Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

3. Short stays of up to 90 days

If you hold a valid Czech residence permit or Czech long-term visa, you can normally travel to other countries in the Schengen Area for a short stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This does not automatically give you the right to stay longer, work or complete a traineeship.

Before using this section First identify the exact type, purpose and validity of your Czech document in Section 2. The information below assumes that both your passport and Czech residence document remain valid throughout the trip and when you return to Czechia.

3.1 When does the 90/180-day rule apply?

The rule applies to short stays in the Schengen Area. A valid Czech residence permit or Czech long-term visa normally exempts you from applying for an additional Schengen short-stay visa when visiting another Schengen country.

The limit is shared across the Schengen Area. It is not a separate allowance of 90 days for every country. Previous holidays, visits, BIPs, study activities, traineeships and other short stays in Schengen countries may therefore reduce the number of days still available to you.

Destination	General rule for a short stay
Another Schengen country	A valid Czech residence permit or long-term visa normally allows a short stay without a separate Schengen visa, subject to the 90/180-day limit and the general entry conditions.
EU country outside Schengen	National entry rules apply. Do not assume that the Schengen 90/180-day arrangement or your Czech document is sufficient.
Country outside the EU and Schengen	Check the destination country's national visa and entry rules. A Czech residence permit does not automatically replace a national visa.

Important: The European Union, the Schengen Area and the Erasmus+ programme do not include exactly the same countries. Always check the immigration category of your destination rather than relying only on its participation in Erasmus+.

3.2 How are the 90 days calculated?

For every day of your planned stay, look back at the previous 180 days.
Within that period, the total number of short-stay days in the Schengen Area must not exceed 90 days.
The day of arrival counts as the first day and the day of departure counts as the final day.
A short return to Czechia does not reset the calculation.
Do not count the time when you were lawfully residing in Czechia under your Czech long-term visa or residence permit. However, count your short visits to other Schengen countries.
Do not automatically treat three calendar months as 90 days. Calculate the exact dates.

Use the official European Commission short-stay calculator before finalising your dates.
Open the official 90/180-day calculator

3.3 Documents to carry

Even when no separate short-stay visa is required, carry the documents needed to demonstrate your identity, legal residence and purpose of travel:

Valid passport. Your Czech residence card is not a travel document.
Valid Czech residence card or Czech long-term visa. It should cover the entire trip and your return to Czechia.
Confirmation of the purpose of your stay, such as an acceptance letter, Erasmus+ nomination, Learning Agreement, Traineeship Agreement or BIP invitation.
Proof of accommodation and sufficient financial means if requested by the destination authorities.
Valid health and travel insurance for the whole mobility period.
Return or onward travel information and contact details for the host institution.

Internal border controls may be temporarily reintroduced within the Schengen Area. Always travel with your passport and Czech residence document, even if you do not normally pass through a border checkpoint.

3.4 Study mobility and traineeships are not the same

Permission to enter and remain in a country for a short stay does not necessarily include permission to work or carry out a traineeship. This distinction can apply even to an unpaid Erasmus+ traineeship.

Short study activity For a BIP, short doctoral mobility or another study activity, check the short-stay entry rules, the documents required by the host institution and any local registration obligations.

Erasmus+ traineeship The destination country may require a work permit, trainee authorisation, notification or specific visa even when the physical stay is shorter than 90 days. Continue to Section 5 - Erasmus+ traineeships.

3.5 Situations requiring additional checks

Do not rely only on the general short-stay rule if any of the following applies:

your Czech visa or residence permit will expire before or during the trip;
your Czech extension application is pending or you only have a confirmation or bridging document;
you hold temporary protection or international protection;
you hold a Czech residence permit issued for a purpose other than studies;
you plan to undertake paid work, an unpaid traineeship or activity in a regulated profession;
you have already spent time in other Schengen countries during the previous 180 days;
your destination or any transit country is outside the Schengen Area;
the destination authority or host institution requires registration, notification or another national formality.

A stay of 90 days or less is not automatically problem-free. Before booking travel, verify the rules with the host institution and the competent embassy, consulate or immigration authority. An Erasmus+ nomination, Learning Agreement or invitation does not replace an immigration authorisation required by the destination country.

3.6 Quick checklist before departure

Confirm that your destination and any transit countries are inside or outside the Schengen Area.
Calculate all relevant Schengen travel during the previous 180 days.
Check that your passport and Czech residence document remain valid throughout the trip and return.
Ask the host institution whether a notification, registration, trainee or work authorisation is required.
Keep written confirmation of the applicable procedure.
Carry the supporting documents listed above when travelling.

Where to continue: If the planned physical stay may exceed 90 days, continue to Section 4 - Study mobility longer than 90 days. For a traineeship, also read Section 5. Holders of temporary or international protection should also read Section 6.

Official sources

This section provides general orientation only. The authorities of the destination country decide whether you meet the conditions for entry, stay, study, work or traineeship.

SECTION 3 - Short stays of up to 90 days