We have some practical advice for the period of pregnancy and childbirth for you on the Prague for All website.

Gynaecological care and obstetric care in the Czech Republic is of a very high standard. Women in the Czech Republic have a number of antenatal appointments during their pregnancy and regularly see their gynaecologist. In the Czech Republic, women usually give birth at maternity wards at hospital. Home births are rare and considered a controversial issue. The situation may therefore be very different from the practice in your home country. In Prague it is also necessary to register for birth at a hospital of your choice well in advance.

You can find information on how to register for a birth on the websites of individual hospitals. It is available in Czech and sometimes in English, too – for example the General University Hospital in Prague (Apolinar). If you need interpretation or translation, you can use free services of intercultural professionals.

Health insurance for pregnant women:

• Public health insurance: If the woman is insured under the public health insurance, there is no need for any additional insurance for the period of pregnancy or the birth. The child will automatically be insured by public health insurance (see below).
• Commercial health insurance: If the woman has commercial insurance, it is recommended to arrange additional prenatal and pregnancy care. It covers prenatal check-ups, routine examinations, the childbirth, postnatal care, etc. The minimum insurance period is usually 12 months and sometimes thre is a waiting period of up to several months. In addition, some insurance companies have restrictions based on the age of the mother.

Health insurance for children born to foreigners in the Czech Republic

For children born in the Czech Republic there are different health insurance rules depending on the type of residence of their parents. If the parents are EU nationals, the child is covered by public health insurance. As of 1^st January 2024, all foreigners under the age of 18 with a long-term residence permit are covered by public health insurance. However, this rule does not apply to foreigners under the age of 18 who have a long-term visa or temporary residence permit as family members of an EU citizen.

If you are a third-country national, what matters is whether you as a parent have:

1. Long-term or permanent residence permit (or international protection) in the CR
   • If you as the child’s mother or father have a long-term or permanent residence permit, your child is automatically covered by public health insurance from the moment of birth. The same applies if you are in the middle of a long-term residence application process. The application for the child’s residence permit must be made within 60 days from the child’s birth. The parents must inform the health insurance company within 8 days from the birth.

1. Long-term visa
   • A child is born in the Czech Republic is insured from birth until the end of the month in which the child reaches 60 days of age. Parents arrange comprehensive health insurance for their child.

Important: Make sure that you apply for a residence permit for your child in time as the child’s health insurance is linked to his/her residence permit status. For more information, visit the Ministry of the Interior’s Information Portal for Foreigners.

Preventive check-ups for children 

In the CR, children and adolescents see their paediatrician for regular preventive check-ups. After being discharged from the hospital maternity ward, children usually have their first check-up at home within 2 days.  Further check-ups take place at 6 weeks, at 3 months and then every 1– 2 months up to the age of 1 year. After the first year, there are check-ups at 18 months and then every 2 years from age 3 until the age of 17. The doctor records important information found during the check-ups and vaccinations in the health card so that the information is available in emergency situations. Dental check-ups take place twice a year (the first between 6 to 12 months) and the first gynaecological check-up is recommended for girls aged 15. If your children have public health insurance, all preventive check-ups are covered by their insurance.