Czech Republic

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Czech Republic, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2.

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Czech Republic, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120.

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The tax implications for operating in Czech Republic may be found at the Internal Revenue Service’s United States-Czech Republic Income Tax Convention. For further clarification, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance.

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122. Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Czech Republic at 59 out of 100 (38th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  relatively clean).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.  

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations.

Articles

The US State Department's page on CZECH REPUBLIC may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

AUTHORITIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC PLAN TO TIGHTEN CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS FOLLOWING AN INCREASE IN CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) CASES, WHICH HAS REPORTEDLY PLACED A STRAIN ON HOSPITALS. EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 28 THROUGH AT LEAST NOVEMBER 3, A NIGHTLY 2100-0500 NATIONWIDE CURFEW WILL BE IN PLACE.  THE USE OF PROTECTIVE FACE COVERINGS IS MANDATORY IN ALL INDOOR PUBLIC AREAS, ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND OUTDOORS WHEN SOCIAL DISTANCING OF TWO METERS (SIX FEET) BETWEEN PEOPLE CANNOT BE OBSERVED. THE COUNTRY REMAINS IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY, WHICH WAS DECLARED OCTOBER 5 AND WILL BE INE EFFECT FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu.

If you are traveling to the Czech Republic on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here. For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic

The quality of medical care in the Czech Republic is generally good, but may vary. In a health emergency, dial 112 or 155 for a public ambulance; emergency responders usually do not speak English so it is a good idea to have a Czech speaker handle the call. Pharmacies (lekarna) are usually well-stocked and are open from 8 am to 6 pm Mondays through Fridays, with at least one 24-hour pharmacy available in large cities.

Air pollution can exceed tolerable levels in Ostrava, Usti nad Labem, Brno, Liberec, and Kladno. If you have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma, please consult a medical professional prior to your trip and carry appropriate medications.

The drinking water in the Czech Republic is generally safe. Travelers should avoid raw meat dishes and unpasteurized dairy products, which frequently harbor bacterial and parasitic pathogens.

Disease risks include:

  • Tick-borne encephalitis. The peak month for infection is July, and the regions at greatest risk include areas near the city of Ceske Budejovice; areas near the town of Pilsen; the northern areas of Bohemia; and areas near Olomouc. Travelers who intend to stay longer than three weeks, visit rural areas in endemic regions, or camp should get vaccinated prior to departure.
  • Lyme disease, yet another tick-borne illness. As with tick-borne encephalitis, the peak month for infection is July. The region at greatest risk is southern Moravia. If hiking, camping, biking, fishing, or hunting in endemic areas, take increased precautions against ticks.

The Czech Republic has a low crime rate. Travelers are most at risk for petty theft, especially pickpocketing in tourist areas of Prague such as the Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square, and Old Town Square. Pickpockets often operate in groups and use distraction techniques.

Although the Czech police tend to be understaffed and under-resourced, they are generally reliable and often multi-lingual.

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. 

  • Ensure the security of your passport to prevent incidents of pick-pocketing or theft.
  • Carry your passport at all times. Czech Police, customs, or immigration officials can request to see your passport at any time, as the U.S. has no other form of national identification. You may be fined if you fail to produce your passport.
  • Keep a copy of your passport bio data page (and pages with valid visas) in a safe place separate from the passport itself.
  • Czech customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning temporary import or export of items such as firearms, antiquities, medications, business equipment, etc. Contact the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C., for further customs guidance. The U.S. Embassy cannot help clear goods through Czech Customs or advise on what items can or cannot be imported to the Czech Republic.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. 

  • The sale, possession, or use of illicit drugs is against the law in the Czech Republic.
  • The Czech Republic has a strictly enforced, zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving.
  • Local police can require you to produce identification to establish your identity upon request and submit you to further questioning.

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Czech Republic. Outside of Prague, particularly in small towns, such relations or events are less accepted. LGBTI travelers should use discretion when traveling in these areas.