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Third-country Nationals

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

Summary information about visa-free regime

Information can be found on the Official Web Portal for Foreigners.

Basic information and rules for short-term stays - with visa requirement / visa-free
A short-term stay is a stay of a maximum of 90 days during any 180-day period, which means a period of 180 immediately preceding each day of stay (note: the length of stay is calculated according to the entry and exit stamps entered into the relevant travel document at the border-crossing point). For the purposes of such short-term stays, European legislation divides third countries into those whose citizens must hold a visa, and those whose citizens are exempt of such conditions for entry and short-term stay in the territories of the states applying a common visa policy.

We recommend using the "Schengen calculator", a useful tool for checking that you are not breaking this rule (to redirect to the European Commission website, please click on this link):

The mere fact that a third country national has made an application for a visa or a residence permit, does not entitle him/her to exceed the aforementioned time limit.

Combination of long-term and short-term stay
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.