Czech Republic - Travel Advice & Visas

Around 750,000 British people visit the Czech Republic every year. Most visits are trouble-free. However, the majority of cases that require consular assistance are those that deal with lost and stolen passports. Take extra care when travelling on public transport and be aware of the people around you.

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see Travel Insurance. We also strongly recommend that you make copies of your passport (including any visa pages), insurance policy plus 24-hour emergency number, and ticket details. You should take a copy of your passport data page with you and leave copies, your itinerary and contact details with family and/or friends.

The Czech Republic shares with the rest of Europe a threat from international terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets.

Safety and Security

Crime
Prague City Police advises visitors to Prague of the following:
Always exchange currency at a currency exchange office or bank, never with vendors on the street as this money is often counterfeit.

Avoid contact with women acting as street prostitutes as they are often pickpockets.

Take care using cash machines.

Do not buy drugs on the street: sale and distribution is illegal and such drugs are often hazardous counterfeits.

Be aware of consumption charges in night clubs, as they are often high, and be careful with consumption cards, which carry high financial penalties if they are lost before bills are paid.

Petty theft is a growing problem, particularly in Prague. Pickpocketing is common at the main tourist attractions, at the main railway station, and on public transport, particularly those routes to and from Prague Castle and other major tourist sites. There have also been several cases of theft from hotel rooms and even safes. There are increasing numbers of cases of theft on the tram and metro involving gangs of up to 9 or 10 people surrounding their victims and even threatening violence. Take extra care when travelling on public transport and be aware of the people around you.

Beware of bogus plain-clothes policemen, who may ask to see your foreign currency and passport. If approached, decline to show your money, but offer instead to go with them to the nearest police station. If you suspect that you are dealing with a bogus police officer, you can call 158 or 112 to check their identity. No police officer in the Czech Republic has the right to check your money or its authenticity.

Theft of property should be reported in person to the Czech police within 24 hours to obtain a Police Report Crime Number. It is not possible to obtain this later, especially after you have left the Czech Republic.

Never leave drinks or food unattended, or accept drinks from strangers, however attractive the offer might seem. There have been a small number of incidents involving drinks being spiked and visitors having their valuables stolen whilst intoxicated.

For reasons of safety and economy, you are advised to use major taxi companies, such as AAA (23311 3311) or Profitaxi (26131 4151). These companies are usually able to tell you the type, number and colour of the car in advance.

Reporting Lost / Stolen property in Prague
If you have had your passport, wallet or other property stolen, or if you suspect you have had them stolen, then you should file a report with the police station at Vlasska 3, Mala Strana (nearest tram stop: Malostranske Namesti, trams 12, 20, 22, and 23; nearest metro: Malostranska). Vlasska police station is open 24 hours. If you have lost your passport, wallet or other items, then you should report the loss to the Police Station at Sdruzeni 1, Pankrac, Prague 4 (nearest metro: Pankrac). Sdruzeni police station opening hours are Mon, Tues, Thurs 0730-1130, 1215 - 1500; Wed 0800-1215, 1300-1700; Fri and weekends closed.

Local Travel
Travelling around the Czech Republic is very easy.
The International Airport is in Prague which is approximately 20 kilometres from the City Centre. Taxis take 30/40 minutes to complete the journey otherwise there is a tram system which is cheaper but takes longer.MHD (Prague public transport). It contains Metro, Buses, Trams and Funicular. For all transport you need the same tickets

The road infrastructure is well formed from East to West with motorway networks and easily readable signposts. Car hire is via international companies but the bus transport system is efficient and competitively priced. From Prague it is possible to take regular services to all of the major cities with non stop services. An example being from the central bus station in Prague Florenc (pronounced Florence) to Brno takes 2.5 hours and costs less than 10 Euros.

Brno also has an airport which is serviced from Stansted.
Access to the Czech Republic is also easily undertaken from neighbouring countries such as Austria, Slovakia Poland and Germany.

Public transport tickets must be purchased before travelling. The ticket tariffs were increased on 1 July 2005: if you have tickets from a previous trip, which were purchased before 30 June 2005, you should exchange these for new tickets before use. This can be done at no cost at metro stations. Tickets must be validated at the start of the journey, at the yellow machines at the entrance to metro stations or on board buses and trams, including before boarding the funicular tram at Petrin. You will be fined on the spot if you are travelling with an invalid ticket, usually 400 crowns (around £9). Tickets can be bought at most large hotels, metro stations and many newspaper stands.

There have been a number of recent accidents to British nationals involving trams. Please take extra care when in the vicinity of tram tracks and make sure you look both ways. The trams cannot stop quickly nor can they swerve to avoid somebody on the track.

Seasonal flooding occurs regularly in Czech republic. In the event of concern about flooding you should consult www.voda.mze.cz and click on 'vstupte' to view a map of the country which shows, using a traffic light system, where flood warnings are in place on major rivers.

Road Safety
If you are planning to drive to the Czech Republic, you may like to consult a local motoring hotline, available in Czech and English on (tel: 00 420 1230).

Since 1 January 2005, it is a requirement under Czech law that all private cars, including those of foreign visitors, carry the following items:

• 1 x Fluorescent Green High Visibility Safety Jacket
• 1 x First Aid Kit
• 1 x Spare pair of prescription glasses (if necessary) – kept in the glove compartment
• 1 x Warning triangle
• 1 x Complete set of spare bulbs

Local Laws and Customs
Some bars and restaurants in the city centre do not allow access to stag groups. Drunken or offensive behaviour is dealt with according to Czech law and may result in detention and or fines.

The Czech police advise that you may be fined if you attempt to cross a road or tram tracks within 50 metres of a designated crossing point (commonly marked by 'zebra' style crossing or traffic lights.

Entry Requirements
Visas may be required to enter the Czech Republic. British passports holders, whose nationality is shown as anything other than a British Citizen must contact your nearest Czech Embassy to determine whether you require a visa for entry to the Czech Republic.

If you are a short-term visitor to the Czech Republic, the Czech authorities require British passports to be valid for the entire duration of your proposed visit. You should have a minimum of six months’ validity on the passport when you travel in case of unforeseen emergency such as illness or arrest, which prevents you from leaving on your planned dates. If your passport is due to expire in less than six months, it is advisable to have your onward travel details with you on arrival to show to the Immigration Office if required to do so.

Your passport should be in a presentable state. Holders of passports, which are in poor condition, have been refused entry to the Czech Republic.

Children aged 15 and above must have their own passports. Those travelling on a parent's passport will be refused entry to the Czech Republic. You are also advised to carry with you a photocopy of the datapage of your passport at all times, for identification purposes.

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Czech representation in the UK.

Health
The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Czech nationals. You will not be covered for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature.

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.

You should be aware that some hospitals in parts of the Czech Republic are not used to foreign visitors and may not be aware of the rights conferred on you by an EHIC. If you have trouble, please contact the British Embassy in Prague on the number below. You can also consult http://www.cmu.cz for more advice on healthcare in the Czech Republic.

If you intend to settle permanently in the Czech Republic you need to either obtain Form E106, which indicates that they have made full National Insurance contributions in the UK, or to arrange health insurance with a commercial company on arrival. This will entitle you to health care other than the EHIC accident and emergency cover, which is not acceptable for longer-term health needs.

If you are planning to visit forested areas, you are advised to seek medical advice before you travel about inoculations for tick borne encephalitis.

For further information on health, check the Department of Health’s website at:  http://www.dh.gov.uk

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