UK Gov Travel advice for the CZ Republic (Czechia)

Czech Republic: Current at 23/04/2025

Warnings and insurance

Still current at: 23 April 2025 Updated: 17 March 2025

Latest update:

Update to information on expected rollout of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) (‘Entry requirements’ page).

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:

see general advice for women travellers
read our guide on disability and travel abroad
see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
read about safety for solo and independent travel
see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Entry requirements

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in the Czech Republic set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Czech Embassy in the UK.

Passport validity requirements

The Czech Republic follows Schengen area rules. Your passport must:

have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes the Czech Republic, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel:

as a tourist
to visit family or friends
to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
for short-term studies or training

The requirements for working in the Czech Republic are different.

If you’re travelling to other Schengen countries as well, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries in the 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days. If you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.

Make sure you get your passport stamped on entry and exit.

If you’re a visitor, border guards will look at your entry and exit stamps to check you have not overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.

If your passport is missing a stamp, show evidence of when and where you entered or left the Schengen area (for example, boarding passes or tickets) and ask the border guards to add the date and location in your passport.

At the Czech Republic border control, you may also need to:

show a return or onward ticket
prove that you have enough money for your stay – the amount varies depending on your accommodation

Staying longer than 90 days in a 180-day period

To stay longer, you must meet the Czech government’s entry requirements. Check which type of visa or permit you need with the Czech Embassy in the UK.

If you stay in the Czech Republic with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

Read about passport stamping if you live in the Czech Republic.

New Schengen entry requirements

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is expected to start in October 2025. It is not currently in operation. The European Union will inform about the specific start date of the EES before its launch.

Border controls at Germany’s land borders 

There are temporary border controls in place to travel into Germany. Check the entry requirements for Germany.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Czech Republic guide.

Registering with the police

If you do not have a Czech Republic residence permit, you must register your address with the nearest foreign police department (in Czech) within 3 days of arriving. You can also register through your hotel or accommodation service. If you do not register, you could get a fine of up to 3,000 Czech koruna.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of the Czech Republic. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food into the Czech Republic

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons.

Taking money into or out of the Czech Republic

Declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 euros or more. You will get a certified declaration to show you brought it in with you. If you do not, your money could be seized when you leave. For more information, see import and export of financial funds.

EU Entry/Exit System

The EU plans to introduce the Entry/Exit system (EES). This is a new digital border system that will change requirements for British nationals travelling to the Schengen area.

If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area using a UK passport, you will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints or a photo, when you arrive. EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU.  

EES is expected to start in October 2025. It is not currently in operation. The European Union will inform about the specific start date of the EES before its launch.

If you are travelling to the Schengen area

When EES is introduced, you will need to create a digital record on your first visit to the Schengen area at the port or airport on arrival. You will be required to submit your fingerprints and have your photo taken at dedicated booths.

You will not need to provide any information before travelling to a Schengen area country.

If you are flying to a country in the Schengen area, you may experience longer queue times when you arrive at your destination.

At some ports and international stations (Dover, Eurotunnel and St Pancras), there may be increased wait times while EES registration is completed before passengers leave the UK. If you are travelling through one of these stations, you should check with your travel operator to find out whether EES will affect your journey.

Your digital record is valid for 3 years. If you enter the Schengen area again during this time, you will only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border, when you enter and exit.

Why the EU is introducing EES

EES is designed to improve border security within the EU and its neighbouring countries, and reduce illegal migration in the Schengen area.  It will automate border control checks to help the EU stop visitors overstaying.

EES is part of wider work the EU is doing to strengthen their border security. In the last quarter of 2026, the EU is expected to start operations of the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). No action is required from travellers at this point. The European Union will inform about the specific date for the start of ETIAS before its launch.  

When ETIAS is introduced, you will need to apply for authorisation to enter Schengen area countries if using a UK passport. You will need to provide personal information and details about your trip, and pay a 7 Euro fee, as part of the authorisation process.

The EU has already set out more information on ETIAS, including what information will be required from each nationality, on the EU’s official Travel Europe website.

How EES will affect travelling to the Schengen area

The UK government has been working closely with the European Commission, member states, local authorities and the travel industry to prepare ports for EES. The government is supporting ports and carriers to ensure EES registration is simple for people travelling to the Schengen area.

UK government support includes providing Eurostar, Eurotunnel and Port of Dover with £3.5 million each, to spend on registration kiosks and infrastructure.

Eurostar expects EES registration to be quick and easy. It will have 50 kiosks across 3 locations at stations for people to carry out the checks.

Eurotunnel will have over 100 kiosks and estimate EES checks will add just over 5 minutes to journey times.

Port of Dover will have 24 kiosks for coach passengers and will register passengers in cars using agents and tablets to make the process as straightforward as possible.

Find out more information on the EES initiative on the EU’s official  Travel Europe website.

Updates to this page

Published 5 September 2024

Last updated 14 March 2025 + show all updates

Page updated

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