Czech Post Offices

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Entering the post office:
Most post office windows will be labeled depending on the service they provide. If you want to post a letter you queue at a window marked ‘listovní služby,’ for parcels it is ‘příjem a výdej balíků’ and to make payments you need a window marked ‘peněžní služby.’ For statements from government registries, the post office also has Czech Point portals. In larger branches, such as the GPO or the suburban branch at Pankrác, there is a ticket machine where you select what service you need and get a number. The machines are labeled differently with ‘ listovní zásilky’ for letters and ‘ balíkové zásilky’ for parcels.

Letters
To post a standard letter (14 cm x 9 cm and weighing up to 50 g) within the Czech Republic will cost you 10 CZK. For larger and heavier letters check the price list here. This link also includes a price list at the bottom for envelopes available for purchase at Czech Post and their prices.

Registered mail is ‘doporučená zásilka´ (literally recommended mail). The cost for the same size sent by registered post within the Czech Republic will be 30 CZK. For other weights and dimensions please check this price list. Registered post within the Czech Republic is insured for loss or damage up to the value of 500 CZK.

When sending a letter abroad, you may be asked by the postal clerk, assuming that he or she doesn’t speak English whether it will be sent ‘obyčejně’ or ‘letecky’, which is either ordinary (i.e surface) or air mail. A letter by air mail to Europe will take between 3 and 5 days; outside Europe it can be from 5 to 9 days.

As a reference point, a standard postcard falls into the 20g weight class. Rates for larger and heavier envelopes can be found here. If you want to send it by international registered post than higher rates apply:

The complete list of prices for international registered post can be found here. European nations are those found within geographical Europe plus all of Russia and Turkey.  International registered post is insured for loss or damage up to the value of 888 CZK.

If you are collecting registered mail, you need to take the small white slip that appeared in your mailbox and some form of ID. I´ve found both a passport and permanent residency card work. The latter is preferred since it contains my address here.

Packages

If you send a parcel within the Czech Republic the price can be between 43 CZK and 92 CZK, depending on the weight. The minimum weight is 2 kg and the maximum is 20 kg. The minimum dimensions are 15 cm x 10.5 cm, a roll is 15 cm with a diameter of 3 cm. The maximum dimensions cannot exceed 300 cm when added together and the longest of any one dimension is 240 cm. Got that? Further information is available here.

Sending a parcel abroad is charged by different weight classes than domestic parcel postage. There is also a maximum weight of 30 kg and though the three dimensions can add up to 300 cm, the maximum length of any one side is 200 cm. The final factor in determining price is whether it is surface (ekonomicky or obečejně) or air (letecky or prioritně). The full list of prices is available here. A package to a European country can take up to six days by air mail. By the same means to non-European countries the time varies from one to two weeks.

Paying Bills
The post office is also where you can go to pay energy bills, water, phone and tax. If a company is billing you, they will send you a pink slip, called a Poštovní poukázka, which looks like this.

A few years ago Expats.cz ran an article on using the post office. The information regarding filling in the Poštovní poukázka has not changed.

Postal Paraphernalia – POSTSHOP
If you’re in need of packages, envelopes or bubble wrap, it is possible to obtain these from a post office marked with POSTSHOP. A full list of items for sale and produces can be found here.

Czech Point
This service, provided by the Ministry of the Interior, allows people to obtain statements from the land registry, commercial registry and trade license registry as well as their Czech criminal record. The complete list of information provided can be found here.

Post Office Phrase Guide
In case you find yourself in a post office where none of the clerks speak English here are some of the basic words and phrases: