In July 2026, the Minister of the Interior issued a press release informing the public about the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is scheduled to be launched in late 2026 and early 2027.
The obligation to have a valid ETIAS travel authorisation will apply to citizens of countries whose nationals do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area and cross the border on the basis of so-called visa-free travel. The obligation does not apply to citizens of Czechia, other EU Member States, citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and citizens of Switzerland.
The Ministry of the Interior also informed the public that applications for travel authorisation under the ETIAS system will be submitted exclusively online through the official EU portal. Applications will usually be processed automatically within minutes, but in cases requiring manual review, the processing may take up to 30 days.
The travel permit will be valid for 3 years from the date of issue or until the travel document in the application expires. During the validity period of the permit, the Schengen area can be visited repeatedly. However, the duration of stay under visa-free travel may never exceed 90 days in any 180-day period. To monitor the duration of stay, travelers can use the so-called Schengen calculator.
- Ministry of the Interior | Ministerstvo Vnitra (6 July, 2026), Nový systém ETIAS posílí bezpečnost schengenského prostoru [The new ETIAS system will strengthen the security of the Schengen area ],