Czechia visa and entry requirements

Czechia is an EU member state and a member of the Schengen Area. EU citizens can travel there with a valid passport or national ID card. Nationals of the countries on the EU's visa-exempt list (Annex II of Regulation 2018/1806) are exempt from the visa requirement for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period; the ETIAS travel authorisation is not yet in operation. The Czech Foreign Ministry lists the states whose citizens need visas; its standard Schengen visa fee is EUR 90.

Every fact on this page verified on or after: Aug 25, 2026· How this site works

Check requirements for your passport

Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.

How long you can stay

90 days in any rolling 180-day period

90 days in any rolling 180-day period, counted across the whole Schengen Area rather than per country. The day you arrive counts as the first day and the day you leave counts as the last. Leaving and coming back does not reset the allowance: on any given day, days already spent anywhere in the area during the preceding 180 still count against the 90.

Work out your own dates in the stay calculator · Compare every country

Verified Oct 6, 2026 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu (opens in a new tab) · Regulation (EU) 2016/399 (Schengen Borders Code)

Visas & entry authorisations

Schengen visa — European Union and Armenia visa facilitation agreement

Fee
35 EUR
Processing
up to 30 days
Stay per entry
90 days

Set at EUR 35 by the EU–Armenia visa facilitation agreement (Article 6); waived for pensioners and children under the age of 12, among other listed categories.

Schengen visa — European Union and Azerbaijan visa facilitation agreement

Fee
35 EUR
Processing
up to 30 days
Stay per entry
90 days

Set at EUR 35 by the EU–Azerbaijan visa facilitation agreement (Article 6); waived for pensioners and children under the age of 12, among other listed categories.

Schengen visa — European Union and Belarus visa facilitation agreement

Fee
35 EUR
Processing
up to 30 days
Stay per entry
90 days

Set at EUR 35 by the EU–Belarus visa facilitation agreement (Article 6); EUR 70 when the applicant has requested a decision within two days of submission and the consulate has accepted; waived for children under the age of 12, among other listed categories. Council Decision (EU) 2021/1940 suspended some provisions of the agreement, including for members of Belarusian official delegations.

Schengen visa — European Union and Cabo Verde short-stay visa agreement

Fee
67.5 EUR
Processing
up to 45 days
Stay per entry
90 days

The EU–Cabo Verde visa facilitation agreement as amended (Article 5) sets the fee at 75 % of the amount charged under the applicable domestic legislation; children at least 12 but below 18 pay 50 % of it, and children under 12 pay nothing, among other listed categories. The Czech Foreign Ministry's fee list gives EUR 67.50 for Cape Verde.

Schengen visa for Russian nationals

Fee
90 EUR
Processing
up to 45 days
Stay per entry
90 days

Standard fee under the Visa Code (Article 16): children aged 6 to 11 pay EUR 45, and the Czech Foreign Ministry lists children up to 6 as free of charge. The EU–Russia visa facilitation agreement is suspended in whole as regards Russian citizens (Council Decision (EU) 2022/1500). The European Commission said on 7 November 2025 that Russian nationals will no longer be able to receive multiple-entry visas.

Long-term visa (type D)

Fee
2,500 CZK
Processing
—

A long-term visa is for a stay longer than 90 days. The Foreign Ministry's fee list gives reduced or other rates for citizens of some countries based on bilateral or facilitation agreements. The Interior Ministry's portal says this visa is valid for a maximum of one year.

Long-term visa for the purpose of studies

Fee
2,500 CZK
Processing
up to 60 days

A visa for a stay longer than 90 days for study. The Foreign Ministry's fee list says a long-term visa for Taiwanese citizens studying at universities registered by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, or on a scholarship granted by the Czech government, is free. The Interior Ministry's portal says this visa is valid for a maximum of one year.

Employee Card (long-term residence permit)

Fee
5,000 CZK
Processing
up to 90 days

The Foreign Ministry's fee list gives CZK 5,000 for an employee card. The Interior Ministry's portal gives an administrative fee of CZK 2,500, which can only be paid by credit card at the Ministry of the Interior office. The Interior Ministry's portal says the employee card is always valid for a maximum period of two years.

Entry requirements

Passport validity

The Schengen Borders Code requires a third-country national's travel document to be valid at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Member States and to have been issued within the previous 10 years. The Czech Foreign Ministry also asks visa applicants for a passport with at least 2 empty pages.

At least 2 blank pages required. Compare every country

Vaccinations

Not officially stated

No official source we read lists a vaccination certificate required for entry.

Travel insurance

Required

Schengen visa applicants need travel medical insurance valid throughout the territory of the Member States for the entire intended stay, with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 (Visa Code, Article 15).

Onward or return ticket

Required

The Czech Foreign Ministry asks Schengen visa applicants for supporting documents on accommodation and a document proving intention to leave Schengen (mostly an air ticket reservation or other reservation, plus proof of ties and integration in the home country). The UK government tells British visitors that at Czech border control they may need to show a return or onward ticket.

Proof of funds

Required

The Schengen Borders Code requires third-country nationals to have sufficient means of subsistence for the intended stay and for the return or onward journey. The European Commission's table of reference amounts gives, for the Czech Republic, CZK 1,565 per day for stays not exceeding 30 days, and CZK 46,950 plus CZK 6,260 for each whole month for longer stays; third-country nationals under 18 prove half. The Czech Foreign Ministry gives the same amounts for Schengen visa applicants.

Arrival cards & declarations

Required
  • EES — Entry/Exit System (biometric registration) — The Czech Foreign Ministry says the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) registers the entry and exit of non-EU citizens travelling for short-term visits (up to 90 days) in and out of the Schengen Area. If you arrive at a border crossing point for the first time since the EES started, passport control officers will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints; the EU says this can be quicker if you register some of your data in advance. The UK government's travel advice says there is no cost for EES registration. (at the border on first entry) travel-europe.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
  • ETIAS — European Travel Information and Authorization System — The EU says ETIAS is the new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries, Czechia among them. It is currently not in operation and no applications are being collected; the EU will announce the start date several months before launch. (before travel, once etias starts) travel-europe.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)

Staying past your permitted stay

The police issue an administrative expulsion decision against a foreigner staying temporarily. It sets a period during which the foreigner may not enter the EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and the foreigner is entered in the contracting states' information system. The period is up to 5 years if the foreigner stays without a valid residence authorisation, and up to 3 years if the foreigner cannot prove that the stay is within the period allowed visa-free or on a short-stay visa.

Registering your presence after arrival

Required

Done by the accommodation or the traveller.

A foreigner must report their place of stay to the police within 3 working days of entering. This does not apply to foreigners under 15, to certain diplomatic and international-organisation staff and their registered family members, to foreigners housed by the ministry, or to a foreigner who has met the duty at the accommodation provider. An accommodation provider must notify the police of a foreigner's accommodation within 3 working days. Not reporting is an offence; the fine the Act sets for it is CZK 3,000.

If not done: Breaching the duty under § 93(1) is an offence; the fine the Act sets for it is CZK 3,000.

Other compulsory government charges

  • Local fee for stay (poplatek z pobytu) — At most CZK 50 per started day of stay, excluding the first day. Paid at the accommodation.

    A municipality may introduce a fee for stay. It is paid by a person not registered as resident in the municipality, for a paid stay of at most 60 consecutive calendar days with one provider. The base is the number of started days of stay, excluding the first day. The rate is at most CZK 50. The provider of the paid stay is the payer of the fee. Persons under 18 are exempt.

    Exemptions: Persons under 18.

Customs & currency

If you enter or leave the EU with €10,000 in cash (or its equivalent in other currencies), you must declare it to customs in the EU country you are entering or leaving, according to the EU's Your Europe portal.

  • The EU's Your Europe portal says that when you enter the EU from a non-EU country you can bring goods free of VAT and excise duties if they are not for resale and within the limits: 4 litres of still wine and 16 litres of beer, plus 1 litre of spirits over 22 % vol. or 2 litres of fortified or sparkling wine, and other goods up to €300 per traveller or €430 for travellers by air and sea. For tobacco, a higher or lower limit may apply depending on the EU country.
  • The EU's Your Europe portal says that when you travel between EU countries no further tax is due on alcohol and tobacco bought for your own use and not for resale. Each EU country sets guideline values that may not be lower than, for example, 800 cigarettes or 10 litres of spirits; if customs suspect goods are not for your own use, you may be asked to prove that they are.

Country in a nutshell

Currency
Czech koruna (CZK, Kč)
Safety — Generally safe
The UK Foreign Office says petty theft is a problem, especially in major tourist areas in Prague, and that Prague city police advise visitors to change money at a currency exchange or bank rather than on the street, as this money is often counterfeit. Canada's travel advice says violent crime is low and petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, is common.Verified Oct 6, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Power plugs
C, E · 230V 50Hz
Emergency numbers
General emergencies: 112
Languages
Czech
Time zone
UTC+1 (UTC+2 in summer)
International Driving Permit

Czechia is a party to the 1949 Geneva and the 1968 Vienna Conventions on Road Traffic (UN Treaty Collection). The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Czech Republic accepts, as proof of entitlement to drive, a valid licence issued abroad in accordance with the 1968 Vienna or 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, or an international driving permit issued under those conventions (Vienna: valid in Czechia three years from issue; Geneva: one year). The UK government says a UK photocard driving licence can be used to drive in Czechia, and Canada's travel advice says Canadians must carry an international driving permit. No official source we could read states for how long a visitor may drive on a foreign licence.

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: treaties.un.org (opens in a new tab) · Convention on Road Traffic · archived copy Aug 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab) Compare every country
Motorway vignette — electronic, tied to the number plate

Mandatory · motorways. Motor vehicles with at least four wheels up to 3.5 t; motorcycles are exempt.

  • 1-dayCZK 230
  • 10-dayCZK 300
  • 30-dayCZK 480
  • 1 yearCZK 2,570

The Police and the Customs Administration check whether a vehicle has a valid electronic vignette or is exempt by scanning its licence plate, using patrol cars equipped with cameras on the toll road, control gates, and checks at rest stops and parking lots. A driver found on a toll road without a valid electronic vignette faces a fine of up to CZK 20,000.

Without one: CZK 20,000 — Maximum fine for using a tolled motorway section without a valid vignette. Verified Oct 7, 2026 · Source: edalnice.gov.cz (opens in a new tab)

Buy on the official site (opens in a new tab)

Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: edalnice.gov.cz (opens in a new tab) Compare every country

Tips & warnings

The UK government tells British travellers that if they are travelling to other Schengen countries as well, their whole visit must be within the 90-day limit, and that visits to Schengen countries in the 180 days before they travel count towards the 90 days.

The Government of Canada says non-official currency exchange is illegal and advises using official exchange offices or banks only. The UK FCDO says Prague city police advise visitors to always change money at a currency exchange or bank rather than on the street, as this money is often counterfeit.

To avoid being overcharged, the Government of Canada advises avoiding hailing taxis on the street and using only officially marked taxis, reputable taxi companies or a trusted ride-sharing app. The UK FCDO says it is safer to use a major taxi company than to pick one up in the street, and to always check the rates on the side of the taxi before getting in.

If you arrive at a Schengen border crossing point for the first time since the EES started, passport control officers will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints. The EU says this process can be quicker if you register some of your data in advance.

Visa requirements by nationality

Visa requirements by nationality. Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.
PassportsVisas & entry authorisationsMax stay
AfghanistanEmbassy visa—
AlbaniaVisa-free90 days
AlgeriaEmbassy visa—
AndorraVisa-free90 days
AngolaEmbassy visa—
Antigua and BarbudaVisa-free90 days
ArgentinaVisa-free90 days
ArmeniaEmbassy visa—
AustraliaVisa-free90 days
AustriaFree movement—
AzerbaijanEmbassy visa—
BahamasVisa-free90 days
BahrainEmbassy visa—
BangladeshEmbassy visa—
BarbadosVisa-free90 days
BelarusEmbassy visa—
BelgiumFree movement—
BelizeEmbassy visa—
BeninEmbassy visa—
BhutanEmbassy visa—
BoliviaEmbassy visa—
Bosnia and HerzegovinaVisa-free90 days
BotswanaEmbassy visa—
BrazilVisa-free90 days
BruneiVisa-free90 days
BulgariaFree movement—
Burkina FasoEmbassy visa—
BurundiEmbassy visa—
Cabo VerdeEmbassy visa—
CambodiaEmbassy visa—
CameroonEmbassy visa—
CanadaVisa-free90 days
Central African RepublicEmbassy visa—
ChadEmbassy visa—
ChileVisa-free90 days
ChinaEmbassy visa—
ColombiaVisa-free90 days
ComorosEmbassy visa—
Costa RicaVisa-free90 days
Côte d'IvoireEmbassy visa—
CroatiaFree movement—
CubaEmbassy visa—
CyprusFree movement—
CzechiaFree movement—
Democratic Republic of the CongoEmbassy visa—
DenmarkFree movement—
DjiboutiEmbassy visa—
DominicaVisa-free90 days
Dominican RepublicEmbassy visa—
EcuadorEmbassy visa—
EgyptEmbassy visa—
El SalvadorVisa-free90 days
Equatorial GuineaEmbassy visa—
EritreaEmbassy visa—
EstoniaFree movement—
EswatiniEmbassy visa—
EthiopiaEmbassy visa—
FijiEmbassy visa—
FinlandFree movement—
FranceFree movement—
GabonEmbassy visa—
GambiaEmbassy visa—
GeorgiaVisa-free90 days
GermanyFree movement—
GhanaEmbassy visa—
GreeceFree movement—
GrenadaVisa-free90 days
GuatemalaVisa-free90 days
GuineaEmbassy visa—
Guinea-BissauEmbassy visa—
GuyanaEmbassy visa—
HaitiEmbassy visa—
HondurasVisa-free90 days
Hong KongVisa-free90 days
HungaryFree movement—
IcelandFree movement—
IndiaEmbassy visa—
IndonesiaEmbassy visa—
IranEmbassy visa—
IraqEmbassy visa—
IrelandFree movement—
IsraelVisa-free90 days
ItalyFree movement—
JamaicaEmbassy visa—
JapanVisa-free90 days
JordanEmbassy visa—
KazakhstanEmbassy visa—
KenyaEmbassy visa—
KiribatiVisa-free90 days
KosovoVisa-free90 days
KuwaitEmbassy visa—
KyrgyzstanEmbassy visa—
LaosEmbassy visa—
LatviaFree movement—
LebanonEmbassy visa—
LesothoEmbassy visa—
LiberiaEmbassy visa—
LibyaEmbassy visa—
LiechtensteinFree movement—
LithuaniaFree movement—
LuxembourgFree movement—
MacauVisa-free90 days
MadagascarEmbassy visa—
MalawiEmbassy visa—
MalaysiaVisa-free90 days
MaldivesEmbassy visa—
MaliEmbassy visa—
MaltaFree movement—
Marshall IslandsVisa-free90 days
MauritaniaEmbassy visa—
MauritiusVisa-free90 days
MexicoVisa-free90 days
MicronesiaVisa-free90 days
MoldovaVisa-free90 days
MonacoVisa-free90 days
MongoliaEmbassy visa—
MontenegroVisa-free90 days
MoroccoEmbassy visa—
MozambiqueEmbassy visa—
MyanmarEmbassy visa—
NamibiaEmbassy visa—
NauruEmbassy visa—
NepalEmbassy visa—
NetherlandsFree movement—
New ZealandVisa-free90 days
NicaraguaVisa-free90 days
NigerEmbassy visa—
NigeriaEmbassy visa—
North KoreaEmbassy visa—
North MacedoniaVisa-free90 days
NorwayFree movement—
OmanEmbassy visa—
PakistanEmbassy visa—
PalauVisa-free90 days
PalestineEmbassy visa—
PanamaVisa-free90 days
Papua New GuineaEmbassy visa—
ParaguayVisa-free90 days
PeruVisa-free90 days
PhilippinesEmbassy visa—
PolandFree movement—
PortugalFree movement—
QatarEmbassy visa—
Republic of the CongoEmbassy visa—
RomaniaFree movement—
RussiaEmbassy visa—
RwandaEmbassy visa—
Saint Kitts and NevisVisa-free90 days
Saint LuciaVisa-free90 days
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesVisa-free90 days
SamoaVisa-free90 days
San MarinoVisa-free90 days
São Tomé and PríncipeEmbassy visa—
Saudi ArabiaEmbassy visa—
SenegalEmbassy visa—
SerbiaVisa-free90 days
SeychellesVisa-free90 days
Sierra LeoneEmbassy visa—
SingaporeVisa-free90 days
SlovakiaFree movement—
SloveniaFree movement—
Solomon IslandsVisa-free90 days
SomaliaEmbassy visa—
South AfricaEmbassy visa—
South KoreaVisa-free90 days
South SudanEmbassy visa—
SpainFree movement—
Sri LankaEmbassy visa—
SudanEmbassy visa—
SurinameEmbassy visa—
SwedenFree movement—
SwitzerlandFree movement—
SyriaEmbassy visa—
TaiwanVisa-free90 days
TajikistanEmbassy visa—
TanzaniaEmbassy visa—
ThailandEmbassy visa—
Timor-LesteVisa-free90 days
TogoEmbassy visa—
TongaVisa-free90 days
Trinidad and TobagoVisa-free90 days
TunisiaEmbassy visa—
TurkeyEmbassy visa—
TurkmenistanEmbassy visa—
TuvaluVisa-free90 days
UgandaEmbassy visa—
UkraineVisa-free90 days
United Arab EmiratesVisa-free90 days
United KingdomVisa-free90 days
United StatesVisa-free90 days
UruguayVisa-free90 days
UzbekistanEmbassy visa—
VanuatuEmbassy visa—
Vatican CityVisa-free90 days
VenezuelaVisa-free90 days
VietnamEmbassy visa—
YemenEmbassy visa—
ZambiaEmbassy visa—
ZimbabweEmbassy visa—

Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.

Germany94 of 199 passports visa-freePoland94 of 199 passports visa-freeSlovakia94 of 199 passports visa-freeAustria94 of 199 passports visa-freeHungary94 of 199 passports visa-free

Frequently asked questions

Do US citizens need a visa for Czechia?

No. The United States is on the EU's list of countries whose nationals are exempt from the visa requirement for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period. ETIAS, the new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers with a EUR 20 application fee, is not yet in operation, the EU says.

How much does a Czech Schengen visa cost?

The Czech Foreign Ministry gives the Schengen visa fee as EUR 90; children aged 6–11 pay EUR 45 and children up to 6 are free of charge. The visa is for intended stays not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period. The Visa Code says applications are decided within 15 calendar days, a period that may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases.

Does Czechia use the euro?

No. The EU says Czechia's currency is the Czech koruna (CZK) and that Czechia is preparing to adopt the euro. The Government of Canada says non-official currency exchange is illegal, and advises never exchanging money with vendors on the street and using official exchange offices or banks only.

Is ETIAS required to enter Czechia?

Not yet. The EU says ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications are being collected, and that it will announce the start date several months before launch. The ETIAS website lists a EUR 20 application fee.

How long can I stay in Czechia without a visa?

Nationals of the countries on the EU's visa-exempt list can stay no more than 90 days in any 180-day period on the territory of the Schengen states; the 180 days preceding each day of stay are considered. EU citizens can travel with a valid passport or national ID card.

Sources & verification

Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:

Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source