The countries in the Schengen Area invite travelers worldwide for short-stay trips without getting a visa. This includes the citizens of the EU, EEA, Swiss, the U.K., the USA, Australia, Japan, and Canada. However, they can stay visa-free for up to 90 days only. Staying longer than three months requires a specific visa.
Unfortunately, India is not on the list of visa-free countries that can travel to one of the Schengen states, Czechia. So, to enter the country, one must get a Czechia visa from Delhi. Hang on until the end to learn about the basic visa requirements and how to apply for a permit.
A Glance at the Czech Republic
Historically known as Bohemia, the Czech Republic, or Czechia is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It became a part of the world in 1993 after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia (the Czech Republic and Slovakia).
Moreover, it shares its borders with Germany, Slovakia, Poland, and Austria. The country has a temperate oceanic and continental climate. Besides, Prague is the biggest and the capital city of the Czech Republic along with Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň, and Liberec as the major urban areas.
Schengen area
The Schengen Area is the biggest visa-free zone in the world for some of the above-mentioned states. Interestingly, the region has almost 29 countries in total that are part of it with more than 400 million population.
Romania and Bulgaria are the latest to become members of this zone. Each country joining the area has to abolish its national border. Alternatively, they have a single external border joining them with the rest of the world.
Embassy of Czech in New Delhi
New Delhi residents can submit their visa applications at the nearest Embassy of the Czech Republic in New Delhi.
The embassy is located at the following address:
Location: 50-M, Niti Marg, Chanakyapuri, 110 021 New Delhi, India
Telephone: +91-11-2415 5200
Email: newdelhi@mzv.gov.cz (General Email)
Jurisdictions
Surprisingly, the Czech Embassy covers the following countries in South Asia in terms of diplomatic and consular jurisdictions.
- India
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
Moreover, the embassy has control over the following states and union territories.
States
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Uttarakhand
- Uttar Pradesh
Union territories:
- Chandigarh
- Delhi
- Ladakh
Types of visas
Generally, whenever you make a plan to travel to an international country, you have to choose a specific visa to fulfill the purpose of your trip. The same is the case with visiting Czechia from New Delhi.
Therefore, let’s delve into the visa types issued by the Embassy of Czechia in New Delhi to the applicants.
Schengen/Type C visa
One of the greatest advantages of having a Schengen visa is that you can travel to the rest of the 28 European countries other than the Czech Republic. Moreover, you do not need to get a separate visa to do the job, because the region has zero internal border checks.
In addition, it is further categorized into various subclasses considering the reason for traveling to Czechia. This includes a tourist visa, business visa, medical treatment visa, etc.
The duration of your stay should be around 90 days as a Schengen visa is valid for 180 days.
National visa
In case of staying for over three months, Delhi residents need to apply for a National or Type D visa. This is usually valid for up to one year, however, the validity of the visa can be extended considering the purpose of your trip.
Similar to a Type C visa, a National visa has the following subcategories.
- Work visa
- Investment visa
- Study visa
Embassy Vs. Consulate
The embassy and consulate are the representation of a government in a foreign country. However, they are slightly different from each other in terms of the task’s nature and the functions performed by both.
| Embassy | Consulate |
| Generally, there is only one embassy in a foreign land as authorized by the respective country, which is always located in the capital city. | But, the target country (Czechia) can open several consulates in the various big cities of the foreign country (India). |
| In addition, an embassy is usually big in terms of the number of staff and building. | Whereas a consulate is a smaller version of the embassy. |
| An embassy is a permanent diplomatic mission. | On the other hand, a consulate is temporary. |
| An embassy is destined to deal with major diplomatic tasks and issues. | Contrary to this, a consulate usually deals with minor diplomatic tasks. |
Documents Needed for a Czech Visa from Delhi
Ensure to submit the visa supporting documents mentioned below to complete one of the essential steps of the application process.
Application form
- You need to download and complete an application form by using this link.
- Make sure that all the fields are filled and you have to put your signatures as well.
Passport
- Furthermore, New Delhi residents need to submit their passports valid for at least three months ahead of their stay in Czechia.
- It should be issued within the last ten years, contain two blank pages, and be free from any damage or wear/tear.
Pictures
- Moreover, submit two recent passport-size pictures that will be attached to the application form.
- In addition, the photos must have,
- a dimension of 35*45mm
- light color background
- HD quality
- free from any water spots
- cover 70-80% of your face and shoulders
Round trip flight itinerary
- Another requirement is to show that you have solid plans of traveling to Czechia. For this purpose, you can submit a round-trip flight itinerary.
- It is advisable to get a dummy flight ticket before your visa is approved.
- This document represents information including your flight number, travel dates and times, destination country, IATA codes, luggage weight, etc.
Hotel accommodation
- Your trip to Czechia requires you to have a place to stay in the target country.
- This can be done by booking a hotel or signing a rental contract for an apartment or house.
- In addition, having this document ensures the authorities that you will not put a burden on the country’s resources.
Cover letter
- A cover letter for a visa is an important document in the entire application process.
- It will allow you to explain your plans from a subjective lens.
- Therefore, you can add details such as the destination country, your duration of stay, the planned set of activities, etc.
- Get this document from coverletterforvisa.com from the comfort of your home.
Travel health insurance
- You are bound to submit travel health insurance worth 30,000 euros valid for the entire duration of your stay.
- It helps you bear expenses related to repatriation, hospitalization, medical and travel emergencies.
- Moreover, the document must include the name of the bearer, the amount covered, and the validity.
Proof of funds
- If you are self-sponsoring your trip, you need to show that you have enough money to bear the expenses.
- The minimum amount you should have is 1100 CZK or 43 euros per day to manage food, transportation, and accommodation.
- For this purpose, you should submit a bank statement, a salary slip, or an income tax return to disclose your financial health.
Proof of social status
- The following documents showing social status should also be submitted to the embassy including,
- a marriage certificate
- birth certificate of the child
- death certificate of the spouse (if applicable)
Other documents
- An employment contract, invitation letter, letter of permission from the employer, bank statement, salary slip if you are an employer
- On the other hand, if you are self-employed, you will need a company license, company bank statement, and income tax return.
- An admission letter and a no-objection certificate from the institute if you are a student
- Lastly, pension slips from the last six months if you are retired
Visa Application Process through the Embassy of Czech in Delhi
The easiest method to submit your Czech visa application is through the Embassy. You can either reach out to them physically or visit their official website. Follow the steps below for a successful application submission.
Step 1: Visit the website
The first step is all about visiting the official website of the Czech Republic Embassy in New Delhi.
On the home page, you can click on the tab ‘visa and consular’ to move ahead with the process. Once opened, you can go through the basic information including the visa fee and the latest news about the Czech visa.
For detailed official information, you can check this link if you want to apply for a Schengen visa (90 days) and visit this website if you are thinking about a National visa (over 180 days).
Step 2: Book an appointment
To schedule an appointment, make sure to visit the official website of VFS Global and enter the home and destination countries to book an available slot. Then, select the suitable visa type according to your preference.
The embassy does not entertain this step of the application process. Therefore, you have to shift to the visa application center in this regard.
Step 3: Gather the documents
The third step requires you to gather all the required documents considering the visa type you choose to travel to the Czech Republic. Then, from the same site, download the application form or get it through the application center. Fill it out completely without leaving any blanks unfilled.
Step 4: Submit your file
On the day of your appointment, visit the center to submit your application along with the documents. Make sure to deposit the visa fee on the same day in local currency.
Step 5: Attend the interview
Then, considering your application and visa type, the officers may ask you to attend a visa interview to know your travel plans in detail. Make sure to give an appropriate answer to each question.
Step 6: Collect your passport
Lastly, once the processing time is over, you will get notified by email to collect your passport from the center. If it is approved, your passport will have a stamp. In case of refusal, you will get a rejection letter.
Application Fee for a Czech Visa from Delhi
Residents of New Delhi need to pay at least 90 euros which is the visa application fee for traveling to the Czech Republic. In case you are a child between the ages of six and twelve, you have to pay half of this amount, i.e., 45 euros.
Minors below six, researchers, teachers, and pupils are free to travel to Czechia to attend an educational event or conduct a scientific experiment.
Czech Visa Processing Time
The processing time starts when your application reaches the embassy and not the visa application center (VFS Global). Usually, the standard period is 15 working days or two weeks. However, the processing time gets extended in case of extreme conditions such as application backlog.
That is why, you are recommended to plan your trip accordingly as there is no guarantee that you will get your visa within fifteen days. If you apply through VFS Global, it will take three regular days to submit it to the Embassy.
What Are the Possible Reasons for a Czech Visa Rejection?
Make sure to refrain from making the following mistakes to avoid a rejection for a Czechia visa. Some of the possible reasons for a visa rejection for Czech are as follows:
- Expired or damaged passport
- Lacks of sufficient funds
- Incomplete or fake documents
- Misleading information
- Travel health insurance is missing
- Documents such as a letter of invitation, sponsorship letter, or cover letter are not submitted.
FAQs
- How can I get a Czech visa from Delhi?
If you want to get a Czech visa from Delhi, you need to follow the step-by-step guide discussed above. This includes filling out the application form, collecting the documents, paying the fee, and waiting for the answer.
- What is the minimum amount required to travel to Czechia?
Usually, it depends on the duration of your stay when traveling to Czechia. However, for a three month stay in the Czechia Republic, you must have at least 78,250 CZK as proof of funds.
- What is the success rate for a Czechia visa from Delhi?
You must fulfill all the requirements for a successful visa application. However, during the last year, almost 2,78,000 tourist visa applications were submitted. Among them,12% were rejected due to insufficient documents and a lack of resources.
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