Czech Republic’s Working Holiday Visa for Australians
Ever wanted to live in Prague? If you’re an Australian citizen aged between 18 and 26 years old, you can with a Czech Republic working holiday visa!
This visa allows young Australians to live in the Czech Republic for up to 12 months, study for up to 4 months and undertake incidental work to help fund their stay. Working holiday makers in the Czech Republic can also travel freely within the Schengen Area during their stay.
Under the reciprocal Work and Holiday program agreement between Australia and the Czech Republic, there is a limit of 500 places per year. But if you’re an Australian thinking of moving to the Czech Republic it is unlikely that this cap will be reached (and if it has, you can just apply at the start of the next calendar year).
This page contains information about the Czech Republic Working Holiday Visa for Australian citizens. It was last updated on 6 February 2022.
Travel to the Czech Republic is possible at this time. Some COVID-19 entry requirements may apply – see the Czech government’s COVID Portal for details.
Key facts about the Czech Republic
- Population: Approx. 11 million
- Official language: Czech
- Capital city: Prague
- Largest cities: Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Pilsen
- Name of the country in Czech: Česká republika
- Currency: Czech koruna/crown (CZK)
Czech Republic Working Holiday Visa requirements for Australians
In addition to Australians, the Czech Republic offers working holiday visas to citizens of Canada, Israel and New Zealand.
The information on this page applies to Australian citizens. Please see the relevant Czech embassy websites for information relating to citizens of other countries.
To apply for a Czech Republic Working Holiday Visa as an Australian citizen, you must meet the following requirements:
- Aged between 18-26 years old (inclusive) at the time of application
- Have sufficient savings to cover your costs of living in the Czech Republic (at least ~AUD5,500)
- Be in good health
- Have adequate health insurance
You cannot apply for this visa if you:
- Will be accompanied by dependent children
- Have a criminal record
- Have already held a working holiday visa for the Czech Republic
Documents needed to apply for this visa
When applying for a Working Holiday Visa for Czech Republic as an Australian citizen, you will need to provide the following documents:
- Completed and signed long-term visa form (answer question 28 (Purpose of stay) by ticking “Other” and writing “Working Holiday – Australia” under “Specify”)
- Passport valid until at least 3 months after you intend to leave the Czech Republic
- Two identical passport-sized photos
- Proof that you have at least approximately CZK92,130 (this amount is subject to change), or around AUD5,500, in savings (e.g. bank statement/s)
- Proof of adequate travel/health insurance covering your entire stay in the Czech Republic (there are some very specific requirements for this – see below)
- A signed declaration that you have not been convicted of a crime in Australia
- Proof of accommodation in the Czech Republic, e.g. document showing ownership of a house, a rental agreement or written confirmation that you can stay with somebody/in their home
Please note: According to the Czech Consulate General in Sydney, all statements and declarations relating to the following documents must be submitted in the Czech language or accompanied by a proper Czech translation (i.e. not with automatic computer translation):
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Proof of travel/health insurance
- Signed declaration that you have not been convicted of a crime in Australia
- Document showing proof of accommodation in the Czech Republic
There is a visa fee of CZK2,500 (approx. AUD147, although the exchange rate is updated monthly) which can be paid by cash, money order or bank cheque directly to the Czech Consulate General. After arriving in the Czech Republic, you may need to pay an additional fee for an Employment Permit (see below).
Please see the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Sydney website for more information about the visa requirements.
Czech working holiday visa travel insurance requirement
Since 2 August 2021, the Czech government requires working holiday visa holders in the Czech Republic to purchase comprehensive healthcare insurance issued by Pojišťovna VZP.
This insurance should cover you for your entire stay in the Czech Republic. It must provide at least €60,000 of coverage for emergency medical care, medical evacuation and repatriation costs, and must not exclude coverage for injuries/damaged caused by contributory fault or consumption of alcohol/drugs. Please the Czech Department for Asylum and Migration Policy website for full details.
How to apply for a Czech Republic Working Holiday Visa
You can apply for a Czech working holiday visa in Australia up to 3 months before your intended departure date. The Czech Consulate General advises that visas generally take a minimum of 15 days and up to 60 days to process, so we recommend applying 2-3 months before you intend to travel to the Czech Republic.
Australians can apply in person for a Czech working holiday visa at the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Sydney. (This is the recommended method.)
Visit the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Sydney website to schedule an appointment.
It may be possible to submit your visa application by mail instead in exceptional circumstances, at the Consulate’s discretion, however the Consulate may still require you to attend in person for an interview.
Working in the Czech Republic
If you would like to work during your stay in the Czech Republic, you’ll need to obtain an Employment Permit. If you earn more than approx. CZK15,000 (approx. AUD900) you’ll also need to file a tax return and pay income tax in the Czech Republic.
While best efforts are made to keep this information updated, we do not guarantee its accuracy. If you spot an error, would like to suggest new information to be added or simply have a question, please let us know in the comments and we’ll endeavour to respond or update the article as quickly as possible!
