
Remember to provide the embassy with the original documents or certified copies. All documents must be translated into Czech. Only the passport does not need to be translated.
If you already have a long-term visa and you think you will stay longer in Czechia or you already know it in advance, consider applying for the long-term permit in the Czech Republic. The procedure of obtaining this permit is the same as for long-stay visas and the appointment is mandatory.
You have to be aware that the conversation during the meeting will be conducted in the Czech language. If you do not speak Czech you may bring an interpreter with you (at your own expense).
The interview will be recorded and written in the Czech language – you have to sign a report at the end of the meeting.
The type of visa or permit always depends on the purpose of the stay. It can be:
- Studies
- scientific research
- Employment
- Business
- Family reunification including marriage with a Czech citizen
Long-term residence permits are issued by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. You may apply for the long-term residence permit at the Ministry’s office called the Foreigners’ Residence Unit (of the Department for Asylum and Migration Policy).
The Czech long-stay visa or a long-term residence permit is actually a special paper sticker affixed inside the passport. It contains security elements, your photo and personal information. Also, the validity period and type of visa is indicated there.
Correct photo to the Czech visa application
Remember that you have to attach your passport-style picture to any visa application to the CR. This photo must be biometric – be taken in a special pose, have given dimensions and be cropped correctly. The background must meet the requirements and the candidate must not wear some items (for example, sunglasses or fashion head coverings).
What to visit in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic will amaze you by its national parks, stunning small towns and medieval castles where you are going to feel like a time-traveller.
This non-obvious tourist destination is perfect for tourists who are interested in European traditions and architecture. Especially the architecture there is a real treasure because
Czechia went mostly untouched during the world wars and many very old castles and buildings are in perfect condition today.
Of course, Prague – the capital city – is a must. Have you ever been to a 1000 years old castle? No? So, take this opportunity and visit the castle in Hradcany – the largest one in the world! The next spot you must see in Prague is the spectacular Charles Bridge (Karluv Most) built-in 1357. The bridge is a favourite place for photographers because of its breathtaking views of River Vltava and the city panorama.
Eager for more of 1000-years old monuments? Visit Prague’s Old Town Square dated back to the 10th century. You will find authentic medieval houses and significant historic landmarks such as Old Town City Hall and St. Nicholas Church.
Once you leave Prague, the real Czech adventure begins! Go to Moravian Karst – a geologic phenomenon consisting of a giant series of underground limestone caverns and gorges. You have to take some shots in the Macocha Abyss, a gorge 138 meter deep!
If you are a nature lover, you will admire Eastern Bohemia – one of the most beautiful corners in Europe. This is home to the spectacular Bohemian Paradise and the name “paradise” is completely justified. This area delights by its natural beauty, massive rock formations such as spikes and pillars, formed by tens of thousands of years of rock erosion.
The site recognized by UNESCO attracts hikers and sightseers from all over the world for its unusual sandstone hills, naturally formed bridges and columns.
If you stay in this region a bit longer, you will have the opportunity to see medieval castles: Kost Castle and Trosky Castle.
In general, castles are the cultural richness of the Czech Republic. Enter the fairy-tale world of neo-gothic Hluboka Castle in Tudor style, take a picture of Karlstejn Castle, which was built in the 14th century. You can see the authentic treasures there, such as the crown jewels of the Roman Empire stored in the chapel by King Charles IV.
Visiting Czechia you will feel the magical spirit of traditions, local cuisine, folk music, customs and cultural events which are mostly recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Speaking about the cuisine, we can’t forget about the famous Czech beer. After all, you are in the Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser Budvar home country! But this is not the end of good things in Czechia. Try Becherovka – an absolutely unique herbal liquor, taste goulash, sirloin with dumplings and other regional dishes served in exclusive restaurants as well as in authentic rural inns.
The Czech Republic is the perfect holiday destination for singles, couples and families. Feel invited to this small country with a big history!
