Filming permits

Prague

Prague is the top film and tourist destination in the Czech Republic. The capital city is divided into numbered administrative districts, with Prague 1, Prague 2 and Prague 3 being the most central. You will need a permit from each district in which you plan to shoot.

The historical center of the city, located in Prague 1, is the area most visited by filmmakers and by tourists. To shoot in Prague 1, you must submit the application in Czech, via mail or in person at the town hall of the Prague 1 district. The application must include, among others, a map of the filming location.

Most productions will also need a permit from Prague’s road and street authority, Technická správa komunikací (TSK). Some locations in Prague — such as Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and all parks in the city — are subject to special conditions and fees.

Health and Safety

For all filming done in the Czech Republic, legal obligations concerning health and safety apply, as defined in the Czech law by the Act. no. 262/2006 Sb., §101-§ 108. The main duties are to identify and analyse the risks and take precautions to eliminate or minimise them. In case employees of several employers are working together, the employers are obliged to inform each other in writing about potential risks and measures taken. These and other obligations required by the Act. no 309/2006 Sb., § 13 apply also on self-employed persons with no employees.

The legal requirements towards fire protection is another important part. The operator must have a defined and implemented system of documentation, fire protection trainings and education. He must have the required fire prevention equipment as prescribed by the Act no. 133/1985.

The foreign production or their Czech production partners must fulfil all requirements the Czech legal system imposes, through authorised specialists as defined by the Act. Also foreign documentation, e.g Risk Assessment must fulfil the requirements imposed by the law and must be verified by eligible person. The absence of the documents or processes is considered a breach of the law.

The same level of protection and precaution is required also from film projects, which do not have stunt scenes. It is recommended to seek the advice of film health and safety specialists. You can find film relevant health and safety help and information in this section in our directory.

Filming with drones

Commercial operation of an unmanned aircraft (drone) is regulated; the owner of the drone needs permission from the Civil Aviation Authority. Filming with a drone not registered in the Czech Republic is possible, but it is quite a time-consuming process, lasting many months. Foreign filmmakers are therefore recommended to use already registered Czech operators. There are many established companies in the Czech Republic that specialize in shooting footage using drones and which have experience on small and large international productions alike.

It is necessary to take into account several basic restrictions when shooting with drones, among them that they can be flown at a maximum height of 300 meters above ground and that they are banned from flying over people and private properties without first obtaining consent. Drones can not be operated in the vicinity of airports or busy traffic junctions.

To fly over densely populated areas (towns and villages) the drone operater must receive special authorization from the Civil Aviation Authority. Proceedings for drone operators who are already registered take up to 30 days, but usually less than 10, and the condition is the consent of landowners to to the take-off, overflight and landing of the drone on their property, as well as the consent of those it will fly over and all other persons concerned. It is also necessary to prevent access to others to the area where the unmanned aircraft is operating.