VISA INFO FOR PRAGUECzech RepublicVisa Information
Prague, Czech Republic receives millions of visitors, travelers, businessmen, businesswomen, and students from around the globe each year. Many come from neighboring European nation states such as Germany, Slovakia and Austria. While many others visit us from across the pond in North America or the complete other side of the world from Australia and New Zealand. And no matter where they come from, one of the first questions asked when planning a trip to another country is and should be, ‘Do I need a visa for Czech Republic?”
Below we have more information about the Czech Republic visa process. Please continue reading for more information regarding whether or not you will need a visa to enter the Czech Republic.
What visa do I need to enter the Czech Republic and Prague? Can I enter Prague without a visa?
The following is general information and should not be considered legal advice for travelers to the Czech Republic and Prague. Please always consult your country’s visa needs before traveling to any foreign country.
What is the Schengen Area and how does it affect my travels?
The Czech Republic is found within the Schengen Area of the European Union. This is a collation of 26 European nation states who have abolished typical border procedures and immigration policies concerning the same 26 nations. Therefore, travel, business and other daily activities can be carried out from one country to the next without additional passport, visa or travel documents as is typical when a citizen travels to a country other than his/her own. Those living and working within the Schengen Area share a common visa which allows for freedom of movement, whether for travel, business or studies, without additional visa processing.
Therefore, if you are a resident or citizens of one of these 26 Schengen Area countries, you do not need a visa for traveling to the Czech Republic for any reason. You can move around freely without meeting additional visa or passport requirements.
But before arriving in the Schengen Zone, you should find out if your country’s citizens are required to apply for and receive a visa before arriving. Many countries such as the United States, Canada, México, Brazil, Australia and South Korea will automatically receive a “Visa on Arrival” to any of the member Schengen countries. Other countries such as China, Thailand, Morocco, India, and Sudan will need to apply for a Schengen visa before arriving. The Schengen visa typically is valid for 90 days which begin once it has been activated at the first entry point to the entire Schengen Zone, but it pauses if you leave this zone for some time.
Please remember that these rules can change at any time and for any country, so always be sure to check in your home country or country of residence before traveling to Prague to make sure that when you arrive in this magical city, you will enter without a problem.
Czech Republic Visa Information
Travelers:
From the Schengen Area: no visa required.
From outside the Schengen Area, you should verify if you will receive a ‘visa on arrival’ or if you must apply before arriving.
Businessmen and Businesswomen:
If traveling for less than 90 days, follow the above information.
Students:
Short term visa: if you will be studying for less than 6 months (apply at a Czech embassy)
Long term visa: if you are studying for more than 6 months. (apply at a Czech embassy)
Workers:
Moving to the Czech Republic to work? You will need to apply for a long term visa for the purpose of work. This must be done at a Czech embassy before arrival.
More Czech Republic Visa Information:
Which countries are in the Schengen Area?
The 26 Schengen Area countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
What visa do I need if I am traveling for vacation or holiday to the Czech Republic?
If you are from a country within the Schengen Area, you do not need a visa to travel to Czech Republic.
If you are from outside the Schengen Area, you should verify if you will receive a ‘visa on arrival’ or if you must apply before arriving.
What is a ‘Visa on Arrival’?
A ‘visa on arrival’ is a visa issued in the airport or at the border crossing of a country at the time that you arrive. This means that you do not need to apply beforehand for this visa if you qualify according to your country of origin. The visa on arrival for the Schengen Area is typically valid for 90 days when you touch down in any Schengen Area country. If you are staying longer than 90 days you will need to apply for a long-term visa in the country of your stay.
What visa do I need if I’m traveling for work to the Czech Republic?
If you are traveling to the Czech Republic for work purposes, such as a business conference or meeting and will be here less than 90 days, then you do not need to apply for the long term visa. But be sure to verify if you need a Schengen Visa before arrival.
What visa do I need if I want to study in the Czech Republic?
If you are traveling for purposes of studies to the Czech Republic and will be here for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for either a short term visa for purposes of study (less than 6 months) or a long term visa for purposes of study (more than 6 months) before you arrive.
What visa do I need if I want to come live and work in the Czech Republic?
If your intentions are to come live and work full time in the Czech Republic, you will need to apply for a long term visa for the purpose of work. This must be done at a Czech embassy before arrival.
Important Note: Prague is located in the Schengen Zone, which is a free-travel zone within the European Union. It includes 26 countries in total. Depending on where you are coming from, you might need to secure a visa for the Schengen Zone before visiting the Czech Republic. Please be sure to consider this fact before making plans to visit Prague so that you do not experience any problems upon arrival. Also be be aware that the Czech Republic uses the Czech Korona (czk) rather than the euro since we are not in the eurozone. We look forward to your visit!
