If you’re travelling with children from Prague Airport, it’s essential to ensure you have the correct travel documents. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you prepare everything necessary.

Essential Documents for Child Travel

All children, including infants and newborns, must possess their own valid travel documents when travelling abroad. Previously, children could be included in their parents’ passports, but since 2012, European Union regulations require each individual, regardless of age, to have their own travel documents.

Passports and ID Cards

The primary documents accepted for international flights are:

• A Passport (valid globally).
• An Identity Card (sufficient within the Schengen area).

Birth certificates or student cards are not valid for international travel.

How to Obtain a Passport

To apply for a child’s passport:

• Visit your local municipal office (ensure it’s equipped to handle passport issuance).
• Required documents include:
  • Child’s birth certificate.
  • Previous passport (if applicable).
  • ID of the legal guardian.
• Bring your child along; their photo will be taken at the office.

Costs and Issuing Times

Passport issuance costs and times vary:

• Standard issue (within 30 days): 100 CZK
• Express issue (within 5 days): 1,000 CZK
• Next-day issue: 2,000 CZK

Passports for children under 15 are valid for five years, but due to rapid changes in children’s appearance, you might need to renew more frequently.

Travelling Within and Outside Schengen

• Schengen Area: An identity card or passport is sufficient.
• Outside Schengen: A passport (and possibly a visa) is mandatory. Both parents typically must consent to passport issuance. If one parent cannot be present, notarized consent is required.

What to Do if a Passport is Lost Abroad

• Report immediately to local police to prevent misuse.
• Contact the nearest Czech embassy or consulate to receive a temporary travel document.
• Upon return to the Czech Republic, apply for a replacement passport.

Children’s ID Cards

An alternative for travelling within the EU is obtaining an ID card:

• Costs 100 CZK for standard issuance.
• Valid for five years for children under 15.
• Application process mirrors that of a passport.

Photo Guidelines

No specific attire is required for passport or ID photos. However, choosing neat clothing will provide a presentable appearance on the official document.

Always double-check with the destination country’s embassy or consulate regarding specific travel regulations for minors before your trip.