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CzechiaEntry and visas

Czechia entry rules

Citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Serbia and Australia do not need to arrange a visa for Czechia in advance: the stay is up to 90 days. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye need a visa from a consulate before the trip.

Checked against official sources on 9 October 2026.

Entry rules by passport

For a tourist trip. Checked on 9 October 2026 against the official sources listed below the table.

The 90-in-180-days limit counts across the whole Schengen area, not Czechia alone. ETIAS is not running yet: once it starts, visa-free passports will need an online authorisation before travel.

Sources: EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, Annexes I and II · Directive 2004/38/EC, Art. 5 — entry of EU citizens (EUR-Lex) · European Commission — ETIAS · EUR-Lex — Regulation (EU) 2026/496 on Georgian official passports · Czech Foreign Ministry — limited visa services for Russian and Belarusian citizens · Czech Foreign Ministry — Russian passports accepted only if biometric

What is checked at the border

  • Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area.
  • Funds required by the Foreigners' Residence Act: up to 30 days — CZK 1,565 a day (≈ $72); over 30 days — CZK 46,950 (≈ $2,150) plus CZK 6,260 (≈ $287) for each full month; under 18 — half. Proof of prepaid services (tour, accommodation) can replace cash.
  • You may be asked to back up the purpose and plan of the trip: accommodation booking or host's invitation, itinerary or tour booking, return ticket.
  • At the Schengen external border, entries and exits are recorded in the EES with fingerprints and a photo; since 10.04.2026 it has fully replaced passport stamps.
  • Within 3 working days of entry you must report your address to the police; if you stay at a hotel, the hotel does it for you.

How to extend your stay

A short-stay visa is extended by the police under the EU Visa Code rules: free for force majeure or humanitarian reasons, €30 (≈ $34) for serious personal reasons. The law has no separate procedure to extend the 90 visa-free days.

Overstay penalties

Staying without a right to stay leads to an administrative expulsion with a ban on entering all EU and Schengen countries — up to 5 years; if you cannot prove you stayed within your visa-free or visa period, up to 3 years. It is also an offence: a fine of up to CZK 5,000 (≈ $229), or up to CZK 10,000 (≈ $458) if repeated.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Czechia?
Citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Serbia and Australia enter without a visa. Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye get a visa from a consulate before the trip.
How long can I stay in Czechia without a visa?
90 days in any 180 days for citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, the UK, the US, Canada, Serbia and Australia.
Can the stay be extended?
A short-stay visa is extended by the police under the EU Visa Code rules: free for force majeure or humanitarian reasons, €30 (≈ $34) for serious personal reasons. The law has no separate procedure to extend the 90 visa-free days.
What happens if I overstay?
Staying without a right to stay leads to an administrative expulsion with a ban on entering all EU and Schengen countries — up to 5 years; if you cannot prove you stayed within your visa-free or visa period, up to 3 years. It is also an offence: a fine of up to CZK 5,000 (≈ $229), or up to CZK 10,000 (≈ $458) if repeated.
What is checked on entry to Czechia?
Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area. Funds required by the Foreigners' Residence Act: up to 30 days — CZK 1,565 a day (≈ $72); over 30 days — CZK 46,950 (≈ $2,150) plus CZK 6,260 (≈ $287) for each full month; under 18 — half. Proof of prepaid services (tour, accommodation) can replace cash. You may be asked to back up the purpose and plan of the trip: accommodation booking or host's invitation, itinerary or tour booking, return ticket. At the Schengen external border, entries and exits are recorded in the EES with fingerprints and a photo; since 10.04.2026 it has fully replaced passport stamps. Within 3 working days of entry you must report your address to the police; if you stay at a hotel, the hotel does it for you.
How can I stay in Czechia longer?
A visa-free stay does not give the right to live in the country. A longer stay needs a long-term visa or a residence permit: employment — Employee Card (zaměstnanecká karta), eU Blue Card, own business — long-term visa for business, investor — residence permit for a significant investment, studies, family reunification.

Sources

Checked on 9 October 2026. Entry rules change: check them on the consulate website before you travel.