Proof of funds / Czech Rep Border

Hi,

First of all, you need to know more about your destinations...you're flying into the Schengen area...and if you have a Canadian passport, you can enter under the visa-waiver program to ALL the countries in the Schengen area without showing proof of income, etc.

Here's the sticky that is posted at the first page of the Western Europe forum:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/europe-western-europe/topics/have-a-schengen-query-please-read-this-post-first?page=1

And the link in the sticky that lists the countries (a Wiki site) doesn't work, so here's the link itself:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area

You can enter as a tourist for a total period of 90 days within 180 days without showing anything but your passport. And, once inside the Schengen area (there's a good map on the Wiki site), you might be asked to show your passport...or you might not.

What you cannot do is work. If you want to work, you'll need to get a work visa and with the rampant unemployment in Western Europe, unless you are in a specialized, much-in-demand fields, companies won't hire foreigners, or support applications for work visas.

And yes, the Czech Republic is in the Schengen area, so no problem going there.
Plus...if you haven't read it or heard it anyplace else, buy traveller's insurance. Medical care in WE is there for residents...for foreigners, you'd better have insurance or cash on hand...It's really one of the best investments in peace of mind a traveller can have.
Buy it before you book your ticket so it will be covered.

For other questions, try using the search function (top right of page, next to Help, click on almost invisible button) as most questions have been asked...and asked...and answered.
Good luck.

In theory it is actually required to bring proof of funds but in practice it is very very rare to be asked for it. In normal cases where they don't suspect or doubt you, there shouldnm't be any issues.

I am also going to Prague and flying in from France. Will I have to go through Czech immigration and passport control?

No passport control. But there may be random checks.

I am a Canadian and 90% of the time I enter the Schengen Zone they don't even speak to me, just look to make sure I'm the same person as my passport says and stamp it. The other 10% of the time they ask me about hockey.

You need photographic ID to board an intra-Schengen flight such as Paris to Prague. However, there's usually no border control upon arrival in Prague because you're moving within the Schengen zone. Technically any Schengen country can throw up full border checks as it sees fit, whenever it wants, but this is extremely rare - usually only if there's a G7/8 meeting locally or (as once happened in Belgium) an extremely dangerous prisoner escapes from court and hijacks a car.

Bringing the bank statements is a good idea though, just for clarification in case they ask, shows you can support yourself for the intended duration. As with any country, the more specific info you can provide to the immigration officer where you're going, when, what you'll do, the happier they are. They don't like vague plans. :)

I am a Canadian and 90% of the time I enter the Schengen Zone they don't even speak to me, just look to make sure I'm the same person as my passport says and stamp it.

This is exactly my experience of the last 20 years. I just say "Bonjour" first and "merci" after the officer give me back my passport.

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