Citizens of the U.S.A., Canada, and Mexico are not required to have a tourist visa to visit the Czech Republic/Schengen area for a period of up to 90 days in the within 6 months period. However, visas are required for stays exceeding 90 days. Furthermore, visas are required for work.

The validity of a passport or travel document has to be at least 90 days from the date of the departure from the Czech Republic. A valid passport or travel document shall have be isued within the previous 10 years.

Nevetherless, the citizens of the above mentioned countries must be insured health wise in order to enter the Czech Republic/Schengen territory.

Further necessary information concerning Travel Medical insurance you can find here.

The list of countries whose citizens do not require the visa.

Citizens of European Union (EU) countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom), citizens of European Economic Area (EEA) countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), and citizens of Switzerland, do not require a visa for any type of visit or stay in the Czech Republic as effective on May 1, 2004.

SCHENGEN STATES:

 

Switzerland:

• December 12, 2008 - land borders
• March 29, 2009 - international airports (supposed)

A Schengen visa issued by an Embassy or Consulate of the above countries allows the holder to travel freely inall of the issuing countries. Please be informed that you may still be refused entry at the border of the CzechRepublic if you do not meet all other admission requirements. A visa is just ONE of the requirements foradmission into the Czech Republic. If admission is denied, your visa will be withdrawn and you may be returnedto your country of origin.

 

Macedonia (FYROM), Serbia and Montenegro

With effect from December 19th, 2009, the citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) who are holders of biometric passports do not need a visa for their short-term stay on the territory of Schengen area except of the territories of the Great Britain and Ireland.

Short-term stay is a stay up to 90 days within the period of 180 days from the date of the first entry to Schengen area.

Visas will be still required from those citizens of the above-mentioned countries who are holders of the passports without biometric features and of the Serbian passports issued by the Specific Coordination Directorate in Belgrade.

You can find information also here.

If you are required to have a visa, please click here to find out where to apply.

INFORMATION FOR VISA APPLICANTS

The visa policy and procedures are regulated by Act No. 326/1999 on the Residence of Aliens in the Territory of the Czech Republic and Amendment to Some Acts as Amended.
Short-term visa applications procedures are within the competence of the diplomatic missions of the Czech Republic abroad. This means that the diplomatic missions are competent to issue airport visas, transit visas and visas for up to 90 days. Applications for long-term visas (visas for over 90 days) are within the competence of the Czech Republic Alien Police authorities.
According to Section 51 (2) of the above Act, there is no entitlement to a visa. A refusal to issue a visa is final and without appeal.
An applicant who has been refused a visa has the right to be informed orally about the reasons for such refusal in terms of Section 56 of the above Act. At the applicant's express request, the diplomatic mission will confirm such information in writing.
Applicants refused visas may reapply for a visa any time and attach the required documents. They may do so immediately after their previous application has been refused.

For more information please contact the officers of the visa section of the competent diplomatic mission.

Protection of personal data in the visa process

The personal data contained in visa applications are, in accordance with Act No. 101/2000 to regulate the protection of personal data and to amend certain acts as amended, provided exclusively to the competent authorities of the Czech Republic and serve for deciding about the granting or refusing a visa.
Applicants have the right of access to the relevant personal data kept on them, including the right to a correction of these personal data. Provided such personal data are inaccurate for the purpose of their processing, applicants may require an explanation or rectification. If such a request is found justified, the competent diplomatic mission will rectify the situation without delay. In the event the competent diplomatic mission fails to comply with such request, the applicants have the right to contact directly the Czech Republic Office for the Protection of Personal Data (Úřad pro ochranu osobních údajů ČR).

Address:
Úřad pro ochranu osobních údajů
Pplk. Sochora 27
170 00 Praha 7
Czech Republic
Contacts:
Tel.: +420 234 665 354
Fax: +420 234 665 501
e-mail: posta@uoou.cz

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE APPLICATION FOR THE LONG-TERM VISA

According to the applicable legislation , the government authority in charge of the residence of aliens in the Czech Republic is the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. Useful information and advice regarding the conditions of the residence of aliens in the Czech Republic can be found on the Interior Ministry website at www.mvcr.cz under "Advice and Services for Foreigners".

The issuance of Czech visas and long-term residence permits is governed by the Aliens Residence Act. According to this legislation, the visa and residence permit procedures fall within the competence of the Czech Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The full text of the Aliens Residence Act in English and Czech is also available on the website the Ministry of the Interior ( www.mvcr.cz).

The diplomatic missions of the Czech Republic are competent to decide on short-stay visa applications, i.e. applications for airport transit visas, transit visas or visas for a stay shorter than 90 days.

Applications for long-stay visas (visas for a stay exceeding 90 days), long-term and permanent residence permits are considered by the Czech Republic Aliens Police.

Aliens who intend to stay in the Czech Republic for more than three months should obtain a long-stay visa.

Applicants for a long-stay visa are required to personally submit the "Application for Czech Visa" form together with other required documents at a Czech diplomatic mission.

The applicant will be charged a visa application fee.

On receiving a long-stay visa application with other required documents, the mission will forward it to the Czech Republic Aliens Police for consideration and processing. Each application is considered separately. The result is sent back to the mission, which will notify the applicant. If the visa is granted, the mission will affix a visa sticker to the applicant' s travel document.

Before the long-stay visa sticker is affixed, the alien will be required to present a document proving that he/she has a travel medical insurance policy valid for the period of stay in the territory of the Czech Republic.

Information Booklet for Foreign Nationals

Last update: January 2010