Czech Republic to require 20 euro ETIAS fee for visa exempt visitors

How ETIAS will work for Czechia entries

The Czech Republic will require ETIAS travel authorization for most visa-exempt short-stay visitors once the EU system goes live in the last quarter of 2026, with full enforcement following a transition period in 2027.

ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is a pre-travel security screening tied to a traveler's passport. It covers short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across 30 European countries, including Czechia. The fee is €20 ($22), with exemptions for applicants under 18 or over 70. Approvals are valid for three years or until the linked passport expires.

A grace period of at least six months after launch will let travelers enter without ETIAS in many cases, per industry guidance. After that window closes, carriers will deny boarding to passengers who need ETIAS but lack approval.

Who gets pulled into the new rule

Nationals of more than 60 visa-exempt countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Japan, will need ETIAS to enter Czechia for tourism, business meetings, family visits or short remote-work stints.

Holders of a Czech long-term visa or residence permit don't need ETIAS when entering on that status, per EU guidance. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are exempt entirely. Third-country nationals already carrying a Schengen short-stay visa keep using the visa.

Digital nomads who base themselves outside the EU and run short Schengen hops will need one ETIAS approval to cover Prague, Lisbon, Berlin and any other participating country during the authorization's validity. The 90/180 Schengen clock still applies and ETIAS grants no work rights.

What travelers should do before Q4 2026

The official application portal is expected to open shortly before launch in mid-to-late 2026. Most decisions process within minutes, though flagged applications can take up to 96 hours and exceptional cases up to four weeks.

Practical steps:

• Confirm the passport used for travel has enough validity to cover the planned three-year ETIAS window
• Apply only through the official EU ETIAS portal once it opens, not third-party resellers charging markups
• Reapply after any passport renewal, since approvals are tied to the document

The Entry/Exit System, which records biometrics at Schengen borders and replaces passport stamping, begins its progressive rollout Oct. 12, 2025, with full operation by April 2026.

Read our full Czech Republic guide for the complete picture.