Czech Republic visa
Czech Republic tourist visa application, requirements, price, and processing time
- nTourist visanot required
- nBusiness visanot required
- nTransit visanot required
Traveling as a tourist in different places is usually an enjoyable experience. Still, sometimes it can be very stressful if you have to apply for a visa. Finding out which documents you need and how to prepare them can take time, which can be very challenging.
The Czech Republic tourist visa is also known as a Schengen visa. That is because the Czech Republic is a part of the Schengen Agreement, so with a Czech visa, you can visit all the countries that are a part of the Schengen area (and vice versa).
Czech Republic Schengen Visa Requirements
The documents required for a Czech Republic Schengen visa are:
Fill in the application form. The application must be fully completed and signed by the applicant. If the applicant is a minor, the application must be signed by the parents or legal guardians.
Your original passport. The passport must be valid for at least three months after the return trip, with at least two blank pages to affix the visa.
One passport-sized picture. Some embassies can ask you for two passport pictures. The photos must follow Schengen visa photo guidelines.
Employment status. Documentation proving if you are a student, self-employed, unemployed, or retired. E.g.:
Work contract (if employed)
Letter from the university (for students)
Proof of pensions (if retired)
Company deeds or tax returns (if self-employed)
Schengen travel insurance. You need a document proving that your travel insurance can cover all the risks of medical problems while traveling, with a minimum coverage of €30,000.
Financial status. Documents proving that you are financially stable and can finance yourself while staying in the Czech Republic.
Flight/ticket confirmation. Proof that you have purchased (or at least booked) a return ticket to your home country.
Proof of accommodation. Your hotel reservation details or any other accommodations you have made (Airbnb, staying with a friend, family member, etc.)
A detailed travel plan. You must provide a detailed travel plan to visit any Schengen countries other than the Czech Republic.
Czech Republic Tourist Visa Application
The Czech Schengen visa application
Czech Republic Visa Fees
The standard Czech Schengen visa fee for an adult is 80 Euros. Certain types of applicants (most students, children under 6) are exempt from all visa fees. To get a Schengen visa for the Czech Republic, you will likely have to submit a service payment with your visa application-this is a separate cost from the visa fee. Please note that all fees are non-refundable in the case of visa rejection.
Czech Schengen Visa Processing Time
The processing time for a Czech tourist visa usually takes from 10-15 days. The processing time depends on several factors (if the embassy needs more information regarding your case, the holidays, summer vacation), etc., and can go up to a month or longer. You will receive a notification by email or SMS when the decision for your visa application has been returned.
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Czech Republic Visa Policy
The visa policy of the Czech Republic is one and the same as the visa policy of the Schengen Area. The Czech Republic is a Schengen country, joining the bloc by signing the Agreement. By ratifying the Agreement, it became an official Schengen State with a shared visa policy with other member states. This Schengen visa policy allows citizens of the bloc to travel to individual countries in the Union by air, road, and sea without visas, and they can stay for up to 90 days in 180-day periods. As a Schengen citizen, you can also travel to the county with a valid ID card if you don’t have a passport.
The Schengen Area consists of 23 member states and 4 non-European Union countries. Apart from these countries, holders of Schengen visas or Schengen citizens can also travel to Romania, Cyprus, and Bulgaria, which are non-Schengen countries but recognize the Schengen accord. However, the Republic of Ireland doesn’t share the same policy with the Czech Republic or the others, as it has a separate policy.
It is also important to point out that nationals of Single market countries in the EU are exempted from holding visas when visiting the Czech Republic, and they can reside in the country, but the duration is limited to prescribed European Union treaties.
Czech ETIAS
The European Travel Information and Authorization System is an electronic authorization system designed for nationals from visa-exempt countries. If you qualify under the Schengen protocol for visa-free entry, you don’t need to apply for visas to travel to the Czech Republic. However, you must apply for Czech ETIAS as a necessity to travel. ETIAS is a security screening system for vetting the Identity of persons from approved countries. The system will screen your information across several databases, and if no alert is triggered, your application will be approved. The system protects member nations from threats and checks illegal migration.
Before now, visa-exempt nationals could visit Schengen states with only valid passports, but that is set to change by early 2024. Visitors may or may not enter the country with this document as it is still under testing and optional. However, ETIAS will become mandatory in 2024.
To apply for ETIAS, you must submit your application online, and attached to the form should be your passport and other travel document. The application form can only be submitted after paying the fee with your credit or debit card. Also, note that the application fee is only charged for 18-70 years old, but persons above 70 pay no fees.
After approval, the ETIAS will be forwarded to your email address and linked to your passport.
Note: ETIAS is not a visa but an entry permit and is only for temporary visits.
Key Information About The Czech Republic ETIAS
Find below key information about Czech Republic ETIAS
It Is Not A Visa: This program is not the same as a visa, even though it serves as an entry document. ETIAS is a visa waiver program for persons who do not require visas to enter the Czech Republic. While visas can be issued for short or long-term visits, ETIAS is strictly for short visits.
It Covers The Entire Schengen Region: Another thing to bear in mind regarding ETIAS is that it covers the entire Schengen Area, not only the Czech Republic. If you have ETIAS approval, you can travel to other Schengen countries, including non-Schengen countries like Bulgaria, the Republic of Cyprus, and Romania. This means you don’t have to apply for different approvals for different countries.
Free For Minors and Adults Above 80: Most applicants must pay the application fee, but applicants above 80 years and children under 6 are exempted from the application fee.
Primary Destination: You should only apply for Czech Republic ETIAS if it is the first country you visit in case you have plans to visit many other countries in the region.
The primary rule under the Schengen protocol states that the visitor must first land in the country that appears as the primary destination in their ETIAS permits.
90/180 Rule: Once you arrive in the Czech Republic, you must stay there for up to 90 days in 180 days. This same rule applies if you visit different countries in the Schengen region. If you wish to stay much longer, you must leave the country and wait for the 180th-day cycle to complete before re-entering the country again. Or you may apply for a long-stay visa Instead. The 180-day cycle starts counting the moment you set foot within the borders of any Schengen country.
Travel With The Same Passport: Always makes sure you travel to the Czech Republic with the same passport used for the registration, not a different one. Your ETIAS permit is linked to your passport, and the passport number will be used to generate your details at the entry point. Persons with different passports will not be allowed into the country.
Local ETIAS Unit: As part of the Schengen regulations establishing ETIAS, not all applications will be approved electronically. Applications not outrightly denied by the system will be forwarded to the local ETIAS Unit of the host country for further vetting, which will be done manually. This proves Amy takes a few days to several weeks.
You May Reapply: That your ETIAS application was rejected doesn’t mean you cannot apply again and get approval. Applicants who are rejected are encouraged to reapply.
Czech Republic Visa Online – Get your Czech Republic e-Visa with VisaHQ
Traveling to the Czech Republic is much easier if you are from a visa-exempt country. There is an active visa waiver program for the Czech Republic, and the online application form is available on VisaHQ.
How To Apply For ETIAS With VisaHQ?
If you wish to apply for Etias, here are some steps to take.
Complete The Application Form: Start by filling out the application form on our platform. You must provide accurate information for each section of the ETIAS form and make sure that it reflects the data on your travel documents.
Upload Documents: The next phase is to upload copies of your travel documents.
Get your ETIAS: After paying the application fee, submit the application and wait as the system screens your records. If successful, your ETIAS will be forwarded to your email address.
Why Use VisaHQ?
There is a lot to gain when you use VisaHQ for your online ETIAS application. Apart from the stress free process, you also get to
- Complete the process in under 20 minutes
- Apply for multiple approvals
- Get expert advice and technical support
- Protect your data using our safe and secure platform
Visit our main application page now to get started.