The Czech Republic to Reopen to Vaccinated Visitors

From Tuesday, June 1, the Czech Republic will permit vaccinated travelers from Australia, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Israel, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, and Thailand.

The Czech Republic has a traffic light system to categorize international countries and regions based on risk.

The new protective measure of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic distinguishes between five categories of countries:

• low-risk countries (green)
• medium-risk countries (orange)
• high-risk countries (red)
• very-high-risk countries (dark red)
• extreme-risk countries (black)

What to Expect for Travelers Returning to the Czech Republic

LOW RISK (green):

• Travellers can come to the Czech Republic from these countries without any restrictions.

MEDIUM RISK (orange):

• Before traveling to the Czech Republic, foreigners traveling from these countries must fill in an arrival form and undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 24 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have written confirmation of the result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival.
• Persons returning to the country who have been vaccinated in the Czech Republic are exempt from quarantine and testing 22 days after receiving the first shot.
• Czech citizens, their family members, EU citizens with a certificate of temporary residence, and foreigners with a permanent residence permit must fill in an arrival form before entering the Czech Republic and, if arriving by public transport, undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 24 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have written confirmation of the result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival.
• Czech citizens, their family members, EU citizens with a certificate of temporary residence, and foreigners with a permanent residence permit entering the Czech Republic by private transport must undergo an antigen or PCR test no later than 5 days after arrival. Before entering the Czech Republic, they must fill in an arrival form. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival.

HIGH RISK (red):

• Before traveling to the Czech Republic, foreigners traveling from these countries must fill in an arrival form and undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 24 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have written confirmation of the result. Subsequently, they must undergo a second PCR test (antigen is not sufficient) administered in the Czech Republic, no later than 5 days after arrival.
  • Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result.
  • It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival.
• Persons returning to the country who have been vaccinated in the Czech Republic are exempt from quarantine and testing 22 days after receiving the first shot.
• Czech citizens, their family members, EU citizens with a certificate of temporary residence, and foreigners with a permanent residence permit must fill in an arrival form before entering the Czech Republic and, if arriving by public transport, undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 24 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have written confirmation of the result. Subsequently, they must undergo a second PCR test (antigen is not sufficient) administered in the Czech Republic, no later than 5 days after arrival. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival.
• Czech citizens, their family members, EU citizens with a certificate of temporary residence, and foreigners with a permanent residence permit entering the Czech Republic by private transport must undergo a PCR test (antigen is not sufficient) administered in the Czech Republic, no later than 5 days after arrival. Before entering the Czech Republic, they must fill in an arrival form. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival.

VERY HIGH RISK (dark red):

• Before traveling to the Czech Republic, foreigners traveling from these countries must fill in an arrival form and undergo a PCR test (antigen is not sufficient), administered no more than 72 hours before the beginning of the trip, and have written confirmation of the result. Subsequently, they must submit a second PCR test (antigen is not sufficient) administered in the Czech Republic, which can be administered no earlier than the 5^th day and no later than the 14^th day after entry.
  • Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result.
  • It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival.
• Czech citizens, their family members, EU citizens with a certificate of temporary residence, and foreigners with a permanent residence permit must fill in an arrival form before entering the Czech Republic and undergo an antigen or PCR test, administered no more than 24 hours (antigen) or 72 hours (PCR) before the beginning of the trip and have written confirmation of the result. Subsequently, they must submit a second PCR test (antigen is not sufficient) administered in the Czech Republic, which can be administered no earlier than the 5^th day and no later than the 14^th day after entry. Self-isolation is required until confirmation of a negative test result. It is also mandatory to wear an FFP2 (KN95, N95, P2, DS) respirator everywhere outside the home for 14 days after arrival.

EXTREME RISK (black):

• All citizens of the Czech Republic and foreigners residing in the Czech Republic are prohibited from entering countries with an extreme risk of contracting COVID-19 caused by new mutations of the virus. This does not apply to citizens of these countries and to journeys which, due to their nature, cannot be postponed and which have been notified in advance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. Those who violate the prohibition risk being fined under the Public Health Protection Act.

Erickson Immigration Group will continue to send updates as more news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney.