Conditions of entry into the Czech Republic
When planning a visit to the Czech Republic, it is important where you come from. The individual countries are divided by colour according to the degree of risk of infection ("traffic lights" system). If you are traveling from a country that is not part of the European Union, then contact your embassy in the Czech Republic and check whether you are authorized to enter the country. Croatia, Ireland and Austria are moving to the red category. The orage category has expanded to include Andorra, Denmark, San Marino, Slovakia, Sweden, the Canary Islands and Madeira, Portugal. On the contrary, teh Azores will be green.In response to the court's decision, the Ministry of Health modified the passage of the protection measure concerning persons who perform tests for the presence of COVID-19 abroad by accepting tests performed by persons authorized to do so in the given state.
Hungary, Poland, the Vatican City State and the Azores belong to the category of countries with a low risk of infection (green category). From non-European countries or parts of them, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Canada, Qatar, Macao, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore or Taiwan. Bosnia and Herzegovina will be eliminated from the green category from Monday 13 September.
Another category is countries with a medium risk of infection (orange category). This category of countries includes Andorra, Denmark, Luxembourg, Latvia, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Sweden, Italy, Finland, Malta, the Canary Islands and Madeira, Portugal.
When returning from green and orange countries, it is necessary to fill in the arrival form. Before entering the territory of the Czech Republic or no later than 5 days after entry, it is mandatory to undergo an antigen or RT-PCR test.
The traffic light also includes the category of countries at high risk of infection (red category). This category currently includes Bulgaria, Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Norway, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Germany, Estonia, France, Austria, Greece, Slovenia, Switzerland, Spain, incl. Balearic Islands and Portugal. The same rules apply for returning from countries in the red category as for returning from the dark red category.
Other countries fall into the category of countries with a very high risk of infection (dark red category). Persons returning from the red and dark red categories must fill in the arrival form before returning to the Czech Republic and at the same time undergo an antigen or PCR test before returning if they use public transport to return. These persons are also obliged to undergo a PCR test after returning to the Czech Republic, no earlier than the 5th day and no later than the 14th day after entering the territory of the Czech Republic. Until then, it is necessary to remain in self-isolation. In the case of a trip to the Czech Republic by individual transport, it is not necessary to have a test before the start of the trip, but it is obligatory to undergo a PCR test no earlier than day 5 and no later than day 14 after entering the territory of the Czech Republic. Self-isolation is required until the result.
From September 1, the Ministry of Health also abolishes the black category of countries with an extreme risk of infection - the states from this list automatically move one level lower, ie to the dark red category.
This will make it easier for the unvaccinated to travel back from these countries to the Czech Republic. After returning from dark red countries, people must undergo mandatory coronavirus PCR between the fifth and fourteenth day after arrival. They remain self-insulating until the negative result is confirmed.
From Monday 23 August 2021, vaccination to third-country nationals who have completed vaccination from a non-EU country with a substance approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or an equivalent vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency use is also recognized. These persons must also have a verifiable certificate issued, which is published in the list of certificates on the website of the Ministry of Health. It can also be a vaccination from countries for which an implementing act has been concluded and they issue a certificate according to the EU covid regulation. Complete conditions for returning to the Czech Republic from abroad during the covid-19 pandemic can be found here.
From Saturday 31 July 2021, the conditions of travel of children from 6 to 12 years old from countries with a high and very high risk of infection (red and dark red countries) are changing. Upon arrival, these children will only need to complete a PCR test within 5 days. They must remain in self-isolation until the result is received, and if the result is negative, they can leave the self-isolation. At the same time, they do not have to take the test before arrival in the Czech Republic when traveling by public transport. However, the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic points out that the carrier may lay down stricter rules, which is why all families are advised to carefully find out the conditions of the carrier they are traveling with before departure.
Foreigners (except for travellers from green countries, member states of EU) can come to the Czech Republic only on the grounds of essential reasons, not for tourism or visiting friends.
As of 9 July 2021 the Ministry of Health updated the Protective Measure regarding the conditions of entry into the Czech Republic. The condition for travels from countries with a low and a medium risk and countries with a high and a very high risk are unified.
Persons travelling from the country with a low and medium risk are obliged to fill in the arrival form (the exception have children under the age of 6) and undergo an antigen or PCR test before or within 5 days after arrival.
The exception from testing and self-isolation
(but not filling in the arrival form) is applied to:- Persons who had COVID-19 in the last 180 days (it is necessary to have a written medical certificate from EU+ country where the isolation was completed or a digital EU certificate on it).
- Persons fully vaccinated in the EU+ countries after at least 14 days from the application of the last dose (it is necessary to have a national certificate or a digital EU certificate).
- Czech citizens and EU+ citizens fully vaccinated in a third country with the EMA approved vaccination after at least 14 days from the application of the last dose (it is necessary to have a certificate whose sample is published on the Ministry of Health´s website).
Rules for testing:
Testing before arrival to the Czech Republic:1) PCR not longer than 72 hours before starting the travel
2) antigen not longer than 48 hours
Testing after arrival to the Czech Republic - within 5 days after arrival from countries with low and medium risk and 5th day after the arrival from a country with high or very high risk at the earliest
Self-isolation - until receiving a negative result of the test undergone in Czechia; time periods for undergoing test in Czechia are mentioned above.
From 1st July, the EU Digital COVID certificate for vaccination, testing or covering from COVID-19 will be used exclusively when traveling within the EU. Fully vaccinated citizens of the Czech Republic will have their rules relaxed when traveling throughout the EU.
Detailed information can be found here.
List of low, medium and high risk countries can be found HERE - PDF
For Czech citizens there is an application čTečka (E-reader), where they can save their vaccination certificate, tests or certificate of covering from COVID-19.
- A common list of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, including those of which their test results are mutually recognised, and a common standardised set of data to be included in COVID-19 test result certificates.
- National Certificates Types
- Step-by-step guide on quarantine measures
In case you need to contact an embassy or a consulate of your country while in the Czech Republic, please see the List of Foreign Missions to the Czech Repulic.
Measures and restrictions
Respirators (FFP2/KN 95) are mandatory in shops and shopping centers, services, on all forms of public transport, at public transport stops, on platforms and in waiting rooms, at airports, in health and social service facilities, inside official buildings, at post offices, in pharmacies, cars (members of more than one household), and in a workplace (unless being alone in a room).
Face masks are obligatory outdoors only if two and more people meet with shorter than a two-meter distance, unless they are from the same household.
Everyone is encouraged to wash hands frequently, avoid crowded spaces and large gatherings, and generally behave in a responsible manner to minimize risks.
Conditions for entering service establishments including accommodation facilities, participation in public events:
- You can either take 7 days before the PCR test or
- 72 hours before the antigen test or
- Be fully vaccinated (at least 14 days after the 2st dose) or
- Prove that you have in the last 180 days underwent covid-19
GATHERINGS
It is allowed to meet at events under the following conditions: a PCR test (not older than 7 days), an antigen test (not older than 72 hours), having undergone Covid-19, or being vaccinated.
From September 1, for example, there is an increased capacity at mass events for the unvaccinated. Until 3,000 people are full, it will not matter if people have a valid coronavirus test, will be vaccinated or if they have had the disease in the last 180 days.
At higher capacity, at least half of the capacity must now be occupied by those who are fully vaccinated or have undergone covid-19. The remaining part of the capacity can also be occupied by test persons.
No nose and mouth protection is required outdoors.
An exception is cultural events such as concerts, theater and film performances, etc. There remains an obligation to wear a respirator or other protective device without an exhalation valve with a filtration efficiency of at least 94 % (class FFP2 / KN 95).
SHOPS AND SERVICES
The capacity of shopping centers and retail stores is limited to 1 person per 10 square meters, while maintaining a spacing of 1,5 meters.
Holding of farmers' markets is allowed.
RESTAURANTS AND OTHER GASTRONOMIC FACILITIES
Interiors of restaurants may open under strict hygienic conditions. At each table, only 6 guests can be seated, with the exception of people from the common household.
If it is a table with 10 or more seats, more people can be seated, so that there is a distance of at least 1.5 meters between groups of up to 6 people, with the exception of people from the common household. Spacing of 1.5 meters between groups is mandatory. Wearing of respirators is required when not eating. Guests have to show either a negative test for coronavirus, a vaccination certificate, or a document on having undergone Covid-19.
HOTELS AND OTHER ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES
Accommodation facilities may accommodate guests who show either a negative test for coronavirus, a vaccination certificate, or a document on having undergone Covid-19.
Guests are allowed to be served in the hotel's restaurants from 6 am until 10 pm.
MUSEUMS, GALLERIES, MONUMENTS
Museums, galleries, heritage sites, exhibition spaces, fairs, castles, chateaux, zoological and botanical gardens may open under strict sanitary conditions. The capacity is limited to 1 person per 10 square meters, while maintaining a spacing of 1,5 meters, with full capacity.
Guided tours for up to 20 people are allowed.
CULTURAL EVENTS
From September 1, 100 percent of the capacity can be filled at cultural and sports events.
Half of people over three thousand people will have to have a test, half will be either after vaccination or after covid-19.
Music, game, dance, social clubs and discotheques may open.
Up to 250 persons may take part in congresses and conferences, provided that maximally half of the capacity of the indoor space is used.
The visitors to all the events and venues mentioned above are required to wear respirators, show either a negative test for coronavirus, a vaccination certificate, or a document on having undergone Covid-19.
AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ACTIVITIES
Amateur sport
Currently, amateur athletes can play sports outdoors in organized associations with a maximum of 50 people in a group. These athletes do not have to meet any other conditions (O-N-T).
The organizer of the amateur sports training must keep the contact details of the participant (ideally the telephone number) for 30 days (in the event of an infection and the participants would have to be traced).
Professional sports
Professional athletes are exempted from the ban. A professional athlete is a person who performs sport as his or her job or as a business or other similar activity. Professional athletes are allowed to play sports in order to prepare for future events at indoor and outdoor sports grounds in unlimited numbers.
However, they are subject to a strict obligation to observe all applicable hygienic conditions – spacing and hand disinfection. Athletes do not have to wear a veil during the sport itself, but after training, it is necessary to put on the veil again in accordance with the regulations. Professional athletes must also be tested regularly.
Health services
If you have reason to suspect you might be ill with the coronavirus and have flu-like symptoms (dry cough, fever, joint pain), call the coronavirus hotlines:
National Institute of Public Health:
+ 420 724 810 106 or + 420 725 191 367.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic:
+ 420 224 181 111 or + 420 224 182 425
eRouska app
The Ministry of Health recommends that everyone in the Czech Republic download the free eRouska application to their mobile phones. eRouska uses Bluetooth technology and is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems. The application completely anonymously detects which other users of the application you have come into closer contact with and can notify you if you have encountered an infected person and considered voluntary quarantine or if you feel symptoms seek professional help. More information about the application: https://erouska.cz/en.
The application in the English version can be downloaded here.