What categories have foreign countries newly been divided into based on the risk of infection?

The protective measure of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic distinguishes between five categories of countries:

• low-risk countries (green)
• medium-risk countries (orange)
• high-risk countries (red)
• very-high-risk countries (dark red)
• extreme-risk countries (black)

The so-called traffic light system for travel has fixed criteria and is therefore automatic and predictable. The Czech Republic is proceeding in accordance with EU recommendations. At the same time, the division of countries into individual categories will continue to be regularly updated.

What are the conditions for returning to the Czech Republic from individual categories of countries?

• LOW RISK (green): Travellers can come to the Czech Republic from these countries without any restrictions.
• MEDIUM RISK (orange): Before traveling to the Czech Republic, foreigners traveling from these countries must fill in an arrival form and undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 48 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have a written confirmation of the result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival. / Persons returning to the country who have been vaccinated in the Czech Republic are exempt from quarantine and testing 22 days after receiving the first shot. / Czech citizens, their family members, EU citizens with a certificate of temporary residence and foreigners with a permanent residence permit must fill in an arrival form before entering the Czech Republic and, if arriving by public transport, undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 48 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have a written confirmation of the result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival. / Czech citizens, their family members, EU citizens with a certificate of temporary residence and foreigners with a permanent residence permit entering the Czech Republic by private transport must undergo an antigen or PCR test no later than 5 days after arrival. Before entering the Czech Republic, they must fill in an arrival form. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival. / Exceptions for vaccinees in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Austria, Slovakia and Slovenia.
• HIGH RISK (red): Before traveling to the Czech Republic, foreigners traveling from these countries must fill in an arrival form and undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 48 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have a written confirmation of the result. Subsequently, they must undergo a second PCR test (antigen is not sufficient) administered in the Czech Republic, no later than 5 days after arrival. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival. / Persons returning to the country who have been vaccinated in the Czech Republic are exempt from quarantine and testing 22 days after receiving the first shot. / Czech citizens, their family members, EU citizens with a certificate of temporary residence and foreigners with a permanent residence permit must fill in an arrival form before entering the Czech Republic and, if arriving by public transport, undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 48 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have a written confirmation of the result. Subsequently, they must undergo a second PCR test (antigen is not sufficient) administered in the Czech Republic, no later than 5 days after arrival. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival. / Czech citizens, their family members, EU citizens with a certificate of temporary residence and foreigners with a permanent residence permit entering the Czech Republic by private transport must undergo a PCR test (antigen is not sufficient) administered in the Czech Republic, no later than 5 days after arrival. Before entering the Czech Republic, they must fill in an arrival form. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival. / Exceptions for vaccinees in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Austria, Slovakia and Slovenia. / An exemption from testing applies to: 1) persons who have recovered from Covid-19 in the last 180 days (must be proved by a certificate from a doctor from the EU+ country where the isolation took place); 2) persons vaccinated in EU+ countries, where at least 22 days have passed since the first dose in the case of a two-dose vaccine or 14 days in the case of a single-dose vaccine (must be demonstrated by a national certificate); 3) citizens of the Czech Republic and EU+ citizens with a temporary or permanent residence permit issued in the Czech Republic who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the EMA in countries outside the EU+ (must be proved by a national certificate).
• VERY HIGH RISK (dark red): Before traveling to the Czech Republic, travellers from these countries must fill in an arrival form and undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 48 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have a written confirmation of the negative result. Subsequently, a second PCR test must be administered in the Czech Republic no earlier than the 5th day and no later than the 14th day after entry. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival. / Czech citizens, their family members, EU citizens with a certificate of temporary residence and foreigners with a permanent residence permit must fill in an arrival form before entering the Czech Republic and undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 48 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have a written confirmation of the result. Subsequently, they must submit a second PCR test (antigen is not sufficient) administered in the Czech Republic, which can be administered no earlier than the 5^th day and no later than the 14^th day after entry. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival. / Czech citizens and EU citizens with a temporary or permanent residence permit issued in the Czech Republic who have recovered from Covid-19 in an EU country in the last 180 days or are fully vaccinated may undergo a PCR test in the Czech Republic immediately upon arrival. / An exemption from testing applies to: 1) persons who have recovered from Covid-19 in the last 180 days (must be proved by a certificate from a doctor from the EU+ country where the isolation took place); 2) persons vaccinated in EU+ countries, where at least 22 days have passed since the first dose in the case of a two-dose vaccine or 14 days in the case of a single-dose vaccine (must be demonstrated by a national certificate); 3) citizens of the Czech Republic and EU+ citizens with a temporary or permanent residence permit issued in the Czech Republic who have been fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the EMA in countries outside the EU+ (must be proved by a national certificate).
• EXTREME RISK (black): Before traveling to the Czech Republic, travellers from these countries must fill in an arrival form and undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 48 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have a written confirmation of the negative result. Subsequently, a second PCR test must be administered in the Czech Republic no earlier than the 10th day and no later than the 14th day after entry. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result.

Notes:

Czech citizens, their family members, EU citizens with a certificate of temporary residence and foreigners with a permanent residence permit, whose test showed the presence of coronavirus less than 14 days before the planned entry into the Czech Republic, must travel to and then within the Czech Republic by private transport, if possible. In case of travel by public transport, the carrier must be informed about a possible persistent COVID-19 infection prior to the start of the journey and, regardless of the mode of transport, the traveller must inform the healthcare professionals who administer the coronavirus test and the locally competent regional hygiene station after entering the Czech Republic. Travellers are also obliged to observe the rules of isolation after entering the Czech Republic, for a period of 3 days after symptoms have dissipated, but for at least 14 days from the first positive coronavirus test, unless the regional hygiene station decides otherwise.

Which countries are in which categories?

• LOW RISK (green): Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao, Madeira (Portugal), Hungary, Malta, Germany, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Northern Macedonia, Republic of Singapore, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Taiwan, USA, Vatican
• MEDIUM RISK (orange): Andorra, Balearic Islands (Spain), Ireland, Cyprus, Lithuania, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal (including the Azores)
• HIGH RISK (red): Spain (including Canary Islands)
• VERY HIGH RISK (dark red): Dark red countries include all countries not listed in the previous categories.
• EXTREME RISK (black): Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Eswatini (Swaziland), India, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania (including Zanzibar and Pemba), Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe

In which category are countries that are not members of the EU or the Schengen area?

Countries that are not members of the EU or the Schengen area and are not explicitly listed in another category are classified as "dark red".

In which category are the Portuguese and Spanish islands?

Island areas – the Azores (Portugal), Madeira (Portugal) and the Canary Islands (Spain) – are assesed separately based on epidemiological data from the region. You can find current classification above.

Are there any exceptions to the new travel rules?

Exceptions continue to apply to commuters, international transport, and transit through the Czech Republic. Necessary trips abroad without subsequent testing obligations will now be allowed only if they do not exceed 12 hours. You can find all the exceptions in the protective measure of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic.

Who can I contact if I haven't found the answer to my questions here?

If you have specific questions, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs information centre for travel abroad at +420 222 264 222. The staff are ready to answer questions from the public on weekdays from 8:00 – 16:00 or you can contact the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Pristina: tel. +383 38 246 676, email: pristina@embassy.mzv.cz​

Additional information for entry and stay:

• Step-by-step guide on quarantine measures
• Ministry of the Interior
• Ministry of Health