Entry Requirements & Customs

Passports

All visitors to the Czech Republic are required to have a passport valid for 6 months from the date of entry. This applies as well to visitors from the European Union. The Czech Republic is a member of the European Union's Schengen common border area, meaning that if you arrive in the country by road or rail from another Schengen-member country (including Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia) you will not normally have to show a passport or pass through customs control.

A passport valid for at least 6 months is required to enter the Czech Republic. To replace a lost or stolen passport, contact your embassy immediately.

For additional information, contact the following agencies:

For Residents of the United States -- To find your regional passport office, either check the U.S. State Department website or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free number (tel. 877/487-2778) for automated information.

For Residents of Australia -- Contact the Australian Passport Information Service at tel. 131-232, or visit the government website at www.passports.gov.au.

For Residents of Canada -- Contact the central Passport Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ottawa, ON K1A 0G3 (tel. 800/567-6868; www.ppt.gc.ca).

For Residents of the United Kingdom -- Visit your nearest passport office, major post office, or travel agency or contact the United Kingdom Passport Service at tel. 0870/521-0410 or search its website at www.ukpa.gov.uk.

Visas

Visitors from the U.S., Canada, the European Union, including the U.K., and Australia do not need a visa to enter the Czech Republic. Visitors are permitted to stay in the country for 90 days of a 6-month period; E.U. visitors can stay 180 days. Visitors from other countries may need to obtain a visa before entering. A list of countries requiring entry visas as well as steps necessary to acquire a visa can be found on the website of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.mzv.cz.

Customs

What You Can Bring into the Czech Republic -- Customs checks are relatively rare and most likely on arrival at Prague Airport you will be waved through without ever having to open your suitcase. Visitors are allowed to freely import the following: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits over 22% volume or 2 liters of fortified wine or sparkling wine, or 2 liters of still wine; 50 grams of perfume; 250ml of eau de toilette; as well as other goods to a value of about $225 (175€). Restricted items include meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain plants, and wildlife as well as illegal narcotics (including marijuana), weapons, explosives, and pornographic materials. Travelers entering or leaving the country with more than 10,000€ in cash are required by law to make a currency declaration.

What You Can Take Home from the Czech Republic -- For information on what you're allowed to bring home, contact one of the following agencies:

U.S. Citizens: U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20229 (tel. 877/287-8667; www.cbp.gov).

Canadian Citizens: Canada Border Services Agency (tel. 800/461-9999 in Canada, or 204/983-3500; www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca).

U.K. Citizens: HM Customs & Excise at tel. 0845/010-9000, or 020/8929-0152 from outside the U.K.), or consult their website at www.hmce.gov.uk.

Australian Citizens: Australian Customs Service at tel. 1300/363-263, or log on to www.customs.gov.au.

New Zealand Citizens: New Zealand Customs, The Customhouse, 17-21 Whitmore St., Box 2218, Wellington (tel. 04/473-6099 or 0800/428-786; www.customs.govt.nz).

Medical Requirements

There are no special inoculations or preparations required to enter the Czech Republic. Tick-borne encephalitis can be a problem and if you're planning to camp or hike extensively in wilderness areas, you should get vaccinated.