screwed by stupid Czech Rep entry requirements - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**mbo108** · 05-15-2007, 07:52 AM

So i'm doing my due diligence and i check to make sure none of the countries i'm visiting this summer have weird entry requirements. I had heard rumors of the Czech Republic having the "passport must be valid for 90 days after your scheduled departure."

I go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/...es_1229.html#c and read "CZECH REPUBLIC - *Passport required. Visa not required for business and tourist stay of up to 90 days."

I figure I'm good. See, my sister's passport expires at the end of August. We'll be leaving the Czech Republic June 22nd. Seems like I'm okay. But then i read in Rick Steves that the passport must indeed be good for that 90 day period. So i find this webpage: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1099.html and see that it says "ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A passport is required to be valid for 3 months beyond a visitor’s intended stay."

Okay, so we're leaving June 8th, so in order to renew her passport by then she's going to have to go and sit in the Passport Agency in Philadelphia all day long and pay exorbitant fees.

The other thing is, we're flying from Dubrovnik, Croatia up to Prague. Say we don't get the passport renewed (its valid for everywhere else we're going). Will the airline attendant know the entry requirements for the Czech Republic? If he does, and questions it, can i hand it back to him with $50 US DOLLARS tucked inside? Good old American greenbacks usually talk in Eastern Europe. because that $50 will be less than paying for the expedited renewal. Or will that get my little sister thrown in jail...

thoughts?

**ajb3000** · 05-15-2007, 10:03 AM

While $50 might work in somewhere like Moldova or Ukraine, the chances of it working in Croatia are slim to none and will probably result in you being thrown out of the airport by security at least. Plus, when you got to Czech immigration you'd just be sent straight back anyway.

You might get lucky and be allowed through, espiecally if you can show onward tickets or something, but otherwise you'll have to figure out a backup plan avoiding Czech Republic.

**omisan** · 05-15-2007, 10:10 AM

If it's worth $159 to ya not to run any risks, you can have expedited service run (11-20 days) for you via a passport expedition service - I did this as I only had 2 weeks before a trip to England and it was worth avoiding the hassle of going to the post office, passport office, etc.

http://www.passportexpress.com/default.aspx?page=renew

**blinkchick2134** · 05-15-2007, 10:22 AM

Honestly, giving a bribe to most officials isn't a good idea - customs officials especially! Local cops in developing countries can easily be bribed and usually that's standard protocol but for customs I would reccomend you that you don't try that. It's going to be a lot easier for your sister to just go to the agency and get it renewed here and now.

**mbo108** · 05-15-2007, 11:16 AM

Yeah, sorry, I was pretty much joking about the whole bribing thing. I talk a tough game but i would definitely never have the courage (or I guess stupidity) to really try that. I do appreciate everyone's concern that me and my family members stay out of jail though!

We're just going to head down to the Passport Agency next week. We should actually count ourselves lucky as we have one of those right here in Philly.

**omisan** · 05-15-2007, 11:52 AM

The other thing is, you'll have that 90 day limitation with most countries, so it's a good idea to get the passport renewed anyhow.

Good luck w/ the agency!

xanthuos · 05-17-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbo108

Okay, so we're leaving June 8th, so in order to renew her passport by then she's going to have to go and sit in the Passport Agency in Philadelphia all day long and pay exorbitant fees.

If you are appearing in person at a Passport Agency and your departure is within 2 weeks, you should NOT have to pay ANY additional fees.
If I were you, I'd kinda wait until it's within 2 weeks of your departure (so May 25 or after) and make an appointment. I don't believe you'll even be able to go before then, since the passport agencies now only service those who are traveling within 2 weeks. When you (your sister I guess, actually) call to make the appointment, explain to them that you just learned that your passport needs to be valid for 90 days past your visit to the Czech Republic and as it expires in August, you'll be denied entry if you go.

**mbo108** · 05-18-2007, 07:18 AM

Xanthuos,
You are absolutely correct in that I (or my sister) won't be able to even call for the appointment until May 25th, let alone show up there. I didn't know however that I won't need to pay extra, i assumed i would. good to know i dont have to shell out more money there.

I guess this is karma for me yelling at everyone around to get passports way in advance and for calling people stupid for waiting until the last minute..Doh!

xanthuos · 05-21-2007, 10:58 AM

I may have been incorrect. Several places on the website, they talk about how you should NEVER pay additional for an appointment at a Passport Office...but hidden in the fees list, it looks as though you MAY have to pay the expedite fee. It's $60 additional. I'm not completely sure as I've never done an in-person expedite, but just be prepared if that's the case. Either way, $60 is a small price to pay to make sure you're not denied entry!

**mbo108** · 05-21-2007, 11:24 AM

You're right. Luckily my read-eye from SFO gets into Philly at 6am so I'll already be awake and ready to call the Passport Agency at 7 to make the appointment!

I should have just let the Croatians or Czechs have my sister...would i really miss her?