Moving to Prague from the US: visa, bank, flat and tax in order

You have a US passport, a job offer or a plan, and a feeling that Prague would make a better home than a holiday. The first surprise is that the passport is a free ticket for 90 days and a poor one for 91. The second is how many of the steps depend on paperwork that must be ordered in the US before you leave. Here is the order that saves time.

Understand what the passport gives you

US citizens can enter Czechia without a visa for short stays: up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area. Our Schengen 90/180 explainer shows how to count. Short stays do not allow you to work. For anything longer you need a long-term visa (over 90 days, up to one year) or a long-term residence permit (over one year).

Which route fits depends on your purpose. The Ministry of the Interior (OAMP) decides residence permits, and Czech embassies and consulates receive many applications abroad (as of 2026; check the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

For the Digital Nomad programme, the list of countries reported in 2026 includes the USA, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, and the programme is aimed mainly at skilled and IT work with an income threshold (as of 2026; check CzechInvest and the Ministry of the Interior). Our guide to digital nomads in Czechia explains it.

Collect the documents in the US first

Most permits ask for a criminal record check. For a US citizen that is the FBI Identity History Summary, which needs an apostille from the US Department of State. Czechia and the USA are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents then need a Czech translation by a court-appointed translator (as of 2026; check the Ministry of the Interior). Order the check early: it is the slowest piece.

Other usual items are your passport, proof of accommodation, proof of funds or a contract, and health insurance that meets the Foreigners Act. Non-EU foreigners outside the public system must hold commercial insurance with comprehensive cover for most permits.

Sort accommodation and money

Do not sign a long lease sight unseen if you can avoid it. Read renting a Prague flat from abroad and book a short stay for the first weeks. Check how much money you need for the arrival cash.

For banking, some Czech banks ask about US person status for tax reporting, which is routine. Our guide to Czech banks for foreigners and opening an account cover the steps.

If you hope to buy one day, Hypoteky.com has a guide to buying property in Czechia as a foreigner, and one on getting a mortgage as a foreigner. Foreigners can buy real estate in Czechia without restriction, but a mortgage is a separate question, and you should read before planning anything.

Taxes follow you

The United States taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live, and Czechia taxes its tax residents. Tax residency in Czechia comes with a permanent home here or a habitual stay of at least 183 days in a calendar year (as of 2026; check Finanční správa). That can mean two filings, and in general terms citizenship-based US taxation is why Americans abroad hear about FBAR and the foreign earned income exclusion. Our guide to US expats and Czech tax filing explains the principles, and a tax adviser who knows both systems is worth the fee.

Practical odds and ends

Czech mains power is 230 V, and plugs differ from US ones; see plugs, sockets and voltage. A US driving licence has limited use for residents, and exchange rules vary, so check with the Ministry of Transport or the relevant office before you rely on it. Get a local SIM (see our SIM guide) and read the first 30 days plan. For daily life, see living in Prague as an American.

What to bring and what to leave

Bring documents before gadgets. Original birth and marriage certificates, degree certificates and any records for your own or a spouse's application are hard to replace from abroad, and some will need an apostille and a Czech translation. Ask the Ministry of the Interior which ones your route requires before you pack.

Leave most US-only appliances. Hair dryers, kettles and anything with a heating element draw a lot of power, and a plug adapter is not a voltage converter. Laptops and phone chargers with universal power bricks only need the adapter. For anything shipped, ask the Czech Customs Administration about personal belongings and keep an inventory.

Frequently asked questions

Can an American work in Prague on a tourist stay?

No. A short stay does not allow work. You need an employee card, a Blue Card, a trade licence route or another permit.

How long can a US citizen stay without a visa?

Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.

Do I need the FBI background check?

Many permit types ask for a criminal record check. For US citizens that is the FBI Identity History Summary with an apostille (as of 2026; check the Ministry of the Interior).

Do I stop paying US tax if I move?

No. US citizens remain taxable in the US. Ask a tax adviser how Czech residency changes your filings.

Today: choose your residence route, then order the FBI check.

This is a general explainer, not legal or tax advice.