How to send money to Czechia in 2026: koruna, euros and Czech thresholds

A Czech bank credits money from abroad to a koruna or euro account: a transfer from the European Union takes 1 business day, from other countries 1-5 business days, and inside Czechia koruna arrive in seconds, up to 2.5 million per payment. In 2026 a small amount needs a clear purpose, and from $10,000 the bank asks for a statement, a sale contract or an income certificate.

Money reaches Czechia by bank transfer to a koruna or euro account: euros from the European Union arrive in 1 business day, transfers from other countries in 1-5 business days, and inside the country koruna move in seconds, up to $120,000 (2.5 million koruna) per payment. From $10,000 the bank asks where the money comes from.

Checked on 8 October 2026. Dollar amounts at the Czech National Bank rate of 7 October 2026: 21.861 koruna per dollar and 24.430 koruna per euro.

Ways money reaches Czechia: status on 8 October 2026

Czechia has 4 working routes: a euro transfer from the European Union, a transfer from other countries, an instant koruna payment inside the country and a money transfer service.

Which route is faster and cheaper depends on the sender's country and bank. Tell a manager where the money is coming from: they will check which route works for your case and suggest the recipient's bank.

Car, renovation, deposit: large purchases in Czechia go through an account

In Czechia large payments - a car, a renovation, a rental deposit, an apartment - are made by transfer to the seller's account, and this is the fastest route: an instant koruna payment arrives in seconds around the clock, up to $120,000 (2.5 million koruna) per payment. Buying a used car from a neighbour for $19,000 (400,000 koruna) works the same way as paying a construction firm: one transfer to the account number in the contract. A rental deposit of up to 3 months' rent and the first month are also paid to the landlord's account from the contract, and utility bills are then debited from the Czech account automatically.

So it is easier to move money for the relocation to your own Czech account in advance and pay from there. The statement keeps the amounts, dates and recipients, and these records later confirm deals to both the bank and the tax office: the car purchase contract and the payment statement settle the question of its origin when you resell it.

Inside the country koruna move instantly around the clock, including nights and weekends, up to $120,000 (2.5 million koruna) per payment; an instant payment leaves at once, so check the account number before sending. From January 2027 Czech banks must accept instant euro payments, and from July 2027 send them. If you are not sure which account currency suits your amount, a manager will suggest how to receive the money with the smallest exchange losses.

A gift from parents and the 5 million koruna rule

Czechia has had no separate gift tax since 2014: a gift is taxed as income, and family gifts are fully exempt. Money from relatives in the direct line - parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren - and the collateral line - brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces - as well as from a spouse and from someone who has shared the recipient's household for at least a year, is received tax-free with no limit on the amount.

From anyone else up to $2,300 (50,000 koruna) a year per giver is tax-free. If the amount is larger, all of it is taxed at 15%, or 23% for high incomes. Even an exempt gift must be declared if a single such income exceeds $230,000 (5 million koruna): the notice goes to the tax office by the annual return deadline, otherwise the fine is up to 15% of the amount. Inheritance in Czechia is also tax-free, but one above 5 million koruna is reported to the tax office too.

Example. Parents send their son in Prague $250,000, about 5.5 million koruna, in one payment. There is no tax, but a notice of income above 5 million koruna is required. If the same amount arrives in 2 payments of 2.75 million koruna on different dates, each payment is assessed separately and no notice is needed. Ask a manager how to arrange a large family gift before the transfer.

Sending money to a private person in Czechia: what the recipient needs

Money for a private person in Czechia goes to their Czech account by the 24-character number and name: that is enough, but the recipient's bank may ask what the money is for and, for large sums, ask for a document. If the recipient is you, open an account first: Czech banks open one for a foreigner with a passport and a second document, and a non-resident often also needs a residence document. Money reaches a Czech bank card through its account: the recipient gives the 24-character number the card is linked to, and the amount is available for payments at once.

Deposits at a Czech bank are insured up to $120,000 (€100,000) per client, paid out in koruna at the central bank rate. Interest on a Czech bank deposit is taxed at 15%, withheld by the bank. You become a Czech tax resident after 183 days in the country in a year or with a permanent home here; more on the taxes in Czechia page.

If you are paying a landlord, remember: under the Czech Civil Code a rental deposit for housing cannot exceed 3 months' rent. The deposit and rent are paid to the account named in the contract, and the payment confirmation is kept: you will need it to get the deposit back when you move out.

Example: a family moves to Prague with $60,000

Here is a 5-step route for a family bringing $60,000, about 1.3 million koruna, to Czechia and planning to rent an apartment and buy a car.

1. Account before the transfer. Open a koruna account and a euro one alongside it with a passport and a second document.
2. Euro transfer to the euro account. Exchange into koruna in parts, comparing the bank's rate with the central bank's.
3. Rent. A deposit of up to 3 months' rent and the first month by transfer to the account in the contract.
4. A $17,000 (350,000 koruna) car. An instant koruna payment to the seller's account: the money arrives in seconds, and the contract and statement confirm the deal.
5. Documents. Keep the sender's statement and the contracts: the bank may ask where the money comes from with the next large deposits.

Czech thresholds: 2.5 million koruna, 5 million koruna and €100,000

At 3 levels of amount the questions from the bank and the tax office in Czechia change.

Thresholds in 2026.

The general procedure for large sums is described in sending large sums abroad. It is better not to send $100,000 or more to Czechia at random: a manager will work out your route and the list of papers before the first payment. Legal ways to move capital as a whole are described on the capital relocation page.

An apartment in Czechia: foreigners buy on general terms with no purchase tax

Since 2020 an apartment buyer in Czechia pays no real estate acquisition tax: the former 4% tax was abolished for deals registered from December 2019. A foreigner from any country buys an apartment or a house on the same terms as a Czech, without permits. The title is recorded by the cadastral office, and not earlier than 20 days after notification.

Money for an apartment is usually not sent to the seller directly: it is held in escrow with a notary, a lawyer or a bank until the title is recorded in the cadastre. So a purchase transfer is planned around this scheme: the money first arrives in your Czech account and from there goes into escrow. If you later sell the apartment, the income is tax-free after 2 years of living in it or after 10 years of ownership for homes bought from 2021.

If the purchase money comes from selling a home in another country, the documents are gathered as described in moving home sale proceeds abroad. Apartment prices in Prague and other cities are covered in buying an apartment in Czechia; we handle the property check and the deal - see the property in Czechia page.

The way back: money from Czechia to other countries

Outgoing transfers from Czechia are free. Within the European Union euros leave in 1 business day, and to other countries money goes by bank transfer with a payment purpose.

• To Kazakhstan: transfers to families and for study.
• To Armenia: your own business account and family money.
• To Serbia: moving on to the Balkans.

Sending money to nearby countries

• Germany - instant euro transfers
• Poland - zloty or euros to your own account
• Austria - gifts and housing
• Switzerland - francs, euros or dollars
• Serbia - a dinar and euro account
• Slovakia - no home purchase tax and no gift tax

Every legal way to move capital is on the capital relocation page.

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