Customs and Immigration Rules

When arriving at Prague Airport all travellers from non-Schengen* countries are required to pass through Czech passport and customs control (Terminal North 1 Gates "A" and "B").

*currently the Schengen Accord, which removes passport and customs controls at the borders between signatory states, applies to the following EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Finland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. In such cases, passengers arrive at gates "C" and "D" of Terminal North 2.

Citizens of the UK and Irish Republic:

Visitors from the above named EU Member States are also subject to passport control, although they are not required to make a customs declaration (providing quantities of tobacco, alcohol etc. that are being carried fall within the limits set out for personal use).

Random checks are made, however, in order to deter tobacco and drug smugglers as well as imports of banned or restricted goods. Travellers from all other countries (see below) are subject to normal customs and passport regulations.

Travellers Entering the Czech Republic from Non-EU Countries

Citizens of non-EU countries must either pass through the green channel (nothing to declare) or the red channel (goods to declare). As a note of caution, you should only go through the green channel if you’re sure to be travelling within set customs allowances.

As a rule, for goods on which tax has been paid in an EU country, visitors will not have to pay any tax or duty on them in the Czech Republic. However, alcohol or tobacco brought in for ‘personal’ or ‘own use’ (including gifts) must be transported by you and not resold. Where goods are brought into the Czech Republic for the purpose of resale, or for any payment, even payment in kind, they are regarded as being for a commercial purpose and would therefore be subject to import duty.

Personal belongings (including a laptop computer and camcorder), clothing and gifts up to the value of 6,000 CZK are not subject to import duty. Gifts with a value exceeding this amount are subject to VAT, charged at 22% of the value set by customs, plus (as official information helpfully points out) a customs tariff, excise duties and other possible taxes. Prohibited goods include firearms, ammunition, narcotics, pornographic or offensive material and products of animal/plant origin.

Although there’s no limit on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into the Czech Republic, visitors are required to make an export declaration if more than 200,000 CZK is taken out of the country. Keep receipts for goods purchased during your stay and remember that antiques or works of art may require an export permit.

For details on VAT refunds, you can pick up a brochure explaining the conditions of the scheme from Ruzyně airport, tourist offices, hotels and shops. With the exception of works of art, collections and antiques, you can claim a refund on most goods, providing you have your original invoice. The procedure, which we’ll politefully describe as "time consuming", involves having the appropriate refund form (and receipt) first stamped by customs, before cashing it at a separate counter. For Ruzyně airport, you’ll need to head towards Thomas Cook’s ‘Global Refund’ desk (in Departures) or the ‘Czech Made Products’ shop (Gate A).

For more detailed information on Czech customs regulations (including compulsory travel documentation) visit the useful www.czechembassy.org website.

Returning to Your Home Country

When returning home, be sure about customs allowances in your own country:

For general information on UK/EU customs allowances contact the National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000 (+44 208 929 0152 for international callers). Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs also provide a useful leaflet entitled ‘A guide for travellers’ (Notice 1) which is available without charge and can viewed on the Internet at: www.hmrc.gov.uk.

In the US, the US Customs Service’s Internet site at: www.customs.ustreas.gov summarizes duty limits in the leaflet ‘Know Before You Go’.

For general customs enquiries in Canada call 1 800 461-9999 (toll free). The leaflet ‘I declare/Je Déclare’ is available together with bi-lingual information (English and French). Information is also available on the Internet at:  www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca