Coronavirus in Czechia: Easier International Travel after 1st or 2nd Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

According to the government’s decision, those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Czechia, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Austria, Slovakia or Slovenia will be allowed to return to Czechia from orange and red countries without restrictions. That means they do not need to get tested or be quarantined when they get back. 

Specifically, persons returning to the country are exempt from quarantine and testing 22 days after receiving the first shot.

Travelling just became easier for those vaccinated in Czechia and other selected countries.

Traveling just became easier for those vaccinated in Czechia and other selected countries.

You will need to show your vaccination certificates upon request at the border checkpoint. All passengers will also still have to fill out the Public Health Passenger Locator Form upon return.

 

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Sputnik V and Sinopharm to be accepted

The Minister of Health also announced that Czechia will grant access to individuals vaccinated with Sputnik V and Sinopharm

 

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Other conditions of return to Czechia

According to the Ministry of Health website, all passengers who aren’t exempt from testing still need to be tested before they start their journey back to Czechia.

The traffic lights system has not changed. There are still 5 categories based on the risk of infection – green, orange, red, dark red, and black. Colors are assorted based on current situations and announced by the Ministry of Health.

 

Are you returning from…

 

A green country?

  • You may return to Czechia without restrictions

An orange or red country? 

  • You need to announce your arrival by filling out the Locator Form and prove to the border checkpoint that you have done so
  • If you’re returning to Czechia by public transport (plane, train, bus…), you will also need to get tested. Your antigen test needs to be done 24 hours before your departure at most. Your PCR test has to be done 72 hours before your departure at most. You will need a written certificate of negativity that you’ll show at the border checkpoint
  • If you’re coming to Czechia by your own means (e.g. in your car), you don’t need to get tested before departure. However, you need to get tested (antigen or PCR) within 5 days after your arrival to Czechia. You will also need to wear a respirator for 14 days – everywhere except your own home
  • If you’re returning from a red country, you also have to self-isolate/quarantine until you get the results of your test

 

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A dark red country?

  • You need to announce your arrival by filling out the Locator Form and prove to the border checkpoint that you have done so
  • Everyone also needs to get tested (regardless of your transportation choice). Your antigen test needs to be done 24 hours before your departure at most. Your PCR test has to be done 72 hours before your departure at most. You will need a written certificate of negativity that you’ll show at the border checkpoint
  • You will also need to get tested (PCR) between 5 and 14 days after your arrival to Czechia. You also have to self-isolate/quarantine until you get the results of your test and wear a respirator everywhere for 14 days

A black country?

  • If you’re returning from a black country, you need to announce your arrival by filling out the Locator Form and prove to the border checkpoint that you have done so
  • Everyone also needs to get tested (regardless of your transportation choice). Your antigen test needs to be done 24 hours before your departure at most. Your PCR test has to be done 72 hours before your departure at most. You will need a written certificate of negativity that you’ll show at the border checkpoint
  • Every passenger also needs to show a reservation to get a PCR test, which they’ll need to undergo within 24 hours after entering Czechia
  • You will also need to get tested (PCR) between 10 and 14 days after your arrival to Czechia. You also have to self-isolate/quarantine until you get the results of your test and wear a respirator everywhere for 14 days

You can find further exceptions and details on the Ministry of Health website.

 

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Article sources: mzv.cz, idnes.cz
Photo course: pixabay.com

Tereza Walsbergerová

Hello! I'm Tereza and I'm a wordsmith and literature nerd from Brno. Although I was born and raised in the Czech Republic, I know all too well from my time living in Texas what it's like to be a "stranger in a strange land." I am excited to share all kinds of information with y'all!

4 thoughts on “Coronavirus in Czechia: Easier International Travel after 1st or 2nd Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

  1. Hi Tereza,

    A lot of information to understand. Such as the indicated time aspects of when to return after the indicated jabs or having had the bug and of course lived to tell about it.
    Maybe my brain is on vacation but I am puzzled.

    Take care and stay safe,
    Dwight

    1. Hi Dwight!
      I’m not sure what the government is basing these time aspects. Let me know if there’s anything specific you don’t understand and I’ll see if I can look it up for you!

      Best,
      Tereza

  2. Hi Tereza,

    How are you doing? Anxious for being done with studies etc.?
    Specific to this: Return from a country outside CZ after 22 days being in said country but not after 3 months after 1st dose? I just don’t understand. They first refer to 2 doses then switch it back to 1 dose.
    Specifically, those who were vaccinated with 2-dose vaccines can return after at least 22 days but not after longer than after 3 months after getting their 1st dose.

    Perhaps a simpler method would be to say “You can return if you have had 2 doses, but only after remaining outside CZ for at least 22 days. Additionally, if you only have had 1 dose, and 3 months have passed and you still have not had a second dose then you cannot enter CZ.”

    Now, do you see how the original statement can be misinterpreted?
    It just needs to be clearer.
    Hope this makes sense, not trying to rock the boat, just want a clear understanding of timelines as they relate to doses and how that reflects upon the ability to return to CZ.

    Good luck with this one. I suppose I made a mess of it, but this is how I am seeing it. And if I see it as not real clear then perhaps others do as well.
    Take care and stay safe,
    Dwight

    1. Hi Dwight,
      Thank you for the note. The original text was a direct translation from the Ministry website, hence why it was so complicated. I’ve decided to make it as simple as possible now.

      Best,
      Tereza

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