As of April 27, 2020, Czech authorities have provided relief for entry into the Czech Republic. From April 24, 2020, relief has also been provided in terms of opening shops, restaurants and freedom of movement. For more information, see Entry and Health.
Safety
The Czech Republic is a largely problem-free country for Norwegian visitors. The security situation in the country is good. However, be aware of pickpockets and traffic conditions. high speed in some motorists. Communication with Czechs can be challenging as knowledge of English is limited, especially outside Prague. The health situation is reasonably good. Please bring a valid travel pass and European health insurance card. Remember travel insurance!
The risk of terrorist incidents in the Czech Republic is considered low. Theft crime is the most common form of crime against visitors. This applies mostly to pickpockets in the capital Prague. The embassy notes that there are a large number of thefts, especially during the tourist season (May-September, Christmas/New Year, Easter). Pocket thefts are regularly recorded, hotel room theft, bagging, car theft and car theft, etc.
The police ask tourists to take special care, among other things. in areas around the city’s historical sites; on the tram, bus, subway, Prague airport and in the city’s cafes, restaurants and nightclubs. It is also warned against car thieves seeking unguarded parking spaces around hotels and boarding houses, and car thieves waiting for gas stations and picnic areas, taking advantage of the fact that travelers often leave keys in the car or fail to set off car alarms at short stops to refuel or eat.
If you are stolen passports or other valuables, it is important to report to the police and insurance companies as soon as possible. At the Jungmannovo n¨¢m¨§st¨ª 9 police station, Prague 1, just off V¨¢clavsk¨¦ n¨¢m¨§st¨ª, English-speaking interpreters are usually present.
Police number: +420 974 821 111
Police station Jungmannovo namesti 9: +420 974 851 750 The
insurance company will be able to assist you further.
SOS-International is the service body of the Scandinavian insurance companies when it comes to claims abroad. The company assists policyholders. If your insurance company is part of this scheme, it may also be helpful to talk to them.
To prevent anyone from abusing the credit card, it is important to close it as soon as possible. The banks’ messaging service has a common blocking service for all Norwegian banks and the blocking service is open 24 hours a day. The banks’ messaging service has telephone +47 22 21 40 55
If you no longer have your passport, the embassy can assist in issuing a one-way travel document (CZK 700) if you are returning to Norway via other Schengen countries, possibly an emergency passport (CZK 1,500). The embassy is open Monday to Friday, from 09.00 to 16.00.
The most common way to transfer money from Norway is through banking. It is also possible to use companies such as. Western Union or similar. The money arrives minutes after the transfer is approved and recipients can pick it up right away. The service is free of charge.
High speeds are widespread in traffic in the Czech Republic. Visitors are asked to be aware of possible careless or reckless drivers, both in cities and on country roads.
Norwegian citizens staying for short or long periods in the Czech Republic are encouraged to register on reiseregistrering.no. Visitors are encouraged to have valid travel insurance. Traveling abroad without travel insurance can have major consequences for you or your family.
You should therefore make sure you take out good travel insurance – or check that the one you have is adequate for your trip. Good travel insurance will cover, among other things, expenses related to injuries, accidents, illness, home transport and death.
Always read the insurance terms carefully beforehand, and be aware of the following:
- Does the insurance cover the country you are going to?
- Is the insurance valid for the entire duration of the trip?
- Most travel insurance policies have exemption clauses that include existing illness/chronic illnesses. If you have an illness/chronic illness, you should check with your insurance company before your trip to find out what your insurance covers – and not cover.
- If the purpose of the trip is to receive treatment abroad, you should think about what to do and how to finance special transport to Norway if it should be necessary after the treatment is completed. Ambulance flights can be very expensive. If the treatment journey is arranged through a Norwegian hospital, you should also address these questions with the hospital in advance.
- If you are going to do special activities during your stay abroad, such as extreme sports, you should investigate whether it is necessary to take out additional insurance.
Local emergency numbers: SOS 112.
Alternative: Fire 150, ambulance 155, police 158, city police 156, car accident 154.
In case of crisis and emergency, the embassy can be contacted Monday to Friday, from 09.00 to 16.00. The embassy’s phone number is +420 257 111 500.
Outside the embassy’s working hours, travelers can contact the UD’s 24-hour operating center on Tel: +47 23 95 00 00 or by e-mail: UDops@mfa.no
Entry
From Monday 27 April 2020, it is possible for Norwegian citizens to travel to the Czech Republic. You can take PCR tests no older than four days before entry, which must be conducted on a form from the Ministry of the Interior, otherwise quarantine is 14 days:
- Business meetings and trips up to 72 hours stay if you have documentation for the meeting/journey, and with PCR test conducted on a form from the Ministry of the Interior. The test must not be older than four days.
- Business meetings and journeys longer than 72 hours if you have documentation for the meeting/journey, there is a requirement for PCR testing and repeated testing between 10 and 14 days after entry.
- For university students studying in the Czech Republic, you must have proof from the place of study that you are affiliated with the university and you must have a PCR test conducted on a form from the Ministry of the Interior. The test must not be older than four days and repeated test between 10 and 14 days after entry.
- For family reunification there are reliefs that now apply to children up to 21 years, as well as parents and grandparents with PCR test conducted on a form from the Ministry of the Interior.
See below for information provided by the Czech authorities and for several groups for entry:
Effective from 27 th April 2020 (0:00) possibilities for entry of European Union citizens (as well as the Schengen area and United Kingdom citizens) to the Czech Republic have been extended. It will also be possible to arrive also for the purpose of documented economic and educational activities after presentation of PCR testing results in the Ministry of the Interior’s form. The test at entry must not be older than four days. For all persons who do not undergo the mandatory quarantine upon arrival in the Czech Republic, a two-week prohibition of free movement on the territory of the Czech Republic with the exception of urgent travels still applies.
Summary of the most important changes adopted
Economic activity with a stay of up to 72 hours (this includes business meeting, business trip or one-time execution of the contract, not commuters) must be documented upon entry to the Czech Republic by:
- confirmation of economic activity performance. or relevant documents (eg invitation to business meeting, business trip secondment or contract/order document)
- PCR testing results certificate.
The receiving body in the Czech Republic must ensure compliance with the rules of the Government Resolution No. 332 as eg using FFP2 respirators, minimizing social contact with other workers or regularly measuring body temperature.
Economic activity with staying longer than 72 hours (this includes business meeting, business trip or employment performance, not commuters) must be documented upon entry to the Czech Republic by:
- confirmation of economic activity performance as well as relevant documents (eg invitation to business meeting, business trip secondment or employment contract)
- PCR testing results certificate and consistently undergo between 10 thand 14 th day second PCR test.
The receiving body in the Czech Republic must also arrange accommodation, health care or transfer from the state borders.
University students must present a confirmation of study issued by the university and PCR testing results upon entry to the Czech Republic, and consistently undergo a second test between 10 th and 14 th day upon arrival.
Within family reunification the definition of family members has been newly extended to children up to 21 years of age, parents and grandparents. The ordered mandatory quarantine can be replaced by presentation of PCR testing results certificate.
Commuters in the healthcare sector, social services, integrated rescue system and critical infrastructure from neighboring countries in case of stay longer than 14 days can replace the ordered mandatory quarantine by presenting PCR testing results certificate.
In case of other commuters, children, pupils and students of pre-schools, primary, secondary and high schools PCR testing results certificate must be presented already upon the first entry into the territory of the Czech Republic and then always after 14 days, which can be be replaced by ordered mandatory quarantine.
With diplomas in case of stay longer than 14 days in the Czech Republic or abroad the ordered mandatory quarantine can be replaced by PCR testing results certificate.
Foreigners with temporary or permanent residence in the Czech Republic still have the opportunity to enter the territory, however, as well as the Czech citizens they must present PCR testing results certificate or undergo ordered mandatory quarantine. EU citizens can also prove their stay by other documents.
All information on conditions of entry to the territory of the Czech Republic is presented on the Koronavirus website.
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Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.
Norwegians do not need a visa to the Czech Republic. Although the Czech Republic (like Norway) is part of the Schengen area, passports must still be brought. Especially now, in the face of stricter border controls in Europe, a valid passport must always be carried on trips abroad. Passport is the only valid travel document for Norwegian citizens. If you only travel by bank card or driver’s license, you will probably be denied boarding on the flight when leaving Czech Republic.
Passports are the only valid identification document for Norwegian citizens, but upon entry, the following documents are also accepted: Emergency passport, refugee travel document (green travel document) and travel document for people on humanitarian grounds (blue travel document) Passport must be valid after the planned departure date. It is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure that travel documents are valid.
It is a requirement in the Czech Republic that one must always be able to identify, and therefore passports should always be brought.
Health
Coronavirus (covid-19): The government started a rapid process on April 24, 2020 to soften restrictions on freedom of movement, trade, activities and the like. See the following information from the Czech authorities:
- As of April 20, following business can be reopened: craft workshops (except for professions where direct physical contact with clients is present), car dealers, outdoor markets or dog salons. From the same date, students of last year’s university programs may return to schools for individual consultations. Last but not least, weddings of up to 10 people and outdoor training sessions by professional athletes (both under strict hygienic conditions) can be held as well.
- As of April 27, church services with a maximum of 15 persons can be held under strict hygienic conditions.
- The speeded-up plan to release business and other activities has been introduced:
as of April 20- craft workshops, farmers’ markets, car dealers, outdoor training activities of professional athletes, weddings of up to 10 people,
as of April 27 – business premises up to 2,500 m2, only if they are not in shopping malls over 5 000 m2), driving schools, gyms and fitness facilities without the possibility of using locker rooms and showers, church services of up to 15 people, libraries, outdoor exhibitions or zoological gardens, or
May 11 – shopping centers, business premises over 2,500 m2, restaurants can open their gardens while serving food there, beauty services, museums, galleries, outdoor premises of castles and chateaus, activities of professional athletes without public,
as of 25 May – restaurants, accommodation services, taxi services, tattoo salons, theaters, cultural and sporting events (limit of participants TBC), weddings, outdoor exhibitions or zoological gardens. - As of April 24,the free movement of people outside and during sports activities will be possible for groups of up to 10 people.
- As of Monday, April 27, all university students are now able to take part in personal individual consultations.
- The plan of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to gradually release measures in social services has been approved:
as of April 27- social services will be functional online and by telephone,
as of May 11 – social services will be working in the field and outings of clients of social accommodating services are permitted,
as of May 25 – social services for families with kids will be working in the field, families with kids can use outpatient surgery and day care centers for kids will be reopened,
as of June 8 – day care centers, social services for disabled persons and permission to visit social accommodating services.
The Ministry of Health has launched a new information page about the coronavirus in the Czech Republic (Czech only).
Other relevant links:
Czech Health Ministry: website and about the coronavirus
Czech Institute of Public Health (Czech only)
The Institute has also established a telephone line + 420 724 810 106 and 420 725 191 367 (9am – 9pm) for information.
You can find more information and guidance from the Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. See also UD’s answers to frequently asked questions about travel and coronavirus.
The Czech Institute of Public Health encourages people who have a fever/ cough and/or difficulty breathing, as well as have been in contact with someone who has covid-19 to contact a doctor by phone. They advise against contacting hospitals directly to avoid further infection. In case of emergency call: 112 (English and German language).
The following hospitals have English-speaking personnel:
Motol, V Úvalu 84, Praha 5. Tel: (+420) 224 43 1111, 24/7 service.
To Homolce Hospital, Roentgenova 2, Prague 5. Tel: (+420) 257 27 1111, Mon-Fri 07: 30-16: 00 otherwise (+420) 257 272 522.
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The Czech Republic has a well-developed health system, both public and private. Health and sanitation conditions vary somewhat. For health professional travel advice, visit the website of the Institute of Public Health .
Always bring with you the blue European health insurance card. This card gives you as a Norwegian citizen the right to care at Czech hospitals. The card is valid in all EEA countries and can be ordered via the Directorate of Health’s website.
In addition to the health insurance card, all travelers are advised to take out their own travel and health insurance before leaving. Read more about travel insurance under the topic Security.
If you become acutely ill or have an accident, call the SOS telephone number 112. Also contact your travel insurance company for further assistance. The European Health Insurance Card is very important if you become ill during your stay in the country. As a Norwegian citizen, you are entitled to care at Czech hospitals, so it is important that you carry this card that confirms this right.
For more information about rights to illness abroad, contact Helfo through the website HelseNorge.no, or call the service center on 800 43 573.
Practical information
According to allcitycodes, the area code for calls from Norway to the Czech Republic is +420. The telephone network is good. Official language is Czech. There is no time difference between Norway and the Czech Republic. It should be noted that English is not as widely used as in Norway. The Czech Republic uses Czech kroner as its currency.
The malls in the big cities are normally open until late at night and also on Sundays. Some large grocery stores are open 24 hours a day. Smaller shops close earlier, especially on Saturdays, and do not have Sundays open. Banks have normal business hours from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Most major stores and chains accept credit cards, but some small stores and several restaurants still only take cash. At gas stations, major shopping malls and markets in the border areas, the euro is in some cases accepted.
National holidays are: January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, May 8th, July 5th, July 6th, September 28th, October 28th, November 17th, December 24th, December 25th, 26th. December.
Prague has an extensive network of subways, trams, buses and local trains that are affordable, efficient and well maintained. The public transport system elsewhere in the country is also well developed.
A separate fee for the use of motorways is required. The wafer can be purchased by browsing. border crossings, at post offices and at gas stations. The price depends on the validity of the cachet.
If you want to use taxis on arrival in the Czech Republic or otherwise during the journey, it is recommended to use the official companies.
AAA taxi: 14014, + 420 222 333 222
Prof taxi: 14015, + 420 261 314 151
Tick thanks: 14222, + 420 721 300 300
The company’s name and license number must be clearly visible on both front doors. Price should be agreed in advance.