Backgrounder - The visa requirement for the Czech Republic

The history of the Czech Republic and Canada’s visa requirement

Canada first lifted the temporary resident visa requirement on the Czech Republic in April 1996. Following the lifting, approximately 1,500 claims were made in Canada by Czech nationals. In response to this, Canada re-imposed the visa requirement in October 1997. Following the Czech Republic’s accession to the European Union, and based on the positive findings of a country review, including a very low visa refusal rate, the Government of Canada lifted the visa requirement on the Czech Republic again, on October 31, 2007.

Increase in Czech refugee claimants

Since the visa requirement was lifted in October 2007, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of refugee claims from Czech nationals. Following the visa lifting, more than 840 Czech refugee claims were received in 2008, compared with less than five claims in 2006. In total, nearly 3,000 claims have been filed by Czech nationals since October 2007 – exceeding the number of claims when the visa was re-imposed in October 1997 – with over half of them in the first four months of 2009 alone.

Since the visa was lifted in 2007, there has also been a noticeable increase in the number of immigration violations, including individuals not possessing the proper travel documents. 

Text version: Refugee Claims

Text version: 2008 Outcomes of Refugee Claims

Text version: January to March 2009, Outcomes of Refugee Claims

Impact of the visa requirement on travellers from the Czech Republic

The visa requirement means that Czech nationals who want to come to Canada to visit, study, or work will first need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa and meet the requirements to receive one.

The visa requirement comes into effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 14, 2009 (6:01 a.m. CET local time in the Czech Republic), but for the first 48 hours, Czech citizens may apply for entry on arrival in Canada free of charge.

After 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 15, 2009 (5:59 a.m. CET local time in the Czech Republic on July 16, 2009), Czech citizens will need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa, prior to travel, by sending an application to the Embassy of Canada in Vienna, Austria.

Visa applications are to be sent to the visa office in Vienna which borders the Czech Republic and already has the processing capacity in place to receive and process applications which will help minimise delays for those planning to travel to Canada. Vienna already serves nationals from several other European countries.

How applicants may apply for a visa

The process for applying for a Temporary Resident Visa is available on the website of the Embassy of Canada in Austria: www.kanada.at.

Once an applicant has completed the application and included all necessary documents, such as their passport, they may submit their applications either by mail, by private courier, in person, or through a travel agent to the Embassy of Canada in Vienna, Austria.

To facilitate travel, applicants may apply for a multiple-entry visa which is valid for up to five years.

Visa applicants must demonstrate their visit to Canada is temporary, they will not overstay their time in Canada, they have enough money to cover their stay in Canada, they are in good health, they do not have a criminal record, and are not a security risk to Canadians. These requirements are the same for anyone who wants to visit Canada.

Measures are in place for anyone who needs to travel to Canada on an urgent basis. Information on emergency situations is available on the Embassy’s website: www.kanada.at.

Until mid-August, applicants living in the Czech Republic may drop off their completed application, and all necessary documents, at the Embassy of Canada in Prague. The application will then be forwarded to the Embassy of Canada in Vienna for processing.

Until July 17, 2009, people with questions who cannot find the information on the website may call the Visa Section hotline at +43-1-531-38-3600 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. This service will be provided in Czech. Individuals in Canada may contact CIC’s Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.

Czech citizens who are outside the Czech Republic or who will be visiting another country en route to Canada, may apply for a Temporary Resident Visa at the Canadian visa office nearest to them. The list of Canadian visa offices abroad, as well as information on how to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa, may be found at: www.cic.gc.ca.

Visit CIC’s website to view Frequently Asked Questions.