Schengen Visa » Czechia » Czechia Visa Application Requirements

 Czechia Visa Application Requirements

Czechia is a landlocked country in Central Europe, formed after the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia on December 31, 1992. It signed the Schengen Agreement in 2007, during which year it became part of both the European Union and the Schengen Area.

Home to 10.8 million people, the country is a European tourist hub. Many of its major cities were founded during the Romanesque era and flourished during the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque eras, thus attracting tourists with their fairytale-like architecture.

Its capital, Prague is the fifth most visited European city after London, Paris, Istanbul and Rome. According to the Schengen Visa application statistics for consulates, the Czech consulates worldwide received 117,624 visa applications to Czechia in 2022 alone. It is estimated that over 20 million people visited the country in the same year.

Fun fact about Czechia: It holds the world’s record for the highest rate of beer consumption (no, it is not Germany).

Czechia Entry Requirements

Czechia border authorities require all EU nationals travelling to its territory to carry their passports with them.

As for non-EU nationals, these travellers are required to present the following documents to Czechia border police upon their arrival:

A valid passport or travel document. Issued in the last 10 years, and it should be valid for at least 3 months after your departure date.

A valid visa. If you are subject to the Czech visa regime.

Travel Medical Insurance. Covering your whole stay in Czechia and the whole territory of Europe.

Proof of sufficient funds for your intended stay in Czechia. Czechia wants you to show evidence of attesting around 42€ per each day you plan to remain in its territory.

The Czech border police may also ask you a couple of questions about your purpose for visiting Czechia, like:

What is your purpose for visiting Czechia?

How long do you intend to stay in Czechia?

Where are you going to stay in Czechia? Etc.

Upon checking your documents and asking you questions similar to the ones listed above, the Czech border officer will decide whether you should be permitted to enter Czechia or not. If you are permitted to enter Czechia, then thus you have also entered the Schengen territory.

Please, make sure that the Czech border officer stamps your passport when you enter Czechia. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained from Czechia.

Who Needs a Schengen Visa to Enter Czechia?

As a member state of the Schengen Zone, Czechia applies to travellers the common travel rules set by the Schengen states. As a result, some travellers need a visa to Czechia, while others do not, based on their nationality.

You will need a Schengen visa to enter the Czech territory in the continent of Europe for short-stays if you belong to one of the categories listed below:

Citizens of third-world countries that have not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states.

Citizens of third-world countries that have signed a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states but were previously rejected from entering Czechia or any other Schengen country.

What Type of Visa Do I Need to Enter Czechia?

According to your purpose of entry to Czechia, you must apply for one of the Schengen visa types for Czechia. Check the Schengen visa types for Czechia, and figure out which corresponds to your situation:

Czechia Airport Transit. If you need to enter the international transit zone of any of the Czech airports to take a flight that will take you to a non-Schengen country.

Czechia Tourist/Visitor Visa. Apply for this visa if you are going to Czechia for a vacation, to explore or sightsee, or to visit friends or family members residing in the country.

Czechia Business Visa. This is the visa you need to apply for if the purpose of your trip to Czechia is to attend a business meeting or other business-related activities in this country.

Czechia Visa for Official Visit. Apply for this visa if you plan to enter Czechia as a member of a foreign Official Delegation invited for an official visit.

Czechia Medical Visa. If you need to obtain medical treatment in a hospital located in Czechia, you should apply for this type of visa.

Czech Study Visa. If you wish to attend an up-to-three-month study country at an educational institution in Czechia or even hold an internship, you should apply for this visa type.

Czechia Visa for Cultural, Sports and Film Crews. Apply for this visa if you are going to attend an activity in Czechia that is related to sports or culture.

Please note that these visas allow you to remain in Czechia for a maximum of 90 days within a 6-month period. If you need a visa to stay in Czechia longer, apply for a Czech National Visa instead.

What Documents Are Required for a Czech Schengen Visa Application?

The mandatory required documents when applying for a short-term Czech visa are as follows:

Czech visa application form. Fulfil the form with your computer, print it and sign it at the end.

Two identical passport photos. The photos should be taken within the last three months in compliance with the photograph requirements for the Czech Schengen visa application.

Valid passport. Check your passport before applying since it should have at least two blank pages to be able to affix the visa sticker. In addition, it should be no older than 10 years and have a validity of at least three more months beyond the date you plan to exit Czechia and the whole territory of Schengen.

Copies of your previous visas. If you have ever held a visa issued by any world country, submit copies of them.

Round-trip Flight Itinerary. Which is a flight reservation with the dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Czechia.

Travel medical health insurance. A confirmation that you hold travel health insurance valid for the territory of Czechia and the whole Schengen Zone. Your insurance must cover medical emergencies in this zone with a minimum coverage of 30,000€.

Proof of accommodation. Proof of where you will stay during your time in Czechia. I.e. Hotel reservation for the whole duration of the intended stay in Czechia. Find and Book Hotels in Czechia!

Proof of sufficient financial funds. Czechia wants you to show evidence of attesting around 42€ per each day you plan to remain in its territory.

A cover letter. A personal letter in which you give details about why you wish to visit Czechia, the period you plan to stay there, and what you will be doing throughout your trip.

Proof of civil status. This could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.

Additional Czech Visa Requirements Based on Your Employment Status

Additionally, you will need to submit some extra documents when applying for a visa to Czechia, according to your employment status, as follows:

If employed:

Employment contract

Current bank statement for the latest 6 months

Leave permission from the employer

Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary

If self-employed:

A copy of your business license

Company bank statement for the latest 6 months

Income Tax Return (ITR)

If a student:

Proof of enrollment

No-objection certificate from school or university

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If retired:

Pension statement of the latest 6 months

If applicable:

Proof of regular income generated by a property for the last 6 months

>> Find more information on how to get a No-objection certificate (NOC).

Additional Czech Visa Requirements for Minors

Underage applicants wishing to travel to Czechia are required to submit the following additional documents for their short-stay visa application to Czechia:

Birth certificate of the minor travelling to Czechia.

Application form for a short-stay Czech visa. The form should be signed by both parents.

Family court order. This document should be submitted if only one parent has full custody of the child.

Certified copies of ID/passport of both parents. If both are alive. If the child has a guardian, copies of the guardian’s ID/passport should be submitted.

A notarized parental authorization to travel to Czechia, signed by both parents/guardian (s) if the minor will be travelling alone.

*Note: When applying at the Czech embassy/consulate in their home country, the guardian or parent should accompany their minors.

Additional Requirements Based on the Purpose of Entry to Czechia

The purpose of your visit to Czechia obliges you to add some extra documents to your application file to prove why you wish to visit Czechia. These documents are as follows:

Required Documents for an Airport Transit Schengen Visa to Czechia

When applying to obtain a Czech Airport Transit visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

A valid visa (if needed) for the final country one travels to.

The flight ticket for the final country you are travelling to.

Required Documents for a Business Schengen Visa to Czechia

When applying to obtain a Czech Business visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

Invitation letter from the Czech company you will be visiting and their contact details and address accompanied with the dates of your visit. They should also state if they will be covering the trip’s expenses.

A certificate from your employer (if applicable). In this letter, your employer should state why you are travelling to Czechia.

Proof of trip financing. Regarding the applicant’s expenses during their stay in Czechia, either the employer or the partner company must state coverage of expenses on the letter or invitation.

Required Documents for a Student Schengen Visa to Czechia

When applying to get a Czech Student visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

An enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses (school/university/language course / etc.) in Czechia.

No objection letter from the educational institution where you are currently enrolled (if applicable).

An internship agreement signed between the company in Czechia, the establishment of origin and the trainee.

Required Documents for a Medical Schengen Visa to Czechia

When applying to get a visa to receive medical care in Czechia, you must provide the following additional documents:

A local medical report. Issued by a doctor/clinic/hospital in your home country, confirming that you need medical treatment in Czechia.

A medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in Czechia confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation.

Proof that you have sufficient financial means to pay the medical and related expenses throughout your treatment.

Required Documents for a Schengen Visa to Czechia for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes

When applying to get a Czech visa for the purpose of attending a Cultural / Sports / Religious Event in Czechia, you must provide the following additional documents:

Event Information. As:

Invitation letter from the relevant body in Czechia with details on the nature of events or activities that are to be held in Czechia.

Entry tickets to the event.

Enrollment conditions.

Detailed program of the event in Czechia.

Other documents that present the Names of the applicants (crew members) and other relevant information about the event.

Proof of previous performances. Participation in previous festivals and ceremonies (cultural, religious), sports competitions, winner’s certificates, and proof of world/international ranking (sports).

Letter of the national federation on behalf of which the applicant is supposed to participate in the sports competition; on official letterhead; original, duly signed and stamped

Required Documents for a Czech Schengen Visa for the Wife/Husband of a Czech Citizen

When applying to get a Czech visa as the spouse of a Czech national/citizen, you must provide the following additional documents:

Proof of Czech citizenship (ID card or consular card or certification of Czech nationality or naturalization order).

Czech marriage certificate.

Czech family record book.

Czech Schengen Visa for Members of Official Delegations

When applying to get a Czech visa as a member of an official delegation, you must provide the following additional documents:

The official invitation copy.

Proof about the purpose of the journey (negotiations, meetings, events by intergovernmental organizations, consultations).

How to Apply for a Czech Short-Stay Visa?

To apply for a Schengen Visa to Czechia for stays up to 90 days, you will have to follow the steps listed below:

Check if you need a short-stay visa to Czechia.

Select the right Czech visa type.

Find out where you need to apply for a Czech visa. 

Complete and print the application form for a Czech visa.

Collect the Czech visa requirements.

Schedule a visa appointment.

Attend your visa interview.

Where to Apply for a Czech Short-Stay Visa?

Depending on how the competent authorities of Czechia in your country of residence have regulated visa submission and processing, you may have to apply at one of the following:

The Czech Embassy in your country of residence

A Czech consulate

A Visa Application Center to which Czechia has outsourced visa submission

The Embassy / Consulate of another Schengen country to which Czechia has outsourced visa submission

Who Can Apply for a Schengen Visa at the Czech Embassy/Consulate/VAC?

If Czechia is the only country you will be visiting in the Schengen Zone, submit your short-stay visa application at the Czech embassy/consulate / VAC in your country of residence

In the other case, if you are visiting other countries as well, submit your  Schengen visa for Czechia to the Czech competent body for visa admission in your country of residence only in the case:

You will spend more days in Czechia than in the other countries.

You will spend an equal amount of days in each country, but you will enter the Schengen Zone through Czechia.

Be aware that to be eligible to apply for a Czech short-stay visa; you must be either a citizen of the country from where you are applying or a temporary/permanent resident there. Note that you cannot apply for a short-stay Czech visa from a country where you are currently on a visa.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Czech Visa?

The processing time for a Czech Schengen visa for stays up to 90 days is as follows:

Normal cases take up to 15 days to be processed.

Applications filed at peak season when the consulate is receiving a lot of applications take up to 30 days.

Extraordinary cases take up to 60 days.

Therefore, you are strongly recommended to submit your Czech short-stay visa application as soon as possible, though not earlier than three months before your trip to Czechia.

How Much Does It Cost to Apply for a Czech Visa?

You must pay a fee of €80 to get your Czech Schengen Visa application processed. The fee for a short-stay Schengen visa to Czechia is €40, whereas children under the age of 6 do not need to pay any fees.

Still, some categories of applicants are free from paying the visa fee, or at least need to pay a lover Czech visa fee. Check the list of the Czech Schengen Visa fees to see if you belong to any of these categories!

How Long Can We Stay in Czechia Without a Visa?

If you are a national of a country that has not yet signed a visa-free agreement with the Schengen countries, you will be unable to enter Czechia or any other country (aside from for transiting).

Whereas, if you are a national of a visa-exempt country, then you will be able to enter and remain in Czechia and the other Schengen states for a maximum of 90 days within a 6-month period.

Make sure you are familiar with the 90/180 Schengen Visa Rule. Do not break this rule, not even for a day, or you might pay a price. The consequences of overstaying are shown here.

Can I Extend My Schengen Visa in Czechia?

Yes, you can extend your Czech Schengen visa, but only in exceptional cases where new facts and special reasons arise after entry into Czechia. You can apply for an extension of stay at regional directorates of the alien police service and their detached premises, i.e. inspectorates of the alien police.

Take the time to read How to Extend a Schengen Visa in Czechia to clarify under which circumstances and under what conditions you can be eligible to extend your Czech Schengen Visa.

Can My Czech Schengen Visa Be Revoked?

Yes, your Czechia visa can be revoked when it becomes evident to the competent Czech authorities conclude that the conditions for issuing the visa are no longer met.

Failure of the visa holder to provide the border officer with the entry requirements may also lead to a decision to annul or revoke the visa, though not automatically.

Secret Code: 1487-7945-7612-9834