Czech Republic
Political overview
The Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic were created as separate States on 1 January 1993 from the territory of the former Czechoslovakia. The Czech Republic marks its National Day on 28 October, which celebrates the creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918.
The Czech Republic is a pluralist, multi-party parliamentary representative democracy with the President as head of state and the Prime Minister as head of government. The Parliament is bicameral. The Chamber of Deputies or Lower House has 200 members elected for four years and the Senate or Upper House has 81 members elected for six years, with one-third of senators replaced every two years. The President is directly elected for a term of five years with a two-term limit.
Since 2016, Czechia has been entered in the UN country name database as the short name of the Czech Republic, but it has not replaced the full official name.
Foreign policy
According to the Czech Foreign Ministry’s Concept of the Czech Republic’s Foreign Policy, “Czech foreign policy aspires to security, prosperity and sustainable development, human dignity, including the protection of human rights, serving the people, and nurturing a good reputation abroad. From the Czech Republic’s perspective, these objectives are not isolated but mutually interlinked and conditional.”
The Czech Republic became a member state of the United Nations in 1993, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 1995, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1999. The Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004, including the Schengen area from 2007 and the Eurozone from 2004.
In October 2022, the Czech Republic released its Strategy For Cooperation with the Indo-Pacific.
Bilateral relations
Australia and the Czech Republic established diplomatic relations in 1993 and share a commitment to the fundamental values of democracy, peace and free trade. Australia and the Czech Republic have friendly relations, based on shared interests and close people-to-people links. Since the Second World War, there have been two major waves of immigration: after the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948 and following Soviet occupation in 1968.
The Czech Republic has an Embassy in Canberra, a Consulate-General in Sydney, and consulates in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.
Fast facts
- Czech visitors to Australia (visitor arrivals - 2023) – 7,340
- Australian visitors to the Czech Republic (resident returns – 2023) – 5,600
- Resident Australian population born in the Czech Republic (2021 census) – 7,776
- Australian residents of Czech descent (2021 census) – 27,862
High level engagement
- February 2024 – Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský visited Australia.
Agreements and arrangements with the Czech Republic
- Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments (1994)
- Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income (1995)
- Trade and Economic Cooperation (1997)
- Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy and the Transfer of Nuclear Material (2002)
- Social Security (2011)
- Air Services (2011)
- Work and Holiday pilot (2017)
A comprehensive list of bilateral agreements and texts are available at the Australian Treaties Database.
Public diplomacy
The Australian Embassy in Warsaw is responsible for the Czech Republic.
The Australian Embassy in Warsaw promotes Australian culture and values in the Czech Republic, emphasising the community and historical links between our countries, and promotes Australia as an innovative and attractive trade and investment partner. The Embassy supports the annual Aussie and Kiwi Film Fest held in Prague in November.
Prague Zoo is a participant in the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program (STDP). Following Australia’s catastrophic bushfires in the summer of 2019/2020, the Director and several staff of Prague Zoo travelled to Australia to assist on the ground with wildlife care efforts. Additionally, the zoo raised more than 23 million Czech crowns from entry fees and voluntary donations from the Czech public to assist injured wildlife and to open a special breeding centre in Lithgow, New South Wales in 2022 for the critically endangered mountain pygmy possum.
Economic diplomacy
Two-way goods and services trade between the Czech Republic and Australia was valued at $1.3 billion in 2023. Bilateral trade was dominated by merchandise imports from the Czech Republic. In 2023, the stock of Czech investment in Australia was valued at $1.8 billion.
Major imports from the Czech Republic that year were passenger motor vehicles, computers, pumps and parts, civil engineering equipment and parts, and telecom equipment and parts. Australia's major exports were wool and other animal hair, education-related travel, recreational travel, vehicle parts and accessories, and optical goods.
More economic and trade information can be found in the Czech Republic country economic factsheet [PDF].
Business
Austrade's Prague office assists Australian companies to build and implement export strategies. Austrade offers practical advice, market intelligence, and ongoing support to Australian companies seeking to grow their business in the Czech Republic. Austrade also works to attract productive foreign direct investment into Australia and promote research and development collaboration.
Australia is a perceived as highly developed, innovative country offering quality solutions in the Czech Republic. There are opportunities for Australian businesses with capabilities in high value add, specialised products and services within defence, energy, ICT, cybernetics, new materials development, rail safety and security, healthcare and aged care, food and agtech, digitech and applied R&D.
The Czech Republic is a sophisticated market seeking access to new technology, systems, and processes to improve competitiveness and marketability of locally produced products and services. Australian firms have the potential to meet this need.
Australian firms active in the Czech market include Cochlear (health), ResMed (health), CSL Behring (pharma), European Metals Holdings Limited (mining), Minova Bohemia (Orica) (mining), and Hardy’s Wines.
Australian Embassy
Australia’s Embassy in Warsaw is responsible for relations with the Czech Republic.
Australia also has a Consulate in Prague, managed by Austrade.
Travel
See Smartraveller for information on travelling to the Czech Republic