Many nationals need short-stay visas to travel to the Czech Republic, even if only wanting to travel through.
The Transit Visa is issued to people who just want to travel through the Czech Republic. There are three different types: the Single Transit, the Double Transit and the Multiple Transit Visa. It can be applied for at a consulate or embassy in your home country.
Each visa allows you to stay in the Czech Republic for a maximum of five days and is valid for 180 days. Whereas the Single Transit Visa only allows one travel through the Czech Republic, the Double Transit Visa is valid for two crossings and the Multiple Transit Visa allows unlimited travels.
The Visa application has to be filled in personally at any Czech consulate. Besides the official form, which is available at the consulates, further documents are required:
Beginning November 24th 2005, all applicants have to provide proof of valid travel health insurance covering medical expenses in case of accidents or diseases with a sum insured of at least 30,000€. Return transport also has to be included.
The processing time is usually about one week. The maximum duration is one month.
The visa for a stay up to 90 days is usually issued by the corresponding consulate or embassy in the applicant's home country. Depending on the purpose of the trip, the visa is issued for a single, or for multiple entries into the Czech Republic. However, the total number of days may not be more than 90.
The documents that are needed for the application are the same as for the Transit Visa, besides the application form itself. In addition, a proof of accommodation has to be provided. This can be a private invitation notarised by the Alien and Border Police, an invitation of a sanatorium, or a voucher of a travel agency giving information about the exact date of the visit, the place to stay and the transport there and back.
This type of Visa is offered for persons who want to work in the Czech Republic for no longer than 90 days. It may be issued as a single or multiple entry visa.
Citizens from countries that have bilateral agreements with the Czech Republic still need to apply for this visa, except for EU citizens or nationals of Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland.
The biggest difference in obtaining a Work Visa in contrast to a Tourist Visa is that you have to acquire an employment permit from a Czech employment office beforehand. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, people who do not work more than 7 days in a row or do not work more than 30 days per year are excluded from the rule, as long as they are:
In these cases the employer is obliged to inform the employment agency within eight days of the start of work.
The documentation needed for the Work Visa is the same as for the Transit Visa. Additionally, proof of prepaid accommodation is needed. This may be a booking confirmation from a hostel, hotel etc.