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TRAVEL REPORT
Czech Republic

1. RECENT UPDATES

Section 1 has been updated (H1N1).

See our Global Issues page for information on the H1N1 Flu Virus.

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2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

There is no Official Warning for this country.

Czech Republic

Exercise normal security precautions

Exercise high degree of caution

Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid all travel

Most Canadian visitors to the Czech Republic do not experience problems.

OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency abroad, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad.

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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.

Crime

Petty crime, such as pick-pocketing and purse snatching is common, particularly in Prague. While the rate of violent crime is low, it has increased. Remain vigilant, especially after dark in and around popular tourist attractions, major hotels, and the main railway station. Do not show signs of affluence and ensure that valuables, passports, and other travel documents are secure at all time.

Remain cautious while travelling on public transportation, as gangs of thieves are active and may use jostling and swarming techniques to snatch purses or to pick pockets. Tram route 22, which runs to and from Prague Castle, is especially targeted, as are subway stations, particularly Muzeum, Mustek, Staromestska, and Malostranska. Canadians should maintain normal security precautions in all places.

General Safety Information

Currency should always be exchanged at a currency exchange office or at a bank. Never exchange with vendors on the street, as it is often counterfeit.

Do not accept food or drink from strangers. Travellers have been drugged and subsequently robbed.

Individuals posing as plainclothes police officers may ask to see foreign currency and passports. If approached, politely decline to cooperate, but offer to go to the nearest police station. Identification should be carried at all times, preferably a photocopy of your passport.
 
For emergency assistance, call 158 for police, 156 for municipal police, 155 for ambulance services and 150 for the fire department.

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4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries or regions have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.

The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Czech authorities. However, these requirements are subject to change at any time. It is the traveller’s responsibility to check with the Embassy of the Czech Republic and its consulates, for up-to-date information.

A Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit the Czech Republic. The passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of your expected departure from that country.

A valid travel health insurance policy with minimum coverage of 30,000 euros is required to enter the Czech Republic. Travellers must also have proof of prearranged accommodation and sufficient funds for the duration of their stay in the Czech Republic.

Travellers staying in private accommodations for longer than 30 days must register at the local Foreigners Police Branch within three working days of their arrival.

Tourist Visa: Not required (for stays of less than 90 days)
Business Visa: Required
Student Visa: Required (for stays over 90 days)
Work Visa: Required

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Schengen Area

The Member States of the European Union (EU) (not including the United Kingdom and Ireland), along with Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland, make up the Schengen Area, which aims for common rules regarding visas, asylum rights, and controls at external borders.

The external land, air, and sea border controls of nine countries that joined the EU in 2004 (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia) have been removed. Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus will fully apply the Schengen acquis at a later date.

In the Schengen Area, Canadian travellers do not need visas for short-term visits (up to 90 days within a six-month period), but some countries require you to register with local authorities within three working days of your arrival. It is important to get your passport stamped when entering the Schengen Area. The absence of an entry stamp from the initial Schengen port of entry could create difficulties during subsequent encounters with local police or other authorities throughout the Schengen area.

If Canadians overstay the permitted 90 days in the Schengen Area, they may be fined or deported. To visit longer than 90 days, Canadians must either obtain a long-stay national visa or have been outside the Schengen Area for at least 90 consecutive days before re-entering.

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A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel. Canadian citizens returning to Canada who present other documents, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, birth certificate, provincial driver’s license, or foreign passport, instead of a Canadian passport, may face delays or be denied boarding by transport companies.

Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.

Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify all visa requirements for this and other destinations, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.

EU legislation on the amount of cash that can be carried was implemented on June 15, 2007. Canadians crossing one of the external border control points of the EU will have to make a declaration to customs upon entry or exit if they have at least 10,000 euros, or the equivalent in other currencies, in cash, cheques, money orders, traveller's cheques, or any other convertible assets in their possession. Failure to report such a sum will be considered an offence. This does not apply to Canadians travelling within the EU or in transit to a non-EU country. The purpose of this legislation is to prevent illegal activities, such as money laundering. For more information on the new EU legislation and links to EU countries' sites, consult http://ec.europa.eu/eucashcontrols.

Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries or regions may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country or region without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.

Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries or regions do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.

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5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS

You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address:

Czech Republic - PRAGUE, Embassy of Canada
Address: Muchova 6, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
Tel.: 420 27210-1800
Fax: 420 27210-1890
E-Mail: prgue@international.gc.ca or canada@canada.cz
Internet: http://www.CzechRepublic.gc.ca

For emergency assistance after hours, call the Embassy of Canada in Prague and follow the instructions. You may also call collect the Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa at 613-996-8885.

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6. TRAVEL HEALTH

The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Health Web site.

The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.

Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.

The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.

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7. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION

Good medical care is widely available. However, doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.

Tick-borne encephalitis occurs in wooded areas from spring to autumn. If you plan to visit forested areas, you should seek advice regarding inoculations before leaving Canada.

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8. LAWS AND CUSTOMS

You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. However, Canada and the Czech Republic are signatories to the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which enables a Canadian imprisoned in the Czech Republic to request to be transferred to Canada to complete the sentence in a Canadian prison. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Czech authorities.

Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.

The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries or regions, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.

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9. TRAVEL AND CURRENCY

Public Transportation

Taxi fares in Prague are unregulated. There is no fixed charge. Use only officially marked taxis, such as AAA or Profitaxi, and pre-negotiate fares, as overcharging is common.

Tickets required to use public transit can be purchased at newspaper kiosks, metro stations, and most hotel reception desks. Riders without a valid ticket are subject to fines.

Czech Railway provides clean, efficient train service to almost every part of the country, although express buses are often faster and more convenient than trains. On overnight trains from Poland to the Czech Republic, passengers have been robbed while sleeping. Store valuables in a safe place and do not leave the compartment unattended. Ensure that the door is secured from the inside.

Driving Conditions

Rural roads may be uneven, under construction, and poorly marked. A road usage permit is required to drive on all major highways. These permits are available at highway gas stations and border crossings. Permits can be purchased for 10 days, one month, or one year. Failure to display this permit may result in fines. All rental vehicles are provided with valid motorway permits. Headlights must be on at all times during winter and until the time change for the summer period. Information on road conditions is available by calling 00 420 1230.

The use of cellular telephones while driving is prohibited, unless fitted with a hands-free device. There is zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended.

See our FAQ on transportation in order to verify if national airlines meet safety standards.

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The currency is the Czech koruna (CZK). Credit cards and traveller's cheques are accepted. Use of non-official currency exchange is illegal, and the risk of receiving counterfeit bills is high. Canadian currency and traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide.

Check with your bank for information on automated banking machine (ABM) services outside Canada. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Verify with your financial institution whether your bank card can be used with ABMs abroad. Some countries use chip and/or personal identification number (PIN) technology for credit cards. Check with your bank to find out if your credit card will be accepted abroad. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ABMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.

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10. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE

Heavy rains are frequent in summer, sometimes resulting in local flooding.

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11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Returning to Canada

Traveller's Checklist

Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes.

Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.

Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child abroad, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.

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12. ANNEX

N/A

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