If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Czech Republic visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Czech Republic may ask you to show CZK 1,565 per day for up to 30 days. Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Czech Republic, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Czech Republic can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Czech Republic can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: CZK 1,565 per day for stays of up to 30 days; CZK 46,950 plus CZK 6,260 per extra month for longer stays (half for minors). (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Czech Republic
Main international airports in Czech Republic: Praha (PRG).
If Czech Republic is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Czech Republic is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
All of Czech Republic's land borders are with other Schengen countries, so there are no routine passport checks when you cross them by car, bus or train. Countries can reintroduce temporary checks, so always carry your passport.
The EES at airports and borders in Czech Republic
In Czech Republic, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Praha (PRG) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Czech Republic no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Czech Republic in depth: Prague and the koruna
The Czech Republic (Czechia) is landlocked and surrounded by Schengen countries, so Prague Václav Havel Airport is the only place where most visitors cross an external border.
It uses the Czech koruna (CZK), and its minimum funds follow a formula: CZK 1,565 per day for stays of up to 30 days; for longer stays, CZK 46,950 plus CZK 6,260 for each additional month (half for minors).
Trains and buses from Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovakia cross internal Schengen borders with no routine passport checks.
Good to know about Czech Republic
- Amounts are calculated from the Czech subsistence minimum and can be updated. For stays over 30 days: CZK 46,950 plus CZK 6,260 per extra month (half for minors).
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Czech Republic add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Czech Republic after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Czech Republic use the euro?
No, it uses the Czech koruna (CZK).
Do US citizens need a visa for Czech Republic?
No. US citizens can visit Czech Republic visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Czech Republic?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Czech Republic, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
How much money do I need to enter Czech Republic?
CZK 1,565 per day for stays of up to 30 days; CZK 46,950 plus CZK 6,260 per extra month for longer stays (half for minors). Border officers may ask you to show it with cards, bank statements or cash.
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Sources
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.