What do you need to get a passport?

In the past, we needed a passport every time we travelled abroad. Today, it is an essential part of our luggage only if we are heading outside the European Union and the Schengen Area. What do you need to get a passport? In this article, we cover everything about issuing a passport, the fees, its validity and other information.

Passport

If we are travelling to an EU member state or within the Schengen Area, an identity card in the appropriate format is enough. If we are travelling outside this area, we will need a passport.

Biometric passport

Since 2016, the authorities have only issued passports with machine-readable data and a chip containing biometric data. The document therefore contains the holder’s fingerprints and facial image. Applicants under 15 years of age are issued this type of passport for 5 years. Citizens over 15 years of age are issued a passport for 10 years. Its validity cannot be extended.

If we have a passport without biometric data at home, this does not mean we have to return it. We can use it until it expires. Before travelling abroad, however, we should check whether the country we are going to requires a biometric passport. For example, you can only travel to the USA with a biometric passport.

Issuing a passport

Before we look at what you need to get a passport, let us see where we can apply for one:

• at any municipal office of a municipality with extended powers (in Prague, at the city district office), for a passport issued within the standard period of 30 days, within the shortened period of 5 working days, or within 24 hours on a working day,
• at the Ministry of the Interior, for a passport issued within the shortened period of 5 working days, or within 24 hours on a working day,
• abroad, at an embassy or consulate of the Czech Republic (the processing time is 120 days).

What do you need to get a passport?

Before applying for a new document, we need to know what is required to get a passport:

• a person over 18 presents their identity card and their old passport (if one was issued),
• a minor aged 15 to 18 presents a document proving their identity (identity card, birth certificate), their old passport (if one was issued) and the written consent of their legal guardian with a certified signature (if the guardian is not accompanying them).
• a child under 15 presents a document proving the details to be entered in the passport (birth certificate) and their old passport (if one was issued). The application is submitted by the legal guardian. The child must also attend in person.

It is no longer possible for our child to be included in our passport. A child has their own passport. For children under 5, the passport should be replaced more often, even before it expires. Children’s appearance changes as they grow. So we should get our youngest a new passport whenever they no longer look like their photo. Of course, only if we need the passport.

Fees

The fee for a passport issued within the standard period is not very high. However, if we find out at the last minute that our old passport is invalid, we will pay considerably more for a shortened issuing period.

Validity

Citizens over 15 years of age receive a document valid for 10 years. Children under 15 receive one valid for 5 years. We should always check our passport’s validity so that we do not run into trouble at the airport. Some countries require the document to be valid for more than 6 months on entry into the country, or in some cases on leaving it. The validity of a passport cannot be extended. We always have to apply for a new document. We should also find out whether we will need a visa in addition to a passport to enter the country. All information on the necessary travel documents can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

When the validity ends

A passport ceases to be valid:

• when its validity period expires,
• when its loss or theft is reported,
• 3 months after the citizen’s surname changes following marriage,
• when the holder loses Czech citizenship.

The Ministry of the Interior, a municipal office of a municipality with extended powers or an embassy or consulate may decide to end its validity if:

• the holder’s appearance has changed significantly,
• the document is damaged so that the details in it are illegible or its integrity is compromised,
• the travel document contains incorrect details.

Before travelling abroad

Before entering a country, we should always check the conditions of entry and stay there. Especially when entering countries outside the EU and the Schengen Area, we should find out whether the Czech Republic has a visa waiver agreement with that country. This agreement sets out which documents we need and how long we can stay in the country without a visa. We should also find out whether the country requires a minimum passport validity on entry.

For example, an identity card is enough for Great Britain, but since Brexit it is recommended to carry a passport as well. For Albania, an identity card is enough, but it must remain valid for at least 3 months after we return from the country. For a trip to the British Virgin Islands, we need a passport that remains valid for at least 6 months after we return from holiday, and a return ticket. For Tahiti, we only need a passport, and a visa-free stay is valid for 90 days.

A passport for your dog

Many of us also travel with our beloved dog. What do you need to get a passport for your dog? If we are travelling to an EU country, a valid vaccination certificate is enough. In some countries, however, we have to meet certain conditions, even if we are only passing through.

Conditions

In some countries, we have to meet the following conditions:

• the animal can be identified by a microchip,
• vaccination against rabies (an exemption may be granted for puppies under 3 months),
• a vaccination certificate or a passport. A vet will issue it for a fee of 500 CZK (about 23 USD).

Do you know how to choose the cheapest travel insurance or how to make a money transfer abroad?

USD amounts are approximate, converted at the Czech National Bank rate of 21.80 CZK per USD on 2 October 2026.