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

Gynaecological and obstetric care in the Czech Republic is of a very high standard. Women in the Czech Republic attend a number of antenatal appointments during pregnancy and regularly see their gynaecologist. In the Czech Republic, most 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 practices in your home country. In Prague, it is also necessary to register for birth at the hospital of your choice well in advance.

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

Health insurance for pregnant women:

• Public health insurance: If a woman is insured under the public health insurance system, no additional insurance is required during pregnancy or childbirth. The child will automatically be covered by public health insurance (see below).
• Commercial health insurance: If a woman has commercial health insurance, it is recommended to arrange additional prenatal and pregnancy care. This usually covers prenatal check-ups, routine examinations, childbirth, postnatal care, etc. The minimum insurance period is typically 12 months, and there may also be a waiting period of several months. In addition, some insurance companies impose age-related restrictions.

Health insurance for children born to foreigners in the Czech Republic

Different health insurance rules apply to children born in the Czech Republic depending on the residence status of their parents. If the parents are EU nationals, the child is covered by public health insurance. As of 1 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 hold a long-term visa or a 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 process of applying for long-term residence. The application for the child’s residence permit must be submitted within 60 days of the child’s birth. The parents must inform the health insurance company within 8 of 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 must arrange comprehensive health insurance for their child.

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.

Last update: 4 March2025