Are you willing to travel to the heart of Europe? Ranked as the 6th most peaceful country in the world, the Czech Republic is well-known for its vast historical heritage, architectural treasures, or incredible natural settings among others.
The country is bordered by Germany, Austria, Poland, and Slovakia, with whom they formed Czechoslovakia not so many years ago. Having formed part of both the Roman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Czech Republic has something to tell. Dive yourself into the mysteries of this little country, get to know one of the top destinations by European travelers.
History of Czech Republic
Formed in the late 9th century, the Czech state was originally known as the Duchy of Bohemia and was born as a principality of the Roman Empire. From 1198, the state was known as the Kingdom of Bohemia.
Later on, after the solution of the Holy Roman Empire in the 19th century, the state became part of one of the most powerful empires in the late times, the Austrian Empire. World War I would mean the extinction of the Austrian Empire and, as a result, the end of this coalition.
Czechoslovakia was created in 1918 and became famous for its democratic government during the times of war, the only existing country in Europe at that time.
At the end of the century, Czechoslovakia dissolved. This was the start of a new nation, the Czech Republic.
Interesting facts about the Czech Republic
- If you are planning to visit the Czech Republic, I hope you like castles because there are tons of them! Experience the magic of Czech history and the mystery of their most old living castles and chateaux.
- The Czech Republic is the perfect destination for nature lovers. Enjoy different hiking routes, tour amazing mountains, pick mushrooms… feel like an authentic Czech!
- Do you like beer? The Czech Republic is the perfect place for you. Czech citizens have the highest beer consumption per capita not only in Europe but in the entire world. You’ll get along with Czech people, that’s a fact!
- The Czech Republic is a must if you are interested in architecture. Baroque, Renaissance, Romanesque, Gothic, Cubism… you can enjoy all of them in a single place!
- The predominant religion in the Czech Republic is Christianism, though half of the population consider themselves atheists, making the country one of the least religious ones you can ever meet.
Documents required for the trip
The Czech Republic is a member of the Schengen Area so, like traveling to any other European country, US citizens would need an ETIAS Visa.
What is an ETIAS? ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. This document is required for traveling to the EU and lasts up to 90 days. In the case of US citizens, they can apply for ETIAS travel authorization online. The process is quite simple, it just takes some minutes to answer some information about ourselves, the country to which we travel or when we plan to cross the Schengen borders. Once it has been delivered, this authorization will be valid for 3 years.
Hereafter, you can take a look at the different requirements which are needed to fulfill if willing to apply for an ETIAS Visa:
- To have a valid passport, at least containing 2 blank pages.
- To complete the online application and pay the corresponding fees.
- In case you have applied for an ETIAS Visa before, you need to deliver it.
- To show round trip flight tickets confirming that you will leave the country before 90 days.
- Travel insurance covering medical care.
- To demonstrate that you have sufficient economical means to cover the cost of your stay.
- Valid passport-sized photo with the requirements for an ETIAS Visa application.
If you are planning to stay in the Czech Republic for more than 30 days, you will need to register with the Foreign Police, an arrangement that you won’t have to do if staying at a hotel or similar place since, as a general rule, they will take the necessary arrangements for you.
In case you are planning to stay for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a different type of visa.
ETIAS Visa photo
If you are planning to apply for an ETIAS Visa, you need to know that it is mandatory to submit a valid passport-sized photo, complying with the different requirements established for an ETIAS Visa photo. Here you can see the requirements you would need to take into consideration:
- 35 x 45 mm photo size
- The photo must have been taken in the last 6 months.
- Your face and shoulders must cover 70 to 80% of the photo
- The photo cannot be damaged, blurred, pixelated, or contain shadows.
- You cannot edit the photo.
- You must be positioned in front of the camera and look directly at the lens
- Maintain your eyes open and your mouth close.
- The background must be uniform and in white colour.
- You may not wear any accessory that obstructs the view of your face.
Sources
Born in Málaga, Alejandro Martín holds a Master’s in Multilingual and Intercultural Communication. His love for travel mainly stems from his attraction to different gastronomic cultures and cooking. His other passions are Afro-American music and skateboarding.