You may be able to visit the Czech Republic without a visa for a maximum of 90 days if you are from a country with a visa-free agreement (e.g., the US, Canada, Japan, etc.). However, many others need to apply for a visa before traveling to the Czech Republic.
You can get a Czech Republic visa at the nearest Czech embassy or consulate.
Do I Need a Visa to Go to the Czech Republic?
You do not need a Schengen visa to visit the Czech Republic if:
- You are an EU/EEA/Schengen citizen. You can work, live and visit the Czech Republic without any restrictions.
- You are a citizen of a country with a visa-free agreement with Schengen, such as the US, Canada, Australia, UK, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, etc. You will visit for a short time (max. 90 days).
Everyone else has to apply for a visa before entering the Czech Republic.
Types of Czech Republic Visas
Depending on the reason that you are travelling, you have different Czech Republic visas, such as:
- Czech Republic Schengen visa. A Schengen Visa allows you to stay in the Czech Republic for less than 90 days. This visa is perfect for visiting the Czech Republic for tourism, business, or medical treatment. Other than the Czech Republic, with this visa, you can visit all the other Schengen countries for up to 90 days.
- Czech Republic Transit visa. You may need an airport transit visa to transit through a Czech airport if you are a citizen of a few select countries.
- Czech Republic Work visa. Anyone outside the EU/EEA country or Switzerland needs a visa to work in the Czech Republic. Before you can apply for a work visa, you must have an offer of employment from a Czech employer. Czech work visas are issued for the duration of your work contract.
- Czech Republic Student visa. If you are from a non-EU/EEA country, you need a visa to study in the Czech Republic. On the other hand EU/EEA or Swiss nationals can study in the Czech Republic without a visa or a residence permit. You will just need to report to the Czech Republic police and inform them if you stay longer than 30 days.
- Czech Republic Family Reunification visa. You can apply for a family reunification visa to join a close family member living (legally) in the Czech Republic. Close family members usually include the spouse or partner and the minor children of the Czech citizen or resident.
- Czech Republic Digital Nomad visa. The digital nomad visa is a long-term business visa for freelancers, allowing you to stay in the Czech Republic and work with different companies. Foreign nationals looking to work and stay in the Czech Republic for less than a year can apply for a nomad visa.
Czech Republic Schengen Visa vs. Czech Long-Term Visa
Here are some of the differences between the Czech Schengen visa and the long stay visas:
| Schengen Visa | Long-Term Visa |
|---|---|
| Is a short-term visa. You can stay a maximum of 90 days, and you can not extend your visa. | You can stay for more than 90 days, but you can extend it even longer. |
| Is only issued for tourism, family visits, short term studies, medical reasons. | Is issued for work, study and family reunion in the Czech Republic. |
| You do not need a sponsor | You need a sponsor (e.g., your school, employer, or spouse) |
| You don’t need a residence permit to be allowed to stay | You need to register your living address and obtain a residence permit |
| The application is submitted at the nearest Czech embassy/consulate in your country. | The application is submitted at the nearest Czech embassy/consulate in your country. |
The Czech Republic Visa Application Process
You can apply for a Czech Republic visa at one of the following:
- The nearest Embassy of the Czech Republic is in your country.
- The embassy or consulate of another Schengen country that represents consular affairs of the Czech Republic (if there is no Czech Republic diplomatic representation in your country.)
- A private visa agency that the Czech Republic has outsourced visa submission services.
You can find the Czech Republic’s abroad consulates and embassies here. All the documents submitted must be in the Czech language or translated into Czech.
To apply for a Czech Republic visa, follow these steps:
Step 1. Book an Appointment
Making a visa appointment is required. Most of the time, applicants must have an in-person meeting appointment. You can make your appointment at the nearest Czech Republic consulate. You should set up your appointment at least two weeks before you plan to travel because it takes up to 15 days to hear a decision. During the holiday season, you have to apply even more in advance.
Step 2. Download Your Application Form
After you download the visa application form, make sure to fulfill the application with all your personal information and background. You can complete the visa application form in writing or electronically. Ensure you answer all the questions and do not leave any blank spaces. Sign in at the end.
Step 3. Prepare All the Required Documents
Some of the required documents for a Czech Republic visa are:
- The Czech Republic visa application form.
- Two recently taken passport pictures. Your pictures must follow the Schengen photo guidelines.
- Your passport. Your passport must have at least two blank pages and a validity of at least three months. If you have any previous Schengen visas, submit copies of the passport pages with the visa sticker.
- Evidence that you have purchased a return flight ticket. You do not need to purchase a flight ticket beforehand – especially since you do not know whether you will receive a visa. You can simply submit a booked flight itinerary.
- Valid travel health insurance. Your travel health insurance must be valid in the entire Schengen area, with an amount of at least €30,000.
- Proof of accommodation. You must submit a booked hotel reservation or a letter from a friend/relative in the Czech Republic.
- A Schengen visa cover letter. In the letter, you must explain in detail the reason for your trip, where you are planning on staying, etc.
- Civil status documents (marriage papers, adoption, birth certificate, etc.)
- Evidence that you can finance your stay in Czechia. You have to submit your bank statements or a letter of invitation from a sponsor in the Czech Republic.
For more detailed guideline of documents required for a Czech visa application, you can visit the article.
Step 4. Wait for a Response
The standard processing time for a response for a Czech Republic visa is 15 days. The time frame can be extended depending on when you submit your application or even depending on your specific case.
The embassy will send you an email or SMS after the decision for your application has been made.
Entering the Czech Republic After Receiving a Visa
After receiving a Czech Republic visa, you must enter the country before the expiry date. Make sure to take your identity document or passport where the visa is affixed.
Please also make sure you carefully read the latest updates on the Covid-19 entry requirements of the Czech Republic. You will likely need a vaccination card or a negative PCR test taken within the last two days.
Going From Long-Stay Visa to a Residence Permit in the Czech Republic
If you are a citizen coming to the Czech Republic from a foreign country, you must register your address at the Alien Policy Inspectorate within three days. You must do this to get a Czech residence permit and legalize your stay in the Czech Republic.
EU family members can register their staying place within a time frame of 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can I Do If My Application Is Refused?
If your application for a Czech Republic visa is rejected, you can:
- Appeal your visa rejection. You can submit the appeal within 15 days after your visa application is rejected. You can submit the request in person or by mail. Your visa rejection letter will have information on where, how, and when you can submit a visa appeal. Please be aware that you have to pay €60 for your appeal fee.
- You can re-apply for a new visa.
- Apply for a visa in one of the other Schengen countries.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Czech Visa?
It usually takes up to 15 days to process. It can be extended to 45 days in some cases, depending on the case and the application’s time. If you are applying for a visa during holidays or summer vacations, the processing time will take longer. If you are a family member of an EU citizen, your application will be reviewed as soon as possible.
How Long Can I Stay in Czechia With a Visa?
You can stay up to 90 days in the Czech Republic and all Schengen countries. A Czech visa allows a short-term stay in the Czech Republic for tourism, business, or family visits.
If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you can apply for a Czech long-term D visa, allowing you to stay there for a year. In that case, you will also have to register your address and obtain a temporary residence permit.
You can calculate the number of days you can stay in Czechia through the 90/180 rule calculator.
Can I Extend my Stay in Czechia?
If someone wants to stay in the Czech Republic for longer than three months, they have two options:
- Apply for an extension. Extensions for a Czech Schengen visa are granted only in certain conditions:
- The visa holder has proof of force or humanitarian reasons preventing them from leaving the Czech Republic before the expiry of the visa or the stay duration authorized by the visa. The Czech Alien Police will assess these cases. These kinds of extensions are free of charge.
- The visa holder holds solemn proof of personal reason preventing them from leaving the Czech Republic before the expiry of the visa. The Czech Alien Police will assess these cases. For this type of extension, you are obligated to pay a fee of 30 euros.
- Apply for the Czech Republic long-stay visa. If you want to stay in the Czech Republic for longer than 90 days, you must apply for a long-stay visa at a Czech embassy or consulate beforehand. You can apply for a long-stay visa if you travel for work, studies, or family reunification.
What Are the Most Common Questions During a Czech Republic Visa Interview?
Here are some of the most common questions you might be asked during your Czech visa application interview:
- What is your name?
- Are you married? If yes, for how long?
- Do you have children? If yes, how many and how old are they?
- What is the reason for your visit?
- Are you travelling alone?
- What do you do in your living country?
- Are you working right now?
- Can you show us your statement?
- Have you traveled before?
- What is your educational qualification?
- Do you have any proof that you will return to your home country after your visa expires?
Generally, all questions aim to determine why you want to visit the Czech Republic and whether you pose a risk of overstaying your visa illegally.
What is the Difference Between a Czech Long-Stay Visa and Residence Permit?
The difference between a Czech long-stay visa and a residence permit is:
- The long-stay visa is issued for multiple entries and a maximum of one year. The long-stay visa is issued for health, sport, study, scientific research, culture, family, entrepreneurship, etc.
- The residence permit is issued for more than one year. The residence permit is issued for employment (blue or employment card), study, scientific research, and family unification.
In short, you enter the Czech Republic with a long-stay visa, and then you must apply for a residence permit (if you intend to stay longer than one year).
Can I Get a Visa To Transit Through a Czech Airport?
Yes. The transit visa of the Czech Republic is only valid for one or two entries, and you can only stay in the transit zone until your next flight. You cannot enter the Czech Republic or any other country in the Schengen Area, and you cannot leave the airport.
You need a visa to transit to a Czech airport if you are from one of the following countries:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Chad
- Egypt
- India
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Yemen