Sworn statement enough for unwed international couples to reunite in Czech Republic under new proposal

Foreign couples separated by the coronavirus crisis could soon reunite in Czech Republic under a new proposal.

Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek (Social Democrats, CSSD) announced Thursday that foreign partners of Czech citizens could enter the country with a sworn statement.

His proposal would only require that the couple would file a sworn statement signed by the Czech citizen in the pair, who would take responsibility for their partner while in the country.

The Foreign Minister says he knows hundreds of couples struggling in a situation where they can’t see their loved ones, particularly when one of the pair is the citizen of a country outside of the European Union. He added that the inspiration for the measure came from Austria and Denmark.

As it stands presently, only people from a select lists of countries outside the EU may enter the Czech Republic without issue: Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, the Vatican and Great Britain. EU residents may enter the Czech Republic without issue, except from red-zone countries like Sweden.

Starting Monday, that list will also include Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Korea and Thailand.

People from other high-risk countries like the U.S. can only come to Czech Republic based on exceptions defined by the Health Ministry. It is not possible to arrive for tourism.

Czech citizens returning from high-risk countries must have a negative coronavirus test or enter a two-week quarantine.