Visa to Prague for Russians in 2021 on your own: is it necessary, prices, documents

The Czech Republic is popular both among lovers of package tours and among connoisseurs of individual travel. Regardless of whether a visa to Prague in 2021 is applied for independently or a tourist resorts to the help of an agency, the volume of documents remains the same: the only difference is the price. In the first case, the costs will consist of consular and service fees, in the second you will have to pay extra for the work of the intermediary.

Types of visas

There are several types of tourist visas to Prague for Russians:

Single entry – for one entry into the Schengen area and one exit. Validity period – 90 days;
Double entry – for two entries. Validity period – 90 days;
Multiple – for several border crossings. Validity period – from 6 months to 6 years. The total time spent in the Czech Republic is no more than 90 days within six months.

To enroll in an educational institution, reunite with relatives or work in the Czech Republic, you must apply for a long-term visa . It does not limit the number of trips and allows you to stay in the country for up to 180 days.

Permission to enter for treatment is issued on the basis of medical documents. It can be given for any necessary period. The main difference between this type of visa is that it can be extended while already in place. In most cases, written comments from the attending physician are sufficient for this. It also determines the total duration of stay in Prague.

Do Russians and Ukrainians need a visa to the Czech Republic?

In 2021, Russians and Belarusians need to apply for a visa, since the Czech Republic is part of the Schengen zone.

Citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa. A visa-free regime has been introduced for them with all EU countries, which include the Czech Republic. They only need to have a biometric passport, which allows them to stay in the country for up to 90 days.

If a Russian citizen has a valid Schengen tourist multiple visa issued by another country, he can also enter the Czech Republic using it. This is explained in more detail in the video.

Where to apply

A tourist visa to Prague for Russians can be issued at the consular section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Moscow (Fucika Street, 12/14), at the Consulate General in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg or at any visa center. In addition to the capital, Czech service centers operate in most large cities: Volgograd and Vladivostok, Voronezh and Ufa, Irkutsk and Kazan.

The full list can be viewed on the VFS GLOBAL website in the “Contact Information” section.

Rules for entry into the Czech Republic for Russians due to coronavirus in 2021

New rules for entry into the Czech Republic came into force on February 17, 2021.

International flights between Russia and the Czech Republic will resume on July 24, 2021. Only categories of citizens who are allowed to enter the Czech Republic can fly. Ordinary tourists cannot travel to the Czech Republic.
Citizens who are allowed to enter the Czech Republic must take a PCR test no later than 72 hours from the date of entry into the country. The certificate must be issued in English or Czech.
Before the trip, you need to fill out a form on the official website plf.uzis.cz, after which a message with a QR code will be sent to the phone number specified in the form. This code will need to be presented to border control officers at the border.
Citizens from countries in the dark red zone, which includes Russia, will need to take a repeat test after arrival after 5 days. Until you receive a negative result, you must observe self-isolation and home quarantine. All countries of the world are divided into different zones; the map can be found on the official Czech coronavirus website.
Since October 21, 2021, due to the second wave of coronavirus, the Czech government has banned entry into the Czech Republic for work, the opportunity to see family, and for weddings and funerals. The message was published on the official website of the Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Do I need a PCR test to enter the Czech Republic?

Persons from the red zone, which includes Russia, and who have reasons to enter the Czech Republic during the pandemic, must present a PCR test confirming the absence of coronavirus.

Citizens from the dark red zone must observe self-isolation for 5 days. After this, you will need to take a second test; if the result is negative, home quarantine is no longer required.

When will the borders of the Czech Republic open to Russians in 2021?

Entry restrictions are regularly extended. The country is experiencing a second wave of coronavirus and strict restrictions have been introduced. In winter, the borders of the Czech Republic will not be open to Russian tourists. You can expect free entry into the Czech Republic only after vaccination and normalization of the situation towards the end of summer 2021.
No one can officially say when the borders of the Czech Republic will open. Existing restrictions and bans on the entry of foreigners are currently in force and the authorities of European countries simply extend them upon expiration of the previous period of validity.
Add this page of our website to your bookmarks and to your social media page, here we will publish the latest news about the opening of borders and the possibility of entering the Czech Republic.

For personal questions about the possibility of entering the Czech Republic during a pandemic, you should contact only official organizations:

Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Czech Republic,
Official website of the Czech Embassy in Russia,
Official page of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Moscow in Russia,
Russian Embassy in the Czech Republic,
Official page of the Russian Embassy in the Czech Republic on Facebook,
Russian Foreign Ministry,
Border Service of the FSB of Russia.

Required documents for adults

Information about what documents are needed for a visa to Prague is available in all official sources. To obtain permission, you must provide:

A foreign passport, the validity of which exceeds the visa period by 3 months;
Photo of the applicant size 35mm*45mm;
A questionnaire filled out in Latin characters;
Medical insurance for 30,000 euros;
A copy of the completed pages of the Russian passport;
Confirmation of the purpose of travel (hotel reservation, personal invitation, documents from the tour operator);
Airplane (bus, train) tickets in both directions or a driver's license and technical training for a car when traveling independently. Additionally, you can specify a detailed route;
Evidence of financial solvency (certificate of employment, 2 or 3 personal income taxes, traveler's checks with receipts, account statement).

You must submit documents for a visa to Prague in person. An exception is made for citizens who have previously received Schengen visas with a note about submitting fingerprints.

List of documents for Schengen

So, to obtain a Schengen visa as an adult, people need to collect the following package of documents:

The application must be completed electronically or in writing.
The application must be completed electronically or in writing. All fields must be filled in in Latin letters. Fill out on your computer, print, sign.
International passport. Its validity period must be 3 months longer than the duration of the trip, and two of its pages must be blank.
Health insurance policy for 30,000 euros.
For citizens over 14 years old, a copy of the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.
Confirmation of travel purposes.
Tickets in both directions; if you cross the border at the target, provide a driver's license and a vehicle registration certificate. It is advisable to indicate the route of travel.
Photo.
Receipt of payment of the consular fee.
Proof of financial solvency.

Personal presence is required when submitting documents. The exception is people who have already purchased a visa and had their fingerprints taken.

The procedure for obtaining a visa for minors is the same as for adults, with the exception of several points:

Birth certificate (photocopy).
If only one parent is traveling, permission from the other is required. If the child is traveling independently, permission from both parties is required. The permission is certified by a notary.
A child who has reached the age of 14 must have their own personal passport.
When applying for an entry permit, the child and his accompanying person must be present.
The form is filled out and signed by a parent or guardian, just like the insurance policy.
The accompanying person must provide a copy of his passport and visa.

In addition to the basic documents, some people need to collect an additional package:

If you are visiting a country by invitation, the inviter must have the original invitation certified by a notary or the Foreign Affairs Police. If the cost of the trip is paid by the inviter, this must be indicated in the invitation, enclosing any identification document in the sponsorship letter.
Book a hotel or other accommodation. The reservation must indicate the full name and dates for which the reservation is being made.
In the case of a business invitation, the inviting organization indicates on the original, branded questionnaire the full name of the invitee, the purpose and date of the trip. If the organization bears all the costs, you must attach supporting documents.
If the trip is carried out for the purpose of attending a cultural/sports event, short-term training, conference, the invitation is issued by the party responsible for this.

Required documents for children

A tourist visa to Prague is also required for minor Russian citizens. To receive it, the parent fills out a form for the child, takes out insurance against illnesses and accidents, and gives the consent of the second parent if the entire family is not traveling .

Instead of a copy of a Russian passport, a copy of a birth certificate is required. It is also necessary to submit a letter of sponsorship - evidence of full financial support for the child during the trip to Prague.

What are the document requirements?

A passport is required for everyone applying who is over 14 years of age. Children under 14 years of age are included in the parents' passport.
Photo.
A duplicate of the passport, on which a spread with information about the owner and a spread with the registration stamp will be visible.
For people under 18 years of age, a birth certificate is required.
Certificate from educational institution.
A copy of the document indicating a clear place of residence in the Czech Republic.
A copy of tickets or documents confirming the right to a car.
Medical insurance.
Certificate confirming financial well-being.
For minors, entry consent is required.
A completed application form.

How much money should be available

In order for a Prague visa to be approved, a citizen must have a certain amount. It depends on the duration of the independent trip:

Duration of the trip	Amount of financial support per person
No more than 30 days	1100 CZK/day
60 days	34340 CZK
90 days	38380 CZK

Confirmation of financial security can be provided in the form of an equivalent in another currency.

When calculating amounts to provide for children (under 18 years of age), the indicated values can be divided by two.

What visa do you need for Prague?

Russian citizens have the right to apply for all types of visas. The basis for choosing the type of permit is the purpose of the trip and stay in the Czech Republic.

Visa C (short term)

Issued for tourists or Russians going to visit relatives - citizens of the Czech Republic. This type is also suitable for business visits and business trips. Can be single or multiple entry (multiple visa).

For transit purposes, a short-term visa category C is also issued.

National D (long term)

Intended for stay in Prague for a long period exceeding 90 days. Typically, it is issued to students, foreigners who have entered into long-term employment contracts and applicants for a residence permit.

Visa fees in 2021

Since the cost of a Prague visa can change at any time, it is worth monitoring the changes yourself on the websites of official sources. So far, the price of a visa to Prague in 2021 is 60 euros . Of them:

35 euros – consular fee;
25 euros – service fee.

Some centers provide an express registration service. In this case, the cost increases to 95 euros per person.

Parents for children under 6 years of age, disabled people and their accompanying persons can apply free of charge.

In case of refusal of a Prague visa, the cost of fees is not refunded.

What types of visas are issued to the Czech Republic?

Do you need a visa to the Czech Republic? As a member of the Schengen countries, the Czech Republic offers Russians wishing to visit it the same entry rules as other EU states. Thus, every applicant going to this country for vacation, work or other matters is required to have an approved Schengen visa in his passport.

Panorama of Prague

Important! Holders of valid Schengen multiple visas from other countries can freely visit the Czech Republic, provided that they have already visited the territory of the EU country that granted them the right to enter during the period the visa was active.

The diplomatic mission of the Czech Republic in our country offers the following types of entry documents to Russian citizens:

Transit visas of types “A” and “B”. Issued to every traveler who wishes to visit a third country with a transit stop in the Czech Republic. Visa type “A” is indicated if the connection is made by air, and “B” for any type of land transit. The main rule of this type of visa is to limit the movement of their holders within the country and to travel beyond its borders as soon as possible.
Standard tourist and business visa type “C”. In demand among 90% of all applicants. Its meaning lies in the need for a short stay in the country (up to 90 days). The purpose of staying abroad is tourism, business meetings with partners, employees, short-term contracts, training courses, etc. This type of visa, depending on the history of Schengen visits of a citizen of the Russian Federation, can be issued both for the period of the trip, and for 3, 6, 12, 18 months.
National long-term visa to Prague type “D”. Requested for a period of continuous stay in the Czech Republic of 1 year or more to work for a Czech employer under a long-term contract or in the case of studying as a student or cadet in one of the educational institutions of the country. There may also be other reasons for granting a visa of this category, such as family reunification if the applicant has relatives among citizens of the Czech Republic.

Diplomatic Mission of the Czech Republic in Moscow

No Czech visa can be issued without appropriate documents justifying the purpose of the trip and the financial security of the candidate for entry.

When to apply

You must plan to submit your application on dates that fall between three months and 15 days before your trip. In addition to all-Russian weekends, you need to take into account national Czech holidays when the Prague consulate is closed: April 14 and 17, May 1 and 8, July 5 and 6, September 28, November 17, Catholic Christmas - December 25 and 26.

Documents for a visa to the Czech Republic: list from 2021

international passport

(or an equivalent document) + a copy of the photo page.

Passport requirements:

The validity of the passport should not be more than 10 years;
its validity period must be three months longer than the validity period of the requested visa;
The passport must have at least 2 free pages;
If you have a previous passport with visas for the last 3 years, you need to attach copies of them.

Consent to the processing of personal data. Must be signed if applying through a visa center. You can print it from the CC website and sign it in advance.

Application form for a Schengen visa to the Czech Republic

It can be downloaded from the website and filled out at home on your computer or manually (legibly!) in printed Latin letters. You can also fill out an application at the visa center. Applications filled out illegibly or incompletely will not be accepted. The applicant must sign on the last page. (If you use the services of trusted persons, their signature on your application form will not work). You can print the visa application form on one or two A4 pages. If you were born during the USSR, then in the application form in the “place of birth” column you must write “RUS”, current citizenship “RUS”, previous citizenship – SUN (from the English Soviet Union).

For minors, you need to fill out separate forms.

Blank application form

Sample form

Photo for a visa to the Czech Republic

Photo requirements:

Size – 35x45 mm;
The photograph is not older than 6 months;
The photo is clear and contrasty;
Background – light;
Color correction – natural;
The frame includes the head, neck and upper shoulders;
Without foreign objects and without frame;
Image size – 70-80% of the entire photograph (from the top of the head to the chin should be 32-36 mm);
The face is in the center of the frame, without emotions;
Look straight at the camera, strictly full-face and without bending;
Hair should not block the face/part of the face.

Medical insurance (policy)

Must be valid in all Schengen countries, for an insured amount of at least 30 thousand euros. Insurance must be taken out for the entire duration of the trip. (If you are applying for a multiple-entry Schengen visa to the Czech Republic - MULT, then at the top of the fourth page of the application form, sign that you are aware of the mandatory presence of insurance for subsequent entries.)

And:

A photocopy of the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation: pages with photographs and personal data, pages with registration, as well as pages with marks.
Documents confirming the purpose of the trip. For example, a hotel reservation booking.com, an invitation or a voucher issued by a travel agency.
Confirmation of availability of funds:
Certificate from work (valid for 3 months)
Help in form 2NDFL.
Declaration in form 3NDFL certified by the tax service. Also, for individual entrepreneurs, you will need to make a copy of the OGRN and TIN.
Traveler's checks addressed to the applicant and a receipt for their purchase.
Sponsorship letter. It can be written in free form if you cannot prove a sufficient level of income. Only a close relative - spouses, parents, grandmothers, children - can be a sponsor. Accordingly, in addition to the sponsorship letter, you will need a document confirming family ties. The letter is accompanied by confirmation of the sponsor's income and a copy of his passport.
An invitation in which the inviting party assumes financial expenses.

Confirmation of place of residence (hotel reservation).
Payment of visa fee.

Payment is accepted at the Consular Section cash desk only in cash in euros. Undamaged, clean banknotes are accepted for payment. Coins - euro cents are not accepted.

Biometrics

When applying for a Schengen visa for the first time, the applicant must appear in person in order to collect biometric data (ten fingerprints).

For the next 5 years, there will be no need to go through the fingerprinting procedure, since the applicant’s data stored in the VIS database can be used again. Thus, when obtaining subsequent visas, there is no need to submit documents in person.

The following persons are exempt from submitting fingerprints:

children under 12 years of age
persons for whom fingerprinting is not possible due to physical limitations.

Additional documents confirming the purpose of the visit

Tourism (tourist visa to the Czech Republic)

Booking tickets for bus, train, plane. When traveling by car, you must provide a driver's license, registration certificate for the car, international car insurance (green card), power of attorney to export the car from the Russian Federation (issued at a notary's office).

Treatment

When traveling for treatment, you must have official confirmation from a medical institution in the Czech Republic. The document must indicate the length of stay and a preliminary estimate of treatment costs. It is also necessary to attach recommendations from the attending physician.

Business visa

An invitation from a Czech partner, certified by the Foreigners Police of the Czech Republic (original) or a company invitation on company letterhead (copy).

Culture or sport

Invitation from the host party, information about a sporting or cultural event, list of participants (fax copy or document received by the applicant by email). Proof of residence is also required.

Education

Confirmation of study or scientific work must be issued for no more than 90 days + proof of residence.

Job

Permission from the Labor Bureau (or confirmation that such confirmation is not required in this case), as well as an employment contract for a period of up to 90 days (originals and copies).

Real estate

Extract from the real estate cadastre (original or copy)

Visa by invitation

An invitation certified by the Aliens Police or a notarized invitation. If the trip is paid for by another person, this must be indicated in the invitation and a sponsorship letter and a copy of his passport must be attached.

Czech

Other categories of applicants (additional documents)

Children

A copy of the birth certificate;
Notarized consent from the second parent, if the minor is traveling with one of them; If a minor travels unaccompanied by parents, then it is necessary to present a notarized consent to travel from both the father and mother.
A copy of the Schengen visas of the parents or accompanying persons.

For children over 12 years of age, personal attendance is required.

If the child does not have his own passport, his visa stamp will be placed in the parent’s. To do this, a photograph of the child must be pasted into the parent’s passport.

Students

student or student card,
documents confirming financial support from parents.

Pensioners

Pensioner's ID
Certificate of pension accrual

Unemployed

sponsorship letter,
certificate from the sponsor's work
In the form, indicate the position freelancer or unemployed

In addition to the specified list of documents, the consulate has the right to require additional documents, as well as invite the applicant for an interview.

How long does the review take?

The Czech consulate allocates from 5 to 10 working days (from 1 to 2 calendar weeks) to consider the application and check the documents. Delays may be associated with Russian and Czech national holidays and with the work of the delivery service.

If any travel conditions change after receiving permission, the applicant is obliged to inform the consular department: provide the route he will follow, a new hotel reservation. Otherwise, the visa may be cancelled.

Registration period

A trip to Prague should be planned in advance, as obtaining a travel document will take some time. A short-term visa is issued in about 5-10 working days. The only option to get a visa faster is to apply for an urgent document. In this case, the process will speed up to three working days, but you will need to pay twice as much. Applicants who wish to find employment in Prague will need to wait even longer.

A long-term visa category D is issued within 90 days, sometimes the process can take up to 120 days. The exception is a student visa, which can be issued within 60 days.

What to do in case of refusal

Most of the refusals are related to living in an area with a high migration demand, providing an incomplete package of documents, and doubts about the applicant’s financial stability.

In case of refusal, you must submit a new package of documents, correcting and supplementing it. The main goal is to convince embassy employees of the exclusivity of tourism intentions and their own viability . You can provide additional paid transport tickets (bus, taxi from the airport), income certificates, and ownership rights to Russian real estate.

The cost of re-registration is equal to the first one - when submitting an application after refusal, the price of service does not change.

Having collected a convincing package of documents, obtaining an entry permit is quite easy and without the help of travel agents. The refusal rate is negligible compared to the number of visas issued. Submitting an application yourself will save money, which will be useful when traveling around the Czech Republic - a country with an interesting culture and amazing national cuisine. Have a nice trip!

Design methods

Please note that every person over 12 years of age must be fingerprinted and photographed with a special camera

When applying for a visa, an important question arises: how to do it yourself, what actions need to be performed.

You can obtain an entry permit to the Czech Republic in 3 ways: Embassy or Consulate, visa center, travel agency.

Please note that starting from 2015, every person over 12 years old must be fingerprinted and photographed with a special camera.

This is a mandatory process and must be completed every 5 years.

You can apply for a visa through the Embassy or Consulate in Moscow, St. Petersburg or Yekaterinburg. Documents are submitted without verification, at your own peril and risk.

Reception is by appointment only. Payment is made only in euros, there is no need to pay a service fee.

The easiest way to apply on your own is to contact a visa center. It is available in many large cities.

When submitting an application, the following algorithm of actions is performed:

You must first read the instructions on the website.
Decide on the type of visa.
Prepare the necessary package of documents.
Make an appointment in advance; this can be done by phone number or online on the website. Or on a first-come, first-served basis.
Arrive at the appointed time, pay the consular fee, and receive a receipt.
Submit the package of documents collected in advance.

You can also apply for a visa online, fill out a form on the website, pay the consular fee using an electronic wallet, and the completed permit will be sent by email.

Please note that this is the longest method, since the documents are sent to the Consulate and returned back. The algorithm for obtaining a visa at the visa center is the same in all cities.

When applying for a visa through a travel agency, you don’t even need to be present in person, everything will be done for you.

An undoubted advantage is the smaller volume of necessary documents and registration in the shortest possible time. The refusal rate is significantly lower than with self-registration, since tourism managers fill out the questionnaire more competently.

The downside of this method is that it is overpriced, but sometimes you can find fairly affordable prices. The average price in Russia for this type of registration varies from 11,000 to 27,000 rubles, depending on the type of visa chosen.