The Czech Republic attracts more than 20 million tourists every year. It has a lot to offer visitors from all over the world and as of late 2022, those visiting from outside the European Union and Schengen Zone will be required to complete an ETIAS application before they can visit.
ETIAS Visa Waiver for the Czech Republic
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) helps to secure the borders of all Schengen countries. By signing the Schengen Agreement, these countries agreed to abolish all internal borders, and the ETIAS helps to ensure that dangerous travelers aren’t allowed into the zone.
The ETIAS is an online application that asks for the applicant’s basic contact details and a valid machine-readable passport with at least 3 months of validity.
The applicant’s data will be checked against international databases to ensure that there are no warrants against them and that they have not been arrested for any serious crimes.
If there are no such issues and a ETIAS visa waiver is provided, the applicant will be allowed to travel freely throughout the Czech Republic and other countries within the Schengen Zone, including France, Italy, and Greece.
Do I Need an ETIAS Visa Waiver to Visit Czech Republic?
If you reside outside of the EU and Schengen Zone and you wish to visit the Czech Republic, there is a good chance that you will need an ETIAS visa waiver.
The Czech Republic ETIAS is the same as every other ETIAS. You’re applying for—and potentially receiving—authorization to enter the Schengen Zone and not just the Czech Republic.
How Long is the Czech Republic ETIAS Valid For?
The ETIAS visa waiver is valid for 3 years from the point that the application is accepted. However, it will expire sooner if the applicable passport expires or there are any potential security risks, in which case it can be revoked.
Once you have a Czech Republic ETIAS visa waiver, you will be free to travel to the Czech Republic and all other countries within the Schengen Area. You can remain in these Schengen countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
It’s worth noting, however, that the ETIAS is not a Schengen Visa and so it can’t be used for work or long-term study.
Visiting the Czech Republic with an ETIAS Visa Waiver
Once you have your Czech Republic visa waiver, you can visit the Czech Republic for up to 90 consecutive days within a 180-day period. If you’re close to exceeding this stay, you just need to return home, wait for that 180-day period to end, and then you can return.
Of course, even if you have no intention of returning to the Czech Republic or visiting other countries, you will still need to apply for an ETIAS.
What are the Best Attractions in the Czech Republic?
Roughly 8 million of the 20 million or so people that visit the Czech Republic head for Prague. It’s a beautiful city with thriving nightlife, some great museums, beautiful architecture, and lots of fantastic food and drink. It’s by far the biggest and most popular city in the Czech Republic, but there are other things to see and do within the country.
What’s more, the Czech Republic is bordered by Poland, Austria, Germany, and Slovakia, and you can visit all of these after you receive ETIAS travel authorization.