Schengen area is formed by the following states:

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

“90/180 rule”

According to a “90/180 rule,” a foreigner can stay in the Czech Republic/Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within any 180 days. After a 90 days long stay, it is necessary to travel out of the Czech Republic/Schengen area. This rule does not pertain to aliens who: (1) are citizens of those countries with which the Czech Republic has concluded a bilateral visa free agreement before its entry into the EU (i.e. Argentina, Chile, Costarica, Croatia, Honduras, Israel, Malaysia, Panama, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Uruguay) – these aliens however need to travel out of the Schengen area after a 90 days long stay at least for one day; (2) stayed in the Czech Republic/Schengen areabased on a Schengen visa and their subsequent stay will be based on a Czech national visa (these visas are issued only in exceptional cases); (3) will stay in the Czech Republic based on a long-term visa or long-term residency permit.

Information for submitting the application

The application for a Schengen visa is submitted in person at a relevant consulate of the Czech Republic (list of the consulates of the Czech Republic can be found here). 

The application for a Schengen visa can be lodged at a consulate of the country that is representing Czech Republic in issuing Schengen visas.

The application should be lodged not earlier than 3 months before the intended travel to the Czech Republic/Schengen area and not later than 5 days before the travel.

The diplomatic mission will issue a Schengen (short-term) visa if the following conditions have been met:

•    the travel document, into which the visa is to be affixed entitles its holder to enter the territory of all the states of the Schengen area;

•    all conditions stipulated by the refusal in the extent of Regulation (EC) No. 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code) must be met.

Diplomatic mission of the Czech Republic will issue the Schengen (short-term) visa only when it is competent to do so, i.e. if the Czech Republic is the state in which the only or the main purpose of the trip is located or if the main purpose of the trip cannot be determined, if the stay in the Czech Republic will be the longest, relative to stays in other states of the Schengen area. If this formula cannot be used, the diplomatic mission of the Czech Republic will issue the visa if the Schengen area will be entered into through the territory of the Czech Republic, i.e. it is the first state to be visited during the trip.

Number of entries

The validity period of a Schengen (short-term) visa is determined in accordance with the length of travel, for a maximum of 5 years. According to expected number of stays, Schengen (short-term) visa may be issued as follows:

single entry – entitles to a single uninterrupted stay during the period stipulated in the visa, which may not exceed 90 days;

double entry visa – entitles to two stays during the period stipulated in the visa, while the sum of the lengths of stay may not exceed 90 days within 180 days;

multiple entry visa – entitles to multiple stays during the period stipulated in the visa, while the sum of the lengths of stay may not exceed 90 days within a 180 days.

Schengen visa with validity longer than 180 days are issued for a period of stay of 90 days.

Processing time of visa applications

Application for a Schengen (short-term) visa can be filed within 3 months of the planned trip. Applications are in most cases reviewed within 5 days. In individual cases, the review period can be extended up to 30 days and in exceptional cases up to 60 days. It is recommended not to file a visa application later than 15 days before the trip, as it cannot be otherwise guaranteed it will be reviewed in time. Holders of multiple Schengen (short-term) visa can file a visa application before the current visa has expires, provided it has been valid for at least 6 months. Visa applications of family members of EU citizens will be reviewed in the shortest possible period of time.

In case of visa refusal followed by an appeal of the applicant, the processing time of the appeal is 30 days.

Particulars of a visa application

Particulars for submission of Schengen (short-term) visa applications are given in the individual chapters of this segment. Supporting documents may generally not be older than 180 days, except for the travel document, registry documents and photograph corresponding current appearance. Police of the Czech Republic may at its own discretion request presentation of the relevant supporting documents, incl. proof of travel medical insurance, during the border control.

Forms

A visa application is submitted on an official form “Application for Schengen Visa,” which is provided by the diplomatic mission or can be downloaded here Schengen Visa Application Form (DOCX, 59 KB). Form issued by another Schengen state may be used as well. Application form must be filled out completely, legibly, in Latin capital letters.An incomplete or illegible application form will be returned for re-working. The application form must be signed at the last page.   

Photograph

Photograph must be pasted to the application form and must correspond to the current appearance of the applicant.

Invitation

An invitation verified by the Alien Police can replace some of the supporting documents. The inviting person/legal entity undertakes to cover the costs:

• subsistence of the alien;
• accommodation of the alien;
• health care expenses, incl. medical or body remnants repatriation;
• possible deportation of the alien.  

Visa extension

Extension of a Schengen (short-term) visa may be requested in exceptional valid cases through the Alien Police. Request may be submitted not earlier than 30 days and not later than 3 days prior to the visa expiration. The period of stay cannot be extended if no reasons deserving special merit have been found.

Visa cannot be extended at the diplomatic mission nor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Admissibility stamp

After submitting the application, an admissibility stamp is attached to the travel document of the applicant (if the application is found admissible). The stamp has no legal implications for the applicant ort he application submitted.

Miscellaneous

A minor below 15 years of age must attach to the application a written consent of his parent or other legal guardian if he/she does not travel in the company of his parent or legal guardian.  

 

Information regarding the processing of personal data in the Schengen Information System can be found at the following address:  https://old.uoou.cz/en/assets/File.ashx?id_org=200156&id_dokumenty=2255