HOW TO APPLY FOR A VISIT or A TOURIST VISA TO CZECH REPUBLIC
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Brimming with history and natural beauty, the Czech Republic is home to a host of awesome national parks, stunning small towns and medieval castles straight out a fairy tale. This country has an advanced economy and a high standard of living. In fact, it is the most stable and prosperous of the post-communist states, with the lowest unemployment rate (2.2%) in the European Union.
Another interesting fact is that The Czech are famously known for their beer drinking.
Another interesting fact is that The Czech are famously known for their beer drinking. On average, they drink 188.6 litres of beer per capita.
Czech Republic inherited this nickname because of its beautiful cathedrals and their pointy spires. As of 2020, the Czech Republic has 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. All of them are in the cultural category and one is shared with Germany. The Historic Centre of Prague and the Historic Centre of Český Krumlov are popular among tourists from all over the world.
An Overview of Schengen Visa for Short-term Stay in Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a part of the Schengen area i.e. a group of countries which carry out no checks at their common borders and which have brought their efforts to fulfill the right of free movement of persons to a successful end.
More information about the Schengen area can be found here.
To enter Czech Republic (and any other countries in the Schengen zone), you must obtain a Schengen Visa first. You can get a tourist visa (if touring the country is your primary purpose) or a visit visa (if your main objective is to visit a family, friend, or significant other).
With a Schengen Visa, you may come and stay to Czech Republic for up to 90 days total starting from the date of entry to the date of exit. This 90-day stay may start and end anytime within the dates stipulated in the visa validity period (180 days).
Historic and romantic Prague in the Czech Republic is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and by night there are tours of Czech beer cellars and dance parties. For adventure junkies, there are multi-sports tours involving cycling, hiking and canoeing. So, if this Schengen country is one of your bucket lists to explore, here’s a guide on how to apply for a Schengen Visa to Czech Republic with your Philippine Passport.
Czech Schengen Visa Conditions for Philippine Citizens
If you are a Philippine passport holder and you are planning to apply for a Czech Schengen visa, you must fulfill these conditions:
- Czech Republic is your main destination. It means that you will visit Czeh Republic only and have no plans of visiting any other neighboring Schengen country (sa Czech Rep. ka lang pupunta at mag-stay); or
- You will stay the longest in Czech Republic. You have plans of visiting other Schengen countries, but Czech Republic is where you will be staying the longest. (Pupunta ka pa sa ibang Schengen countries, pero sa Czech Republic ang pinaka-mahabang stay mo).
Example: You will stay in Czech Republic for 14 days to visit a family member or a relative. After that, you will go to Belgium, France, and Germany for a 2-week side trip, before returning to the Philippines.
- The main purpose of your travel is in Czech Republic. You have plans of visiting other Schengen countries, but the focus of your travel is in Czech Republic.
- Czech Republic is your port of entry. You have plans of visiting multiple Schengen countries for the same number of days, pero Czech Republic ang iyong first point of entry.
Important Documents to Prepare
VSF Global in Manila collects, verifies, and submits the documents to the Embassy of Czech Republic in the Philippines where the applications get processed.
Note: Prepare two sets of each document—one original set and one photocopy.
After you’ve determined your primary reason for travel (and thus, your visa type) and check whether you are eligible for it, it’s time to prepare the documents:
1. A duly filled out and signed Schengen Visa Application Form. You may download the form by signing up here.
2. Two current biometrical passport photos (35-45 mm width)– have your passport photo taken. The embassy is very strict on their photo specifications. Fortunately, they have a page on their official website dedicated to explaining this. Bring at least two copies or more, just in case. One photo should be glued to the application form. The second photo will be returned to you.
- Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or contact lenses, or a head covering unless worn for religious or medical reasons.
- The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows).
After which, paste your photo on each of the electronic visa form that you completed online (1 original and 1 photocopy of the form).
3. Original Passport and a Photocopy of it as well as the Bio Page– The embassy requires that your passport is valid for at least another three months on the date the visa application is submitted. It also must have two empty pages for them to stamp your passport. If you have renewed your passport, bring your old one/s with you. These are needed especially if you have previous overseas trips.
4. Travel plan indicating your destination (in this case, Czech Republic), route, proof of accommodation (hotel or apartment booking, etc.), and a round-trip flight reservation with dates and flight numbers showing the entry and exit from Czech Republic.
Important reminders:
- You do not need to pay for the flight ticket right away because you are only applying for a visa and have no guarantee that it will be approved. You’re essentially just showing them that a flight itinerary from the Philippines to Czech Republicis available on your preferred travel date. We can assist you with a dummy ticket for your flight reservation requirement; get it here!
- The embassy typically asks for a cover letter along with other documents; the cover letter details the purpose of your journey to Czech Republic plus your complete itinerary indicating all of the places you are planning to visit while you’re there. The cover letter is crucial to the success of your application; a well-thought-out and well-written cover letter gets you a higher chance of visa approval. Let us take care of your cover letter (and others such as sponsorship, invitation, and appeal), get our letter service here!
- If applying for a tourist visa: You will need a cover letter addressed to the Consul of Embassy of Czech Republic in Manila.
In the cover letter, explain your reason for visit, where you will stay (did you get a hotel accommodation? Are you staying over at someone’s place?), how you will fund the trip (do you have enough in your savings to finance your travel?), and your day-to-day itinerary. Outline every specific activity you are planning to take—places to go, tours to join, people to meet/visit, etc.
Also, through this cover letter, submit an informal declaration explaining your intention to return to the Philippines before your visa expires. Make sure you sign the cover letter.
Explain and submit proofs for your reason to return:
- Do you have a young child in the Philippines you need to go back for and take care of? Submit the child’s birth certificate.
- Do you have senior citizen parents who are counting on your return? Submit a copy of their senior citizen IDs.
- Are you an employee or a student and must return for your job or schooling? Submit copies of employment or school documents.
We will discuss more about proof of strong ties later in this article. As already stated above, you will also need to submit your flight reservation and proof of accommodation.
- If applying for a visit visa: You will need proof of relationship with your host, partner, or sponsor—how are you related to the person you are visiting? You may submit a copy of birth certificate, marriage certificate, written correspondence between you and your sponsor (screenshots of video calls and chats), and any other evidence of your relationship with your sponsor, such as photos together, as proof of relationship.
Do not forget the invitation letter from the host or your partner based in Czech Republic. In this letter, the host or your partner must indicate the exact address where the host lives, as well as the purpose and full duration of your visit to your host’s country.
If you are visiting your immediate family member or a close relative, you have to provide a proof of the urgency of that visit. It could be a marriage celebration, birth of a child, serious health problem, or funeral.
Proof of strong ties or deep-rootedness is also extremely important. One of the most common reasons for visa denial is the lack of strong ties; make sure you provide a compelling reason to return to the Philippines.
7. Proof of vaccination– As most European countries have decided to welcome vaccinated travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic. To know more about the COVID-19 updates and vaccines recognised for travel in Czech Republic, you can read it here.
8. Proof of financial capacity to show that you (or your sponsor) can support your expenses for the whole duration of your travel.
- For sponsored travel: Your host or sponsor declares that he or she will be solely responsible for all expenses incurred during your trip.
- For those traveling without a sponsor: this means that you will cover all your expenses during the entire duration of your travel.
- Bank statements – must show records of the past six months. A bank statement shows your transactions in your account at a specific period. It will show debits (withdrawals, payments, taxes, service fees) and credits (deposits, interest earned.) Bank Statements can also be seen online especially if you have a registered account. There is no signature for the manager or a bank officer.
- Bank Certificate – it is a confirmation by the branch manager or a bank officer that you have an existing account in their bank. It shows the account number, the type, and other details such as the opening date of your account, your account balance as of the date of request, and your average daily balance.
- Other proof of income (supporting documents) – although it is not really required, you can submit invoices and pay slip equivalent to prove that you earn enough to support this trip financially.
If you maintain a bank account for a long time, better maintain it. Kahit na may sponsor ka, of course, plus points pa din sa visa application mo if idadagdag mo din bank statements mo, payslips from our employer, and other proof na financially capable ka din and most importantly, it proves deep rootedness as well.
Sponsorship Letter which should state the fact that he/ she is inviting you to come over, your relationship with each other, and that he/ she is willing to sponsor you during your trip. Of course, it needs to have documentary proof.
The sponsor’s copies of: passport including the biodata page and travel history (passport stamps) and ID Card or Resident ID card
Recent proof of income of the sponsor (3 last months’ salary slips, etc.)
Proof of relationship with the sponsor (pictures together, Birth or Marriage certificate, and screenshot of chat conversations)
To know more about additional requirements that you would need from your sponsor, check out my YouTube video below:
9. Proof of Civil Status – Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate of the spouse, etc. These documents must be issued on security paper (SECPA) by the Philippine Statistics Authority, see http://www.psaserbilis.com.ph.
Note: The birth certificate does not need to be authenticated by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
10. Evidence of your rootedness in the Philippines – Evidence of deep-rootedness a.k.a. strong family and social ties to your home country, is one of the most critical requirements when applying for a Schengen Visa. It is what the Consul will look for in your visa application. So how do you prove that you are firmly established in the Philippines and that you will go back to your home country?
You need to convince them that you will return to the Philippines. Insufficient evidence of deep-rootedness to your home country is also one of the chief reasons for visa denial.
- For Employees:
- Employment or Work contract and bank account statements or payslips showing the transfer of your last six-monthly salaries
- Certificate of Employment which should include the employer’s full name, complete address, telephone number with area code, details regarding the position, income, and employment duration
- Approved letter of approved leave signed by your employer (Leave of Absence letter)
- Optional: Signed No Objection Certificate which states that your employer has no objection for you to travel to Czech Republic and that they have approved your leave request
- Most recent Income Tax Return 2316 (ITR)
- Optional Supporting Documents:
› Government Mandated Contributions – SSS, Pag-ibig, Philhealth Contributions
› If with existing loan – SSS Loan or Pag-ibig Salary loan
- For Self-Employed:
- DTI Business Name Registration Certificate
- Barangay Business Clearance
- Mayor’s Business Permit from your Municipality where the business address has been registered
- Business activity of your company for the last 6 months – invoices and bank transactions
- Most recent Income Tax Return 2316 (ITR)
- For Retirees:
- Pension statement for the last 6 months
- Retirement Certification
- Others (No work, No Business, etc.): Family as Proof of Rootedness:
- For Solo parents:
› A copy of your birth certificate- PSA Authenticated
› A copy of your child/children’s birth certificate- PSA Authenticated
› Solo parent ID
› Barangay Certification as Solo parent
› Notarized Affidavit of Solo Parent with Undertaking
› Money remittances to support your dependents - For those who are supporting or watching over the health/well-being of the family:
› A copy of my parent’s birth certificates- PSA Authenticated
› If parents are already Senior Citizens: a copy of their Senior Citizen ID and Barangay Certification as Senior Citizens
› If parents have sickness/ illness: Medical history of parents (diabetes, hypertension, etc.)
- For Solo parents:
- For Employees:
- Property Titles: if you have some, the following are accepted.
- Land titles
- Car registration certificates
- Deeds of Sale
- For Minors
- Joint affidavit of both parents or legal guardians granting consent
- Photocopies of the passports of both parents or legal guardians
- Birth certificate of the minor. Must be recent, original, and issued by PSA.
- DSWD Clearance, if the minor is not traveling with either parent or legal guardian
- Recent certificate of enrollment from the school
- Letter authorizing the student’s absence from school
- Property Titles: if you have some, the following are accepted.
Helpful tips: Check this video for information on additional document requirements for a minor:
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Apply for a Schengen Visa to Czech Republic
STEP 1: Determine the type of Czech Republic Schengen visa you need to apply for and have a look at the checklist of requirements to gather all the documents that you need to submit.
The first step is to determine which visa type you need, and check whether you’re eligible to apply for it.
You’ll also need to know the documents that you’ll have to submit along with your application, how long the application might take and fees you’ll have to pay. Each application must comply with the guidelines applicable for your visa category.
STEP 2: Complete the Schengen Visa Requirements stated above (Important Documents to Prepare) to begin with your visa application. Once you are ready to apply, go to the Embassy of the Czech Republic website to apply for your visa online.
You can also download the visa application form, complete it, print the completed form, and bring it with you to the Visa Application Centre for submission.
More information about applying for a visa.
Alternatively, You can save time during your visa appointment by getting your visa application form and documents reviewed online before coming to the centre with Digital Document Check. Select the service while booking your appointment.
STEP 3: Book your appointment here and show up on that day together with all your requirements. Book an appointment at the Visa Application Center of your choice. There are two locations:
VFS Visa Application Center – Manila
Ground Flr., Ecoplaza Building
2305 Don Chino Roces Ave, Extension,
Makati, Metro Manila
VFS Visa Application Center – Cebu
Unit 503, 5th Floor, Keppel Center
Samar Loop cor. Cardinal Rosales Avenue
Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
During your appointment, you will have your fingerprints and photo taken at a Visa Application Centre. This is known as ‘biometric information’.
Once you’ve booked your appointment, you’ll receive an appointment confirmation email along with the letter of appointment.
If you are part of a family or group, you’ll have to book individual appointments for each member of the family or group.
STEP 4: Pay the Visa Fee. Once you have made your application, you will need to pay your visa application fee. If you are applying online for your visa, your payment will be made as part of this process. If you download the form to print and bring to the Visa Application Centre, payment can be made at the time of your appointment.
STEP 5: On the day of the appointment, proceed to the VFS Application Center and submit the requirements in person. Personal appearance is mandatory. Failure to show up means forfeiture of your appointment slot. Note that applications with incomplete requirements will not be processed.
For more information, find out What happens at the Visa Application Centre.
STEP 6: Track your application. Stay informed about the progress of your application.
You will receive an email update when your decision has been returned to the Visa Application Centre. If you can’t access email easily, or would like more detailed tracking information, you may also be able to get updates by SMS sent directly to your phone. Check whether this service is available at the Visa Application Centre you are visiting.
You can also track your visa application status online. Use the Reference Number present on the invoice/receipt issued by the Visa Application Centre along with your last name to access this service.
STEP 7: Wait for the result and then pick up your passport—the visa center will let you know when your passport is ready for collection.
After a visa application decision has been made, you can pick up your documents from the Visa Application Centre or have your documents returned to you by courier for an additional fee. For some Visa Application Centres your documents will only be returned via courier.
Collecting your documents in person: bring the receipt issued by the Visa Application Centre and a form of Government identification. If permitted you may be able to send a representative to collect your documents; they will need to present a letter of authorisation signed by you, bring the receipt issued to you by the Visa Application Centre and their Government identification.
Please check with the Visa Application Centre at time of your appointment for the options available to collect your documents.
Quick Facts
- Validity of Visa : Short-stay Schengen visas allow people to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days every six-month period
- Processing time:Visa processing usually takes 15 days, but it can take less time in some cases. There were also times when it could take up to a month or more, especially if they requested additional documentation and verification. Consider this when submitting your application; to be safe, apply for the visa at least one month before your intended travel date; plan ahead of time.
- Where to lodge your application:
VFS Visa Application Centre
30th Floor The World Center, Sen Gil J Puyat Ave Makati City 1231, Philippines
-
- VFS Cebu
Unit 503, 5th Floor, Keppel Center, Samar Loop cor. Cardinal Rosales Avenue, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City 6000
- VFS Cebu
- Embassy’s Information:
- Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila
- Address: Rufino Pacific Tower, 30th floor, 1226, 6784 Ayala Ave, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
- Telephone Number: +63 2 8811 1155
E-mail address: manila@embassy.mzv.cz
Website: www.mfa.cz/manila
- Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila
Common Reasons for Schengen Visa Rejection
Here are the common reasons a Schengen Visa application gets denied:
- No clear travel purpose—a detailed cover letter is a must!
- Lack of strong ties—reevaluate your application and prove why you must return to your home country!
- Insufficient travel insurance coverage—make sure you get the right policy!
- No proof of financial means—convince them that you can afford your trip! Provide bank or credit card statements, VUL, investment portfolio, etc.
- Passport does not have 2 free pages—where will they attach the visa if your passport pages are already full? You should get a new passport before applying for a visa if there are no more available pages on your old one!
- No proof of accommodation—you need to prove them that you have a place to stay in the Schengen Area.
Recap and Tips
So, just a recap and a reminder, please don’t forget these TIPS:
If you ever need help, you can avail my visa application bundle, and I will be glad to help you through the process!
Let Us Be Your Partner in Your Schengen Visa Journey
Applying for a Schengen Visa can be overwhelming, with all the paperwork involved and confusing information from different sources. We understand that—we’ve been there and have done that!
But through the years, we gained experience and knowledge on the ins and outs of the Schengen Visa application. We’ve helped countless satisfied clients; we would like to invite you to be one of them!
With our Schengen Visa services personalized to your unique needs and circumstances, we will make your visa application less stressful and laborious and more promising. Contact us to schedule a consultation or for other inquiries.
