Maximum Coverage = Maximum Declared Value for Carriage for the Priority™ Worldwide service.

Import Restrictions

Customs officials will decide the value of an article based on the internal price of similar articles. Articles to a value of 300 crowns are exempt from customs duty.

• animal fats and oils
• arms and ammunition
• bees, leaches, silkworms and parasites
• bristles of animals
• ceramic products
• cheese
• cream
• coffee, tea, cocoa powder, chocolate
• communistic materials
• cereals
• copper, nickel and aluminum
• commercial motor vehicles
• combs
• clocks
• dry ice
• eggs
• fish
• fruit and nuts
• flours and wheat bran
• furskins and artificial fur
• honey
• inorganic/organic chemicals
• iron and steel
• jewellery
• meat of rabbits, frogs, pigeons, quails, whales and sharks
• milk and babys milk
• mineral water without sugar
• mineral fuels and oils
• musical instruments
• medical, surgical and dental furniture
• non-personal automobiles
• pasta containing meat and eggs
• pastries
• pharmaceutical products
• paper and paperboard
• live trees and plants
• leather articles
• raw sugar
• raw hides and skins
• rubber and articles thereof
• salt
• silk
• sugar
• smoking pipes
• vegetables
• watches and watch straps, bands and braceletes
• unmanufactured tobacco and tobacco refuse
• wood and articles of wood
• window glass, and glassware
• toys ( dolls, accessories, clothing, playing cards).

Gifts

Gifts not exceeding 5000 crowns for the personal use of the addressee or family do not require an import permit. If the gift exceeds 2000 crowns, the addressee must provide a gift certificate authenticated by an authorised agent.

Stamps

Senders should ascertain import restrictions from the addressee before sending postage stamps. Gifts of philatelic articles are restricted to 3 per year and the shipment must not exceed 100 stamps and 100 crowns in value. Philatelic articles to philatelists must not exceed 1000 crowns in any year.

Used clothing

Used clothing, underwear and footwear are admitted only in the following conditions:

• persons emigrating for a lengthy period or for professional reasons
• inherited or bequeathed clothing
• personal clothing of travellers that accords with the duration and purpose of their journey.

Senders should state the relevant condition on the customs declaration.

Books, records, tapes and films

Postal articles containing books, printed publications, gramophone records, recording tape or cinefilms must not contain other goods.

Other Import restrictions:

• biological products
• certain veterinary materials
• chemicals
• commercial motor vehicles
• communistic materials
• freon, non-registered
• gold jewellery
• pharmaceuticals.

Gifts

Articles consigned as "Unsolicited gifts" are acceptable and will be allowed entry free of any duty or VAT providing the shipment is valued at less than 45 EURO originated from and consigned to an individual, and are individually wrapped. Multiple gifts can be consigned in one shipment so long as the individual parcels enclosed are individually tagged with the recipients name, are individually wrapped and the value does not exceed the per person limit of 45 EURO. Shipments consigned to companies as gifts for an individual may be denied entry as gifts and will be subject to full duty and VAT. Generally, most articles can be consigned as gifts, except those articles noted prohibited or restricted for import (see General Import Prohibitions and Restrictions).

Unsolicited gifts sent by people abroad to friends in the Czech Republic or imported personally by persons who are not residents of Czech, as gift for friends are not subject to duty or taxes. Gifts are limited to a maximum of 45 EURO. Gifts exceeding this amount will be assessed all normal duty and tax and must meet all entry requirements up to and including licenses and certificates, etc. Advertising matter, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, perfumes, coffee, tea and software are excluded from the gift provisions.

Prohibited Items

The importation of certain classes of merchandise may be prohibited or restricted to protect the economy and security of Czech Republic and other EU member states, to safeguard consumer health, well being, and to preserve domestic plant and animal life. Some commodities are also subject to an import quota or a restraint under bilateral trade agreements and arrangements. In addition to Customs requirements, many prohibited or restricted imports are subject to laws and regulations administered by other EU Government agencies for which the Czech Customs Department is the enforcer. These laws and regulations may, for example, prohibit entry; limit entry to certain points; restrict routing, storage, use; require treatment, labelling or processing as condition of release. Customs release only takes place when the additional requirements are met. These requirements apply to all importation types, including shipments made by mail. The exporter should make certain that the Czech importer has provided proper information to (1) permit the submission of necessary information concerning packing, labelling, etc. and (2) ensure that necessary arrangements have been made by the importer for entry of the merchandise into Czech Republic.

In addition to items considered non-mailable matter, the following are prohibited:

• alcohol
• blood
• chain letters
• checks, payroll
• gelatin
• lottery tickets
• liquor
• live animals
• plant materials, bulbs
• precious metals
• products containing biocide dimethylfumarate (DMF)
• products of animal origin, meaning raw materials of animal origin, i.e., animal parts, particularly meat, offal, fats, hides and skins, bones, blood, endocrine glands, horns, antlers, hoofs, wool, hair and feathers, milk, eggs, honey, beeswax or products made from these raw materials (e.g. sausages, tinned food, cheese, caviar, gelatine, hunting trophies without complete taxidermy treatment and similar products)
• poultry meat
• reproductions of banknotes or designs resembling them
• saccharine
• samples are prohibited unless commodity is specifically named on paperwork
• seeds / soil
• tobacco.

Documentation Required

Information regarding Customs can be found in "Customs Requirements" of the Canada Postal Guide.

Attach all invoices to the customs declaration.

Document Requirements

Several different forms of documentation may be required for shipments to Czech Republic. Exporters are required to present one original commercial invoice with two copies, one bill of lading and three copies of a certificate of origin for all shipments.

Czech Customs may require validation of specific commodities prior to release from customs custody. There are other certificates required for commodities such as pharmaceutical goods foods, and some medical goods. Some of the documentation required may be:

Import Licences

Import Authorization - used to control imports that are subject to quotas.

Goods that are shipped to Czech customs area without proper import licenses or declarations are usually subject to considerable delays and risk confiscation. Prior to making shipments, exporters should ensure that the importer has obtained the necessary licenses.

Pharmaceutical Certificates - These certificates are required by Czech Republic Customs for drugs and certain sanitary items. A standard analysis bulletin issued by the manufacturer, listing the product composition, is acceptable for customs purposes.

Bills of Lading - No special regulations

Certificates of Origin - A Certificate of Origin is recommended to be provided for every commodity subject to import licensing and /or quota restrictions from some origin countries and is required for all textile products imported into Czech Republic that originate in Hong Kong, Macao, or Singapore regardless of the value.

Certificate of Origin Form A - A Certificate of Origin Form A may be required for goods under formal entry claiming preferential duty or exemption under the various agreements of Generalized System of Preferences. It should be produced at the time of entry and must be in the possession of the Importer at the time of entry. Origin of the goods must be detailed on the commercial invoice.

EUR 1 form Import - An EUR 1 form may be required for goods under formal entry claiming preferential duty or exemption under various bilateral agreements by the European Union countries and some specific countries or groups of countries. It should be produced at the time of entry and must be in possession of the Importer at the time of entry. Origin of the goods must be detailed on the commercial invoice.

EUR 1 form Export - An EUR 1 form may be compiled exporters from the European Union to some countries to claim preferential duty or exemption under the various agreements as per the above paragraph.

Quotas - Quotas have been assigned by the European Union to specific countries for specific products, which allow for the controlled importation of specific products.

Commercial Invoices - Invoices are required for all dutiable shipments relating to commercial transactions between companies and companies; companies and individuals, regardless of the value. Commercial invoices should show freight, insurance and similar charges as separate items when applicable, regardless of the INCOTERM used on the transaction. It must be in Czech for export shipments or accompanied by a translation. It can be in any official language for import shipments and, if required by customs, must be accompanied by a translation. A party who is knowledgeable of the transaction, must furnish translation, if requested.

Specific invoice details are required for a number of commodities including the following:

• marked/mutilated samples - the words "mutilated samples" or " marked samples, not for resale" as applicable;
• software on CD's and floppy disks - The value of software must be shown separately from software support;
• textiles - the fabric breakdown, whether knit or woven and, for clothing articles, the gender.

Dangerous Goods Certification - Some goods will, in addition to the standard documentation noted above, require DG certification i.e. perfumes, liquor, chemicals, etc.

Air Waybill - An air waybill or carriers certificate (naming the consignee for customs purposes) is required as evidence of the consignee's right to make entry.

Declaration of Antiquity - A declaration must be shown on the invoice for goods over 100 years old. The statement must include the words "circa date" followed by the year of manufacture whether known or estimated.

Customs Procedures:

Upon arrival at a post office, officers of Česká pošta, divide consignments coming from third countries, which are then submitted for formal customs procedures. Formal customs procedures include; X-rays, and physical checks of consignments. A physical check is performed by an officer of Czech Post, in the presence of a customs officer. Once a physical check has been completed, a customs officer would attach a Czech Post sticker with the inscription “Customs Control Performed”, with an impression of the official seal attached to the sticker. After the performance of customs control, the consignments meeting the conditions for relief of customs duty, are released for free circulation and postal delivery. Consignments which cannot be relieved without payment of customs duty, are placed in temporary warehousing. Czech Post will send a “Notification of Delivery of Consignment from Abroad”, which includes an invitation from the customs department regarding submission of relevant information and documents in order to complete the customs procedure.

Consignments may be relieved from customs duty as “consignments of goods of marginal value” or as “consignments of goods exchanged between private persons”. Consignments of goods of marginal value are goods which have been sent from third countries to a recipient, and whose value does not exceed the amount of EUR150 per consignment. Such consignments are relieved from customs duties; however, such relief does not apply to: alcoholic products, perfumes and toilet water, as well as tobacco and tobacco products. However, it is important to note that an exemption from import duties of goods does not mean an exemption from value added tax (VAT).