Canada lifts visa requirements for Czech nationals

Canada has announced its decision to lift visas for Czech nationals as of November 14. The Canadian ambassador to Prague, Otto Jelínek, made the announcement at a press briefing on Thursday saying the move had been linked to the introduction of a stricter asylum law in Canada. Visa-free travel will be possible for a period of up to six months.

Ottawa reimposed visas on Czechs in 2009 following a wave of Czech asylum seekers. It had come under increasing pressure from Prague to remove the travel restriction, with Czech officials linking the issue to the country’s approval of a key trade agreement between Canada and the EU.