smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Czech Republic
| Czech Republic overall | This Advice is current for Wednesday, 19 November 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Local Travel (driving conditions). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
Street crime such as pickpocketing is common in the capital, Prague, especially on the road to the Prague Castle, at popular tourist sites and on public transport. There is a high incidence of passport theft, especially during the summer months. There is also a high incidence of car theft, particularly of newer vehicles.
Many foreigners have been robbed in night clubs and bars. Foreigners have also been robbed or assaulted after accepting "spiked" drinks from strangers.
Travellers have been robbed when criminals using fake police ID have asked to check the authenticity of their foreign currency and passports. Perpetrators of such crimes often work near ATMs. Police officers in the Czech Republic are not authorized to authenticate the validity of currency or passports.
Travellers have been robbed after accepting offers of help, particularly with luggage, at Prague's main railway station.
There have been many reports of taxi drivers located at Prague's main railway station refusing to use taxi meters and overcharging travellers. To avoid being overcharged, you should use officially marked taxis (eg. AAA or Cititaxi) and ensure that the meter is on.
The Czech Republic has one of the highest road fatality rates of the 27 EU member countries with over 1,000 fatalities in 2007. Speed is the main cause of road accidents and fatalities. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.
To drive on all major highways, a motorway toll sticker (available at petrol stations) must be bought and displayed. Failure to do so may attract an on-the-spot fine.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and cash in Euros and US currency. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas.
When in the Czech Republic, you are advised to change money only at banks or the money exchange shopfronts located on almost every street in tourist areas, rather than money changers on the street.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in the Czech Republic, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
It is illegal to photograph some buildings in the Czech Republic. These buildings generally carry signs stating that taking photos is forbidden. If in doubt, check with local authorities before taking photos.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the Czech Republic for the most up-to-date information.
The Czech Republic, along with 23 other European countries, is a party to the Schengen Convention, which allows Australians to enter the Czech Republic without a visa in some circumstances. See our travel bulletin on the Schengen Convention for more information.
People travelling directly to or from a country outside the European Union (EU) carrying 10,000 euros or more in cash (or the equivalent amount in another currency) are required to declare the cash at the place of their arrival or departure from the EU. Travellers failing to declare the cash or providing incomplete or incorrect information will incur a fine. There is no requirement to declare cash for people travelling to or from another EU country.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
The standard of medical facilities in the Czech Republic is good. Health care providers often require cash payment in advance for services, including emergency care.
Travel in forested areas brings the risk of exposure to tick-borne encephalitis and other tick-borne diseases. Ticks are very common in country areas and are active from spring to autumn.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
Australia has a Consulate in the Czech Republic headed by an Honorary Consul. The Consulate provides limited consular assistance which does not include the issue of Australian passports. The Consulate is able to issue provisional travel documents for travel to a nearby Australian Embassy. You can obtain full consular assistance from the nearest Australian Embassy/High Commission which is in Poland.
Australian Embassy
3rd Floor,
Nautilus Building,
ul. Nowogrodzka 11,
Warsaw, POLAND
Telephone: (48 22) 521 3444
Facsimile: (48 22) 627 3500
Website: http://www.poland.embassy.gov.au/
E-mail: ambasada.australia@dfat.gov.au
Contact details for the Consulate are:
Australian Honorary Consul
Unit 6/3,
Solitaire Office Building,
Klimentska 10,
110 00 Prague 1, CZECH REPUBLIC,
Telephone: (420) 2965 78350 or 2965 78351
Facsimile: (420) 29657 8352
E-mail: Petr.vodvarka@austrade.gov.au
If you are travelling to the Czech Republic, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency-whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency, if you are unable to contact the Embassy or Consulate you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
