Prague police check nearly 400 foreigners, issue fines over missing documents

Immigration police checked nearly 400 foreign nationals at Prague’s Černý Most transport hub on Friday afternoon and evening, issuing fines totaling CZK 15,000 and detaining three people.

The operation focused on the bus terminal, adjoining metro station and surrounding area. Officers were checking whether foreign nationals met the conditions for staying in Czechia, police spokesman Jan Rybanský said in a statement published Nov. 8.

Fifteen people received on-the-spot fines. The most common violations concerned obligations under the law on foreign nationals’ residence, particularly failing to carry the necessary identification documents.

Police said three other people were detained because they were staying in Czechia without authorization. Administrative expulsion proceedings were opened in their cases.

The announcement concerns the start of those proceedings, rather than completed deportations.

The operation took place over several hours on Nov. 6. Police described it as one of a series of immigration checks conducted across Prague this year and said further operations would follow.

The findings distinguish between two different situations: failing to produce required documents during a check and lacking authorization to stay in the country. Police identified missing documents as the main issue behind the fines, while the three detentions concerned unauthorized stays.

Similar operations last year prompted questions among international residents about whether they needed to carry their passports or residence cards during everyday journeys.

As Expats.cz explained in its guide to carrying residence documents in Czechia, foreign nationals can be asked to establish both their identity and their right to stay during police checks.

The Interior Ministry’s current guidance says non-EU nationals must prove their identity when requested by police by presenting a valid travel document or a biometric residence permit. During a residence check, they may also be required to present proof of travel health insurance where applicable.

EU citizens have different documentation options. The residence law allows them to establish their identity using a travel document, another document proving their identity and EU citizenship, or a permanent residence card.

A document-related violation can result in a fine even when someone has a lawful basis for living in Czechia. Administrative expulsion proceedings concern the conditions of a person’s stay and should not be confused with a routine penalty for missing paperwork.

For residents passing through transport hubs such as Černý Most, Friday’s operation is a reminder to have the appropriate documents available for inspection. Police have confirmed that checks elsewhere in the capital will continue.