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The Czech Republic is a part of the Schengen area

Here you can find general information about the Schengen area, Schengen visas and other related information. Czech Republic fully joined the Schengen area in the end of 2007.

At present, the term "Schengen" is most often used to refer to the so-called Schengen area where no border checks are carried out at common borders, which can thus be crossed at any time and anywhere. The abolition of border checks is accompanied by various compensatory measures involving extensive cooperation.

The Czech Republic is a part of the Schengen area i.e. a group of countries which carry out no checks at their common borders and which have brought their efforts to fulfill the right of free movement of persons to a successful end.

More information about the Schengen area can be found here


SCHENGEN AREA

Schengen area consists of the following countries:

 

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland


ENTRY TO THE SCHENGEN AREA

Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein shall undergo a minimum check in order to establish their identities on the basis of verification of the validity of their travel documents (identity card or passport).


Third-country nationals shall undergo a thorough check in which their identity is checked on the basis of verification of the validity of the presented passport and also by conforming with all conditions for entering the Schengen territory, i.e.:

- they have a valid travel document or documents valid for crossing the border,

- they have a valid visa, if required, except where they hold a valid residence permit,

- they justify the purpose and conditions of their intended stay, and they have sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to their country of origin, or are in a position to acquire such means lawfully,

- they are not persons for whom an alert has been issued in the Schengen Information System (SIS) for the purposes of refusing entry,

- they are not considered to be a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Schengen states

The travel documents of third-country nationals shall be stamped on entry to and exit from the Schengen area.


Third-country nationals - family members of citizens of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland or Liechtenstein, shall undergo a minimum check when crossing the external borders in order to establish their identities on the basis of presentation of a passport and documents proving the family tie with a citizen of the EU and above stated countries. If they are subject to visa obligation, they are, in principle, required to present a visa. The visa is not required for stays which do not exceed 3 months if they hold a valid residence permit or card issued by an EU Member State or any of the countries stated above. Family members may be issued a visa at the border crossing point. In order to enter the Schengen territory, family members must not be registered in the SIS as persons to whom entry shall be refused as they represent a genuine threat to the public policy and internal security of any of the Schengen states. The existence of a permanent threat must be reported in each case of refusal of entry. Travel documents of family members are stamped when crossing the external Schengen borders, except when they present a residence permit authorizing them to stay on the territory of the EU and above mentioned countries.

These rules are applicable under the condition that family members accompany or join the EU citizens or citizens from the above mentioned countries. If this is not the case, the rules for third-country nationals apply.



STAYING IN THE SCHENGEN AREA


Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have the right to stay on the territory of the EU and above mentioned countries for up to 3 months without any conditions or formalities, except that they have to be in possession of a valid identity card or a passport.

For stays exceeding 3 months, they may assert the right to apply for a residence permit of which issuance is guided by the rules of the concerned country - in the case of the Czech Republic, this involves issuance of a temporary residence confirmation or a permanent residence permit.


Third-country nationals

Third-country nationals not subject to the visa obligation may stay on the territory of the Schengen states for up to 3 months within a six month period from their first entry. Duration of individual stays in different Schengen states cumulate. Those who have already stayed on the territory of the Schengen states for 3 months have to leave the Schengen area.

For stays exceeding 3 months, they need a long-term visa or a residence permit issued in accordance with the national legislation of the country in question.

Third-country nationals subject to the visa obligation may enter and stay in the Schengen area only on the basis of a uniform Schengen visa (Category B + C) which allows the holder to stay on the territory for the period stipulated on the visa, which does not exceed the period of 3 months starting from the date of first entry into the Schengen territory.

If their stay lasts for longer than 3 months, they need a long-term visa or a residence permit issued in accordance with the national legislation of the country in question. A long-stay visa (Category D) entitles its holder to pass through the territories of the Schengen states (for a maximum of 5 days) to the country which issued the visa (transit is not possible through the territory of the state for which the person in question shall be refused entry). It is also possible to issue a "combined" visa of Category D + C, which shall, for a period of not more than 3 months from the initial date of validity of the visa, be valid concurrently as a Schengen short-stay visa entitling the holder to stay also on the territory of other Schengen states. Third-country nationals in possession of a residence permit of the Czech Republic or another Schengen state, Switzerland or Liechtenstein may stay visa-free on the territory of other countries for up to 3 months.

For stays exceeding 3 months, they need a long-stay visa or a residence permit issued in accordance with the national legislation of the country in question.


Third-country nationals - family members of citizens of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, who accompany or join a citizen of the EU or any of the countries stated above, may stay in the Czech Republic (or on the territory of another Schengen state, Switzerland or Liechtenstein) for up to 3 months without a visa provided they are in possession of a valid passport.

When staying with a citizen of the EU or of the countries stated and the duration of the intended stay exceeds 3 months, they are obliged to apply for a temporary residence permit within a three-month period from the date of entry into the Czech Republic - this permit will be granted by means of a residence card of a family member of an EU citizen.


Report duty after the Czech Republic joins the Schengen area

Under certain conditions, every foreign national is obliged to report his/her presence or the place of his/her intended stay on the territory of the Czech Republic to the unit of the Alien Police in charge of the territory of the intended place of stay in the Czech Republic:

- within 3 working days from the day of entering the Czech Republic

• third-country nationals who are/are not subject to the visa obligation

• family members - third-country nationals who neither accompany nor join a citizen of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland or Liechtenstein

- within 30 days from the day of entering the Czech Republic:

• citizens of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein with an intended duration of stay exceeding 30 days

• family members - third-country nationals - with an intended stay exceeding 30 days who reside in the Czech Republic together with a citizen of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland or Liechtenstein

The above mentioned does not apply when the duty to report lies with the accommodation provider.

The entry of the Czech Republic into the Schengen area does not affect rules and conditions for granting international protection. A foreign national who has been granted a temporary protection or asylum in the Czech Republic may move within the Schengen states for a period of up to 3 months.



SCHENGEN VISAS


Visas issued by the Schengen states which entitle their holders to enter into and stay for a short-term period on the whole territory of the Schengen area.

There are several types of uniform Schengen visas:

Airport transit visa (Category A)

passing through the transit areas of the airport during a stop-over or transfer, does not entitle the holder to request the entry into the territory of the state)

Visa forstays up to 3 months (Category C: short-stay visa)

Diplomatic missions of the Czech Republic will issue a Schengen visa valid for the entire Schengen territory provided all conditions for granting the requested type of visa have been met, including i.a.:

- applicant is not a person for whom an alert has been issued in the SIS for the purpose of refusing entry,

- there is no reasonable danger that the applicant may, when staying on the territory of other contracting countries, be a threat to its security or public policy or international relations of other Schengen states,

- the Czech Republic is the main destination or, in the case of passing through territories of several countries, the first Schengen state which shall be entered by the applicant of this type of visa,

- a travel document to which a visa shall be affixed entitles the holder to enter the territory of all Schengen states. A short-stay visa entitles a third-country national to enter the territory of Schengen states, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to pay a continuous visit or several visits, the duration of which does not exceed 3 months over a six month period from the first day of entry into the territory of these states. The visa may be issued for one, two or several entries.

A long-stay visa (Category D)

does not belong to the group of uniform Schengen visas - this type of visa represents a national visa for stays over 90 days..