The travel of foreigners who are staying in the Czech Republic on the basis of long-term or short-term residence permits, under the visa-free regime or who hold permanent residence is governed by strict rules.

Travel for third-country nationals with long-term residence

Foreign nationals with a visa requirement must have a valid travel document (passport) and a valid residence permit issued by the Czech Republic to travel within the Schengen area (including Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein), which entitles them to visit other Schengen countries. Such a stay must not exceed 90 days and can only be for tourism, so it fully meets the purpose of holidays.

Bridging visa

In the event that the period of travel overlaps with an extension of stay and the foreign national no longer has a valid residence card, they will need a bridging visa to travel. This confirms the so-called fiction of residence both inside the Schengen area and when travelling outside the Schengen area and throughout the European Union. You can obtain a bridging visa at the Department for Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic after submitting documents for your planned trip abroad – e.g. flight bookings. The visa is free of charge, and the foreign national is not obliged to have it within the territory of the Czech Republic.

Travel by third-country nationals on short-stay visas and visa-free travel

Travelling on a short-stay (Schengen) visa is also simple. When travelling, you need to carry a valid passport and a short-stay visa in the form of a sticker in your passport. Stays in such cases are limited to 90 days out of every 180 days, and the days within the Schengen area are cumulative. Before the expiry of the 90 days, the foreigner must leave the Schengen area. If in doubt, the information on the number of days remaining can be checked in the Schengen calculator.

When travelling on a visa-free basis, i.e. for citizens of third countries not subject to the visa requirement under Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 of the European Parliament and of the Council, it is possible to enter the territory of the Schengen Area Member States without a visa and spend up to 3 months in this territory (including the Czech Republic) within a period of six months from the date of first entry. A valid (biometric) passport is sufficient for travel. In some selected cases, the stay in the Czech Republic can be extended beyond 3 months under the visa-free regime. However, it is necessary to verify the information on the extended stay on the basis of individual bilateral agreements on visa-free travel between specific countries.

A visa is also not required for travel to countries within the EU that are outside the Schengen area, such as Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus, if the foreign national has been issued a residence permit by the Czech Republic or another EU country. The exception is the Republic of Ireland, where a visa is required if you are not covered by the visa-free regime. Special rules also apply to travel to the UK, especially after it left the European Union.

Travel for EU nationals and family members of EU nationals

Like Czech citizens, EU citizens can travel to any EU country and other destinations without the need for a visa. Most tourist destinations have visa exemptions for short stays for EU citizens, or the visa can be quickly processed at the airport on arrival. EU nationals can travel to EU countries without a passport; a valid ID card is sufficient. A valid ID card is also sufficient for travel and stays of up to 30 days in Balkan countries such as Montenegro or Albania.

A family member of an EU citizen – a third-country national with a valid residence permit – may travel within the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days. When travelling, they must not forget their residence card and passport. Croatia, a popular destination, has also been a member of the Schengen area since the beginning of 2023, so third-country nationals residing in the Czech Republic can travel there without further restrictions.

Travel for temporary protection beneficiaries

Citizens of Ukraine who headed to EU countries after the outbreak of the war can stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period on the basis of a biometric passport. Temporary protection beneficiaries can move within EU countries for 90 days as tourists and can also travel to and from Ukraine or another third country (i.e. temporary protection will not be revoked). Careful consideration should be given to non-Ukrainian citizens who have obtained temporary protection as family members of Ukrainian citizens. On the basis of the temporary protection granted, they can also travel within the Schengen area countries, but unlike Ukrainian citizens, they are not entitled to travel using a biometric passport only.

Final recommendation: It is important to remember that different rules apply to each country when travelling to countries outside the Schengen area. For more information, we recommend visiting the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic or the website of the respective embassy, where you can find up-to-date information about the country and its specific travel rules.