Czech Republic visa requirements for Russian citizens
Russian citizens need a visa for the Czech Republic and must apply for it before the trip at a consulate or embassy.
- Consular fee
- €90
- Minimum passport validity
- 3 months after departure
How to apply for this visa: the step-by-step process →
How long it takes and how far ahead to book →
If it's refused: grounds and how to appeal →
Last verified: 8 October 2026
How this visa is processed
Consular section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Moscow, only for the admitted cases
A Russian needs a Schengen visa for the Czech Republic, but since the invasion of Ukraine the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs only provides limited visa services to Russian and Belarusian citizens, under Government Decree No. 200 and its amendments. It serves certain family members of European Union citizens, certain family members of third-country nationals and regime opponents and dissidents who can prove pro-democracy and human rights activity, mainly through the Civil Society Program. Tourism is not among them. The full list is in the Czech version of the Ministry's notice. The consular section of the Embassy in Moscow opens Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:00, with a break from 12:00 to 13:30.
Official application site →Application details verified on 8 October 2026. Sources: mzv.gov.cz, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, "Limited Visa Services for Russians and Belorussians" (28/08/2023, updated 09/02/2026: legal basis and admitted cases) and the page of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Moscow (consular section hours). Checked 8 October 2026.
Verified practical details
You'll need to apply for a visa at a consulate or embassy before travelling. Here are the practical details we've verified:
Fee
€90
The €90 is the short-stay Schengen visa fee, set by Article 16 of the Visa Code (Regulation (EC) 810/2009) as amended by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1415, in force since 11 June 2024. It is not a fee set by Czech Republic: the same amount is paid at any Schengen consulate. Children from the age of 6 and under 12 pay €45, and children under 6 are exempt. Travellers entering without a visa pay no fee at all.
Processing time
Where the trip requires a Schengen visa, the consulate must decide within 15 calendar days of an admissible application being lodged. That period may be extended to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, particularly where the application needs closer examination; in justified urgent individual cases the decision is taken immediately (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 23). An application may not be lodged more than six months before the intended trip and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before it; where the consulate requires an appointment, it is normally given within two weeks of being requested (Art. 9).
Required documents
- A valid passport or travel document, issued within the previous ten years and valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area (Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Art. 6(1)(a))
- A valid visa, if your nationality requires one. It is not needed if you hold a valid residence permit or long-stay visa issued by a Schengen State (Art. 6(1)(b))
- Documents justifying the purpose and conditions of the intended stay: an accommodation booking or a declaration of invitation from your host, and a return or onward ticket (Art. 6(1)(c) and Art. 6(3), which points to the non-exhaustive list in Annex I)
- Proof of sufficient means of subsistence for the whole stay and for the return to your country of origin, or of being in a position to acquire such means lawfully. They are assessed according to the duration and purpose of the stay, by reference to average prices for board and lodging in budget accommodation (Art. 6(1)(c) and 6(4)). Cash, traveller's cheques, credit cards and declarations of invitation or of sponsorship all count as proof (Art. 6(4))
How much money you need to show
CZK 1,565 per day for stays of up to 30 days; for longer stays, CZK 46,950 plus CZK 6,260 for each full month
The figures are tied to the Czech subsistence minimum and change when it does. Under-18s show half. Besides cash and cards, proof of services already paid for and a letter of invitation certified by the Czech police also count.
What each Schengen country asks for →Source: European Commission, Annex 25 to the Practical Handbook for Border Guards (reference amounts notified by each State), version of 8 June 2026, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (mzv.gov.cz, page on proof of funds). Checked on 1 November 2026.
Health insurance
Mandatory to apply for the Schengen visa: minimum coverage of €30,000, valid across the whole Schengen area and for the entire length of the stay (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 15).
Which policies meet the €30,000 requirement →
When travel insurance is mandatory → Travel insurance policies ↓How long you can stay
Schengen rule: a maximum stay of 90 days within any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.
Calculate your available Schengen days →More Czech Republic rules
They don't depend on your passport, so they are on the Czech Republic page:
Official portal: https://mv.gov.cz/mvcren/. Destination data verified on 26 August 2026. Sources: mv.gov.cz/mvcren (Czech Ministry of the Interior: maximum fine of CZK 5,000 for unauthorised stay under § 156 of Act No. 326/1999 Sb.); celnisprava.gov.cz/en (Czech Customs Administration: alcohol and tobacco allowances with no distinction by mode of entry); celnisprava.gov.cz (official press release: €10,000 cash declaration threshold and fine of up to CZK 10,000,000 for non-compliance); travel-europe.europa.eu /etias (ETIAS "not operational" status) (checked 26 August 2026).
Insurance for the Schengen visa
The consulate asks for a policy with at least €30,000 of medical cover, valid across the whole Schengen area and for the entire stay. Check those terms in the policy before you pay.
See IATI's international site →IATI sells its policies according to the country you live in. Where do you live?
If your country isn't listed, try IATI's international site.
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Things to see and do in the Czech Republic
Tours, skip-the-line tickets and day trips, most with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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This pair in context
In the other direction, citizens of the Czech Republic need an electronic visa to enter Russia. See the Czech Republic → Russia page.
Of the 9 passports from Eastern Europe that VisaRadar tracks, for travel to the Czech Republic 7 enter visa-free and 2 need a visa. Same result as Russia: Belarus.
With a passport from Russia, in the rest of Eastern Europe you can enter Belarus and Moldova visa-free; you need a visa for Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.
A passport from Russia ranks 81 of 199 in the VisaRadar passport ranking and reaches 110 of 198 destinations without applying for a visa in advance.
Counts from the same requirements matrix behind this page's verdict, using the UN M49 subregions.
Frequently asked questions
Do Russian citizens need a visa for the Czech Republic?
Yes. You must apply for the visa in advance at the relevant consulate or embassy.
How long does it take to get the entry permit?
Where the trip requires a Schengen visa, the consulate must decide within 15 calendar days of an admissible application being lodged. That period may be extended to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, particularly where the application needs closer examination; in justified urgent individual cases the decision is taken immediately (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 23). An application may not be lodged more than six months before the intended trip and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before it; where the consulate requires an appointment, it is normally given within two weeks of being requested (Art. 9).
What minimum passport validity is required?
At least 3 months of validity beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area, and issued within the previous ten years (Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Art. 6(1)(a)).
Do I need travel insurance to apply for the Schengen visa?
Yes, to apply for the visa: travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000, valid across the whole Schengen area and for the entire length of the stay, is mandatory (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 15).
Can a Russian get a tourist visa for the Czech Republic?
No. The Czech Republic only provides limited visa services to Russian citizens, for certain family members of EU citizens or foreign residents and for recognised dissidents.
What is the restriction based on?
Government Decree No. 200 and its amendments, adopted as a measure in response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
How much money do Russian passport holders need to enter the Czech Republic?
The reference amount is CZK 1,565 per day for stays of up to 30 days; for longer stays, CZK 46,950 plus CZK 6,260 for each full month. The figures are tied to the Czech subsistence minimum and change when it does. Under-18s show half. Besides cash and cards, proof of services already paid for and a letter of invitation certified by the Czech police also count.
What do Russian passport holders need for the countries near the Czech Republic?
With a passport from Russia, in the rest of Eastern Europe you can enter Belarus and Moldova visa-free; you need a visa for Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine.
Related pages
See Czech Republic requirements for other passports →
Informational only. Always verify requirements with the official embassy or consulate before you travel.