Schengen Airport Transit (Type A)Verified 2026-04-28Czech Republic Airport Transit Visa (Schengen Short-Stay)
The Czech Republic Airport Transit Visa is for Indians transiting through the international transit area of a Czech airport (typically Prague Václav Havel) en route to a third-country destination. You do not enter the Schengen area on this visa — you remain in the airport transit zone. Required if you have a layover requiring you to pass through Czech border control. Indian nationals are generally NOT required to hold an Airport Transit Visa (ATV) for short layovers, but some itineraries / passport types may require one.
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In-person office · Walk in any day
Processing
Up to 15 calendar days from when the Embassy receives your complete application (NOT from VFS submission)
Stay Duration
Strictly limited to airport transit area — no Schengen entry permitted
Starting Fee
₹9,700
Apply At
12 VFS centres
Special Instructions — Read Before Applying
These requirements apply to ALL Czech Republic visa types. Violations mean your application will be rejected — read each one carefully.
- 1Indian passport holders MUST apply through VFS Global India — direct walk-ins to the Embassy are not accepted, except for family members of EU / Czech Republic nationals (by prior email appointment at info.shortterm_delhi@mzv.cz between 10:00–12:30 working days).
- 2If documents are missing post-submission, email them within 3 working days to newdelhi.shortterm@mzv.gov.cz with subject 'Missing documents – Name Surname and passport number'. Emails to other Embassy addresses are disregarded.
- 3Submission of incomplete documentation, or refusal to appear for a special interview, will result in rejection.
- 4Each application is assessed independently by the Consular Section of the Czech Embassy — VFS staff have no authority to assess or decide.
- 5Possessing a valid Czech / Schengen visa does not guarantee entry — final entry decision is made by the immigration officer at the border.
Who Can Apply
- Layovers at a Czech airport (Prague / Brno / Ostrava international terminals) en route to a non-Schengen final destination
- Travellers with a confirmed onward flight beyond Schengen area
- Travellers whose passport / nationality makes them subject to Schengen ATV rules
Not eligible under this visa:
- Passing through Czech airports without leaving the international transit area in transit-free passport categories — generally no visa needed; check your specific case
- Intent to enter Czech / Schengen territory — apply for a Tourist or Business Visa instead
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Fees (in INR)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Adult visa (Schengen Short-Stay) | ₹9,700 |
| Children 6–12 years | ₹4,900 |
| Children under 6 years | FREE |
| VFS service charge | ₹2,156 |
| Courier after submission (optional) | ₹840 |
All Visa Fees and VFS service charges are non-refundable, regardless of visa outcome. Visa fees are reviewed independently for each application — no guarantee of issuance can be given. Approximate total for an adult tourist / business visa: ₹11,856 (₹9,700 + ₹2,156) plus optional courier ₹840. Family members of EU / Czech Republic nationals may be exempt from the visa fee — VFS service charge still applies.
Documents Required
Mandatory — every applicant must provide
- !Schengen Visa Application Form (Type C)
Completed in full and signed by the applicant
- !Valid passport
Issued within the last 10 years; valid 3+ months beyond return date; minimum 2 blank pages
- !Passport copies
Bio-data page + last page (Indian passports) + previous Schengen entry/exit stamps if any
- !Two recent passport-size photographs (35–40 mm, white background)
ICAO-compliant; face covers 70–80% of frame; no eyewear (Czech Embassy instruction); see photo spec section
- !Cover letter signed by applicant
State purpose of travel, duration, names + passport numbers of accompanying persons, transport + accommodation details
- ○Marriage certificate
If married and marital status not evidenced in the passport; ration card copy if applicable
- !Proof of means of transport + itinerary
Confirmed return / onward flight reservation (not ticketed)
- !Proof of lodging
Hotel reservation, holiday-home rental, or invitation + sponsorship form from host. If visiting multiple Schengen states, lodging proof for each is required
- !Travel medical insurance — minimum €30,000 cover
Valid across ALL Schengen countries; covers accident, illness, medical evacuation; covers full duration including arrival + departure
Proof of financial means — every applicant
- !Personal bank statement — last 3 months
ORIGINAL bank-stamped + signed; A4 size; every applicant submits their own (and sponsor's, if applicable)
- !Indian Income Tax Return (ITR) — last 2 assessment years
And of the sponsor if applicable
If the applicant is EMPLOYED
- !Pay slips for the last 3 months
- !Employment contract
- !Employer's NOC / approval-of-leave letter
Stating dates of approved leave + designation
If the applicant is COMPANY OWNER / SELF-EMPLOYED
- !Certificate of Registration of the company
- !GST registration certificate
- !Business bank account statement + barcode-verifiable ITR proof
If the applicant is SPONSORED
- !National sponsorship form of the Schengen state
Original official invitation, verified by the Alien Police Service in the Czech Republic
- !Notarised written consent from sponsor
If trip is sponsored by parent / guardian / any third party — public-notary attested
If the applicant is RETIRED
- !Pension statements — last 3 months
- ○Proof of regular income from property / business
Where applicable
If the applicant is a MINOR
- !Notarised consent from absent parent/guardian
If travelling with only one parent — except where one parent has sole custody (proof required)
- !Notarised consent from BOTH parents/guardians
If minor travels alone (without parents)
- !Copies of parents' passports OR birth certificate of applicant + ID copies of parents
If the applicant is a PUPIL / STUDENT
- !Enrolment certificate from school / university
- !Copy of student ID card
Airport Transit-specific (additional)
- !Visa or other entry permit for the third country of destination
The visa for your final destination beyond Schengen — original or e-visa printout
- !Confirmed onward flight ticket from the Czech transit airport to final destination
Print of confirmed e-ticket — not a reservation only
- !Documents in relation to onward journey to final destination
Hotel booking at final destination, if applicable
! = mandatory · ○ = optional / if applicable
🗺️ Step-by-Step Application Process
Confirm if you actually need an ATV
Indian-passport short-stay leisure travellers frequently transit Schengen airports WITHOUT an ATV — check your specific itinerary. Apply only if your layover requires border-area access or if your transit airport requires it.
Secure your final-destination visa first
Visa or entry permit for the country beyond Czech transit MUST be approved before you apply for the ATV. Embassies will refuse ATV without it.
Confirm your onward ticket
Reservations are not enough — you need a confirmed (paid) onward ticket from the Czech transit airport.
Download and complete the Schengen Type C / A form
From the VFS Global Czech Republic website.
Gather mandatory documents
Use the common checklist above plus the third-country visa + onward ticket. Travel insurance €30,000 minimum still required.
Get ICAO-compliant photographs
35–40 mm wide, white background, NO eyewear, taken within last 6 months.
Book a VFS appointment
Visit visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/cze. Pay the ₹2,156 service charge to confirm.
Submit and track
Up to 15 calendar days. ATVs are typically processed faster than Tourist visas in clear-cut cases, but plan 4 weeks before travel.
Download Official Forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
📋 How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens VFS Switzerland page
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
VFS Application Centres
Schengen Tourist Visa Eligibility Check
Answer 10 quick questions to see your likelihood of approval. This is not a guarantee — final decision is always with the Embassy — but it flags common weak spots so you can address them before applying.
What's the primary purpose of your trip?
How long do you plan to stay?
Have you previously visited any Schengen country?
Have you ever been refused a Schengen (or any country's) visa?
Past refusals must be disclosed — they show up in VIS database across Schengen countries.
Do you have confirmed travel bookings?
Reservations are enough — don't buy tickets until visa approval.
What's your current employment status?
What's your typical 3-month bank balance?
Schengen needs ~₹700/day covered. For a 10-day trip, minimum ₹70,000 stable balance.
How many years of Income Tax Returns (ITR) can you show?
What are your strongest ties to India (return-intent)?
Embassies want evidence you'll come back — not overstay.
Who are you travelling with?
Indicative only — final decision is always with the Embassy.
💡 Pro Tips
- Travel medical insurance must cover MINIMUM €30,000 across ALL Schengen states — without it your application will be rejected outright.
- Personal bank statements MUST be on A4 paper with original bank stamp and signature — photocopies and online printouts without stamps are rejected.
- Photographs with EYEWEAR are NOT accepted at Czech VFS centres — remove glasses before submission.
- Apply at least 15 days before travel for Tourist visas (mandatory minimum) — and 4–6 weeks for safety. Embassy will not process Tourist applications submitted with less than 15 days to travel.
- Indian passports issued AFTER 01 April 2010 with handwritten observations / manual entries (name, DOB, place of birth, sex, spouse, parents, address) are NOT accepted.
- If your passport has 'previously known as' observation, carry the previous passport (or photocopy of its data page) OR a copy of the name-change advertisement from a local daily newspaper as proof.
- Submit at the VFS centre nearest to you — if outside Delhi, your file is forwarded to the Embassy within 3 working days, so plan extra time.
- Most Indian leisure travellers DON'T need a Czech ATV — confirm with the airline before assuming. Apply only if your specific itinerary requires it.
- An ATV does NOT permit you to leave the transit area — for sightseeing during a layover, apply for a Tourist Visa instead.
- The ATV fee, document checklist, and processing time match the standard Schengen Type C — only the eligibility / documents differ.
- — PHOTO SPECIFICATIONS —
- Two recent (not older than 6 months) high-definition passport-size colour photos.
- Width 35–40 mm, white / light-coloured plain background.
- Face must cover at least 70–80% of the photograph (per ICAO).
- Sharp focus, in colour, no ink marks, no creases, photo-quality paper.
- Looking directly at the camera, neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open and clearly visible — no hair across eyes.
- Even lighting, natural skin tones, no shadows on face / behind head, no flash reflection, no red-eye.
- EYEWEAR is NOT acceptable for applicants submitting at VFS centres (per Czech Embassy instruction). Remove glasses.
- Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons — chin to top of forehead and both edges of face must be clearly visible.
Common Rejection Reasons
- 1.Final-destination country visa not yet approved
- 2.Onward ticket is a reservation only, not confirmed / paid
- 3.Long layover (12+ hours) raises questions about intent — Embassy may suspect intent to enter Schengen
- 4.Photo with eyewear or wrong dimensions
- 5.Travel insurance below €30,000 minimum
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a Czech Airport Transit Visa for my layover?+
Can I leave the airport during my transit?+
What if I have a 24-hour layover and want to see Prague?+
What's the fee?+
How long does ATV processing take?+
Can SureshotVisa help me figure out if I need an ATV at all?+
Let us prepare your Czech Republic Airport Transit Visa — (Schengen Short-Stay) application
Free consultation. Our experts handle the entire file — cover letter, documents, VFS booking, embassy follow-up.
Other Czech Republic Visa Types
Czech Republic Tourist Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Apply for a Czech Republic Tourist Visa from India — Schengen Short-Stay (Type C). Complete fees, ICAO photo spec, document checklist, and step-by-step application via VFS Global.
Czech Republic Business / Conference Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Apply for a Czech Republic Business / Conference Visa from India — Schengen Short-Stay (Type C). Complete fees, documents, host invitation requirements, and step-by-step application.
Czech Republic Family / Friend Visit Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Apply for a Czech Republic Family / Friend Visit Visa from India — Schengen Short-Stay (Type C). Special fee waiver for family of EU / Czech nationals. Complete fees, host invitation, and document checklist.
Czech Republic Cultural / Sport / Religious / Film Crew Visa (Schengen Type C)
Apply for a Czech Republic Cultural Event Visa from India — covering cultural, sports, religious events, and film crews. Possible fee waiver under India-Czech bilateral cultural cooperation.
Czech Republic Medical Treatment Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Apply for a Czech Republic Medical Treatment Visa from India — Schengen Short-Stay (Type C). Requires medical institution letter, treatment confirmation, and proof of pre-payment.
Source & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Czech Republic website and Embassy of Czech Republic. Last verified 2026-04-28. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.