List of countries and categories of nationals who are or may be exempted from the obligation to provide proof of travel medical insurance on the basis of an international treaty

Albania

Nationals of the Republic of Albania are entitled to healthcare coverage under an international treaty. However, in order to certify that they fall under the regime of this international treaty, the foreigner must submit form AL/CZ 111, which is issued by the foreign institution with which they are insured. Alternatively, they may submit a so-called “Certificate of Registration” or a “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” which is issued by a Czech health insurance company upon submission of the above-mentioned form. The validity period of the “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” the “Certificate of Registration,” or form AL/CZ 111 is not decisive for determining the validity period of a long-term residence permit.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina are entitled to healthcare coverage under an international treaty, based on the presentation of a valid travel document proving their nationality. Additionally, the foreigner must prove that they are covered by health insurance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, using one of the following documents issued by Bosnia and Herzegovina: a pension award certificate, a health insurance card, or an employment certificate.

Montenegro

Nationals of Montenegro are entitled to healthcare coverage under an international treaty. However, in order to certify that they fall under the regime of this international treaty, the foreigner must submit form MNE/CZ 111, which is issued by the foreign institution with which they are insured. Alternatively, they may submit a so-called “Certificate of Registration” or a “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” which is issued by a Czech health insurance company upon submission of the above-mentioned form. The validity period of the “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” the “Certificate of Registration,” or form MNE/CZ 111 is not decisive for determining the validity period of a long-term residence permit.

Croatia

Nationals of Croatia are entitled to healthcare coverage under an international treaty. However, in order to certify that they fall under the regime of this international treaty, the foreigner must submit form HR/CZ 111, which is issued by the foreign institution with which they are insured. Alternatively, they may submit a so-called “Certificate of Registration” or a “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” which is issued by a Czech health insurance company upon submission of the above-mentioned form. The validity period of the “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” the “Certificate of Registration,” or form HR/CZ 111 is not decisive for determining the validity period of a long-term residence permit.

Japan

1. Posted workers of a Japanese employer and self-employed persons

Japanese nationals who are employed in Japan and posted as workers by their employer to Czechia to perform contractual activities, or Japanese nationals who are self-employed in Japan and will temporarily carry out their self-employment activities in Czechia, are exempt from the obligation to submit proof of travel medical insurance. However, to certify that they fall under the regime of the applicable international treaty, the foreigner must submit form J/CZ 101 as proof that they are covered by the treaty.

2. Family members of posted workers and self-employed persons

These family members submit, instead of proof of travel medical insurance, a certificate confirming their participation in the public healthcare system in Japan issued by the Japanese embassy, as well as the confirmed form J/CZ 101, which will be issued in the name of the person from whom their participation in the Japanese public healthcare system is derived.

3. Employees of a Czech employer and their family members

Japanese nationals who are employed by a Czech employer in Czechia (i.e., not posted workers or Japanese nationals temporarily performing self-employment activities in Czechia — they do not submit form J/CZ 101, see point 1) fall under the Czech public health insurance system. Based on Articles 11 and 6 of the treaty, their family members (accompanying spouse and children) are also covered under this system. These persons must therefore submit a health insurance card issued by one of the Czech public health insurance companies.

4. Other Japanese nationals not covered under points 1–3

For Japanese nationals who do not fall under any of the above categories, proof of travel medical insurance in accordance with the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals will generally be required, unless one of the exceptions specified in the relevant section is proven.

Republic of Northern Macedonia

Nationals of the Republic of North Macedonia are entitled to healthcare coverage under an international treaty. However, in order to certify that they fall under the regime of this international treaty, the foreigner must submit form RM/CZ 111, which is issued by the foreign institution with which they are insured. Alternatively, they may submit a so-called “Certificate of Registration” or a “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” which is issued by a Czech health insurance company upon submission of the above-mentioned form. The validity period of the “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” the “Certificate of Registration,” or form RM/CZ 111 is not decisive for determining the validity period of a long-term residence permit.

United States of America

U.S. nationals performing gainful activities in the territory of Czechia participate in the Czech public health insurance system as of 1 May 2016. These individuals must submit a health insurance card issued by one of the Czech public health insurance companies as proof of this fact.

Posted workers (Article 8 of the Treaty) and persons who have been granted an exemption (Article 10 of the Treaty) remain excluded from participation in the Czech public health insurance system. Posted workers and persons granted an exemption prove their non-participation in the Czech public health insurance system by submitting form USA/CZ1 titled “Certificate of Coverage / Potvrzení o příslušnosti k právním předpisům.” These persons are still required to provide proof of travel medical insurance pursuant to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals, if it is required as part of the application.

Serbia

Nationals of Serbia are entitled to healthcare coverage under an international treaty. However, in order to certify that they fall under the regime of this international treaty, the foreigner must submit form YU/CZ 111, which is issued by the foreign institution with which they are insured. Alternatively, they may submit a so-called “Certificate of Registration” or a “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” which is issued by a Czech health insurance company upon submission of the above-mentioned form. The validity period of the “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” the “Certificate of Registration,” or form YU/CZ 111 is not decisive for determining the validity period of a long-term residence permit.

Republic of Tunisia

Nationals of the Republic of Tunisia are entitled to healthcare coverage under an international social security treaty. This applies to Tunisian nationals, as well as to refugees and stateless persons residing in Czechia, and to their family members. According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Communication No. 10/2018 Coll. of International Treaties on the implementation of the above-mentioned treaty, the designated liaison bodies are: the Czech Social Security Administration for sickness, maternity, disability, old-age and survivors’ benefits, as well as for cash benefits in cases of work injuries and occupational diseases paid from sickness and pension insurance; the Labour Office of the Czech Republic – General Directorate for funeral grants, unemployment benefits and child allowances; and the Centre for International Reimbursements for benefits in kind in cases of sickness and maternity, and for work injuries and occupational diseases covered by health insurance.

In order for an entitled person to receive cash sickness insurance benefits during their stay in Czechia, they must contact the competent institution at their place of residence with a certificate confirming incapacity for work, pregnancy, or childbirth, which has been issued in accordance with legal regulations by the attending physician. A Tunisian insured person should present a Certificate of Registration issued by the Czech health insurance company with which they should have registered before visiting a healthcare facility and should submit their TN/CZ 111 form there. In urgent cases, they may present the TN/CZ 111 form directly. The Certificate of Registration must include the defined scope of care, the Czech insurance number, and the validity period. The Tunisian insured person will also be issued a special Health Insurance Card for foreigners from contracting states in Czechia, for example the yellow “TP – S” card issued by the General Health Insurance Company of the Czech Republic.

Special Rules:

– a person employed in Czechia by an employer who has posted them to Czechia to perform specified work, provided that this work does not exceed 36 months (and they are not posted to replace another person who has completed their posting period), remains subject to Tunisian legislation.

– a self-employed person who carries out their self-employment activities in Czechia remains subject to Tunisian legislation, provided that the expected duration of such activities does not exceed 24 months.

– A person who is a member of a crew traveling or flying for an employer engaged in the international transport of passengers or goods on its own behalf or on behalf of another party is subject to the legislation of the contracting state in which the employer has its registered office. However, a person employed by a branch or permanent establishment that this employer maintains in the territory of the other contracting state is subject to the legislation of the state where the branch or permanent establishment is located. Furthermore, a person who is employed mainly in the territory of the contracting state in which they reside is subject to the legislation of that state, even if the employer does not have a registered office, branch, or permanent establishment in that state.

– Civil servants and persons regarded as such who are posted by the Republic of Tunisia to Czechia remain subject to the legislation of the Republic of Tunisia.

– A person who performs activities on board a seagoing vessel, not merely temporarily, is subject to the legislation of the contracting state under whose flag the vessel sails. A person employed for loading and unloading, ship repairs, or supervisory services in the port is subject to the legislation of the state where the port is located.

Turkey

Nationals of Turkey are entitled to healthcare coverage under an international treaty. However, in order to certify that they fall under the regime of this international treaty, the foreigner must submit form TR/CZ 111, which is issued by the foreign institution with which they are insured. Alternatively, they may submit a so-called “Certificate of Registration” or a “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” which is issued by a Czech health insurance company upon submission of the above-mentioned form. The validity period of the “Health Insurance Card of a contracting state insured person residing in Czechia,” the “Certificate of Registration,” or form TR/CZ 111 is not decisive for determining the validity period of a long-term residence permit.

ERASMUS Scholarship Programme (ERASMUS-MUNDUS)

Foreigners applying for a long-term visa (including an extension of stay on a visa) or for the issuance or extension of a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies within the Erasmus+ scholarship programme or the still ongoing Erasmus-Mundus programme are not required to submit proof of travel medical insurance pursuant to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals. This applies both to documents submitted to a diplomatic mission prior to the affixing of a long-term visa or a visa for the purpose of collecting a long-term residence permit, and to documents submitted as part of an application filed within Czechia.

Holder of a European Health Insurance Card EHIC (or GHIC)

A third-country national who has been issued an EHIC card in another EU member state is not required to submit proof of travel medical insurance pursuant to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals (due to the existence of an international treaty — i.e. the Treaty on European Union). The same applies to a third-country national who has been issued a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) in the United Kingdom.

Fulbright Scholarship Programme

Foreigners applying for a long-term visa (including an extension of stay on a visa) or for the issuance or extension of a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies as scholarship holders, interns, etc., who have received a scholarship from the Fulbright Programme, are not required to submit proof of travel medical insurance pursuant to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals. This applies both to documents submitted to a diplomatic mission prior to the affixing of a long-term visa or a visa for the purpose of collecting a long-term residence permit, and to documents submitted as part of an application filed within Czechia. The Fulbright Commission issues these foreigners a “Certificate of Financial Security and Purpose of Stay” for the purpose of applying for a visa or residence permit. However, the exemption from the obligation to submit proof of travel medical insurance does not apply to family members of Fulbright scholarship holders.

European Solidarity Corps Programme

Foreigners applying for a long-term visa (including an extension of stay on a visa) or for the issuance of a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies, based on participation in volunteering activities within the “volunteering” action under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, are not required to submit proof of travel medical insurance pursuant to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals. This applies both to documents submitted to a diplomatic mission prior to the affixing of a long-term visa or a visa for the purpose of collecting a long-term residence permit, and to documents submitted as part of an application filed within Czechia.