Travelling in the EU / Schengen
- Summary information about visa-free regime
- Travelling in the EU / Schengen - Non-EU citizens
- Travelling around the Schengen Area exempt from visa requirements
- Nationals of third countries with visa requirement
- Children and school trips
- Travelling with a Departure Order
Nationals of third countries with visa requirement
Rules for short-term stays
The rule of a maximum duration of a short-term stay in the Schengen Area of 90 days in any 180-day period is the common rule for short-term stays. In the case of nationals of third countries with visa requirement the stay itself is governed by the further conditions of the visa granted, i.e. the number of entries (visas for one, two or multiple entries), territorial validity (visas valid for the entire Schengen Area or a visa with limited territorial validity for selected member states) and also the visa expiry date and the length of permitted stay for which the consulate has granted according to the intended trip.
Application of visa/visa-free requirements is binding for those member states that apply the common visa policy, i.e. that recognise a common list of third countries with a visa requirement and a list of third countries that are exempt of a visa requirement. Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus are countries that apply the common visa policy while not being part of the Schengen Area. For short-term stays, these countries issue their own national short-term visa, and also at a national level they decide whether or not to admit the holders of short-term Schengen visas into their territory without holding the relevant national short-term visa (as of February 2023: Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus all allow entry to their territories to the holders of a valid Schengen visa, and also to holders of long-term visas or residence permits issued by Schengen states. For the latest information concerning entry to the territory of those countries, in particular information concerning the conditions that a specific Schengen visa, long-term visa or residence permit must satisfy to be valid for entry, please contact the appropriate authorities of those countries directly. The Czech Republic cannot guarantee entry to the territory of another state).
Ireland does not apply a common visa policy or rules for entry, stay nor for the granting of short-term visas. Ireland does not recognise a valid Schengen visa for entry or stay in its territory. For the latest information concerning conditions for entry and stay in Ireland, please contact the relevant Irish authorities.
Third country national may stay in the territory of the Czech Republic without a visa for a period not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period on condition that they hold a valid travel document and a residence card issued by another Schengen state, or long-term visa issued by another Schengen state. In the same way, a third country national may stay in the territory of other Schengen states for a period not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period on condition that he/she holds a valid travel document and a residence card or long-term visa issued by the Czech Republic.
Before expiry of a long-term visa / residence card the holder must leave the Schengen Area; this does not apply to third country nationals who are exempt from the requirement to hold a short-term visa. After their long-term visa or residence card expires, such persons may begin their short-term, visa-free stay within the Schengen Area for a max. period of 90 days in any 180-day period and only afterwards they must leave the Schengen Area.
If a third country national holds a valid travel document and residence permit or long-term visa issued by a different Schengen state, he/she may stay in the Czech Republic without a visa for a period not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period. In the same way, a third country national may stay in the territory of other Schengen states for a period not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period, under condition that he/she holds a valid residence card or long-term visa issued by the Czech Republic, in combination with a valid travel document. The foreign national must leave the Schengen Area before expiry of the long-term visa / residence card.
A residence card issued by the Czech Republic or other member state does not constitute a travel document for the purpose of travel around the EU/Schengen Area. Such residence card must be used in combination with a valid travel document in all cases.
WARNING: Residence permits issued by Andorra, San Marino or the Vatican do not entitle the holder to entry to other Schengen states. Conversely, residence permits issued by Monaco entitle the holder to entry to other Schengen states.