#ImmiUpdatesCzechia If you’re a non-EU expat or frequent traveler in Czechia, you’ve probably heard of the “90-day Schengen rule.” But there is one lesser-known exception that many people still rely on – bilateral visa-free agreements. It is a specific legal regime, limited to certain nationalities, with strict conditions – and it is now being checked more carefully than before due to the rollout of the EU’s new EES border system.
Bilateral agreements allow you to stay in Czechia
Who Can Use These Bilateral Agreements?
This type of visa-free stay applies only to citizens of specific countries that have a bilateral agreement with the Czech Republic:
- Argentina
- Chile
- Israel
- South Korea (Republic of Korea)
- Costa Rica
- Malaysia
- Uruguay
- Singapore
If you are not from one of these countries, this regime simply does not apply to you.
How Long Can You Stay?
This is where it gets tricky – because it is not unified across all countries.
- Most of the listed countries (Argentina, Chile, Israel, South Korea, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Uruguay):
up to 90 days in the Czech Republic without a visa - Singapore is an exception:
up to 30 days in Czechia + up to 60 additional days within Schengen visa-free regime
Important: the exact conditions always depend on the specific bilateral agreement.
The “Reset” Rule People Often Misunderstand
If you already used up your 90 days in the Schengen Area, and you want to use the bilateral agreement again in Czechia:
- you must leave Czech territory demonstrably for at least one day
- only then can you re-enter under the bilateral regime (if applicable to your nationality)
This is one of the most common points where people get into trouble at border checks.
What You CAN Do
This visa-free stay is primarily meant for:
- tourism
- short-term visits
- non-commercial stay
- and specific administrative steps (for example, collecting a residence permit in person)
It can also be used to pick up a long-term or permanent residence permit in Czechia or complete biometric registration at the Ministry of the Interior.
But all of this must happen within the allowed visa-free period.
What You CANNOT Do
Under this visa-free regime:
- you cannot work
- you cannot run a business
- you cannot perform paid activities in Czechia
If you want to work short-term (under 90 days), you typically need a Schengen visa for employment purposes.
Travel restrictions inside Europe
Another major restriction:
This visa-free stay is not meant for free movement around the Schengen area.
It generally applies only to the territory of the Czech Republic, based on the specific bilateral agreement.
Why Is This More Sensitive Now
Since 2025, the EU has been rolling out the EES (Entry/Exit System), which digitally tracks all entries and exits from Schengen.
That means:
- no more “approximate counting” of stay duration
- precise digital records of border crossings
- stricter detection of overstays or inconsistencies
Have You Already Experienced Problems?
If you’ve already experienced issues – at the airport, at the Foreign Police, or during entry/exit checks – Foreigners is collecting real-life cases to better understand how these rules are being applied in practice.
You can share your experience here: katerina.raspopceva@foreigners.cz
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Sources: ipc.gov.cz
Image sources: pexels
