Amateur radio communication service

Amateur radio service is a radiocommunication service for self-education or for interconnections performed by authorized persons not-for-profit.

The terms and conditions for using radio frequencies for an amateur radio communication service within the Czech Republic are laid down in Decree No. 156/2005 Coll., on the technical and operating conditions of an amateur radiocommunication service.

Professional competence certificate

To be able to apply for the issue of individual authorisation to use radio frequencies for an amateur radiocommunication service (amateur radio authorisation) and the allocation of a call sign, you must be the holder of a professional competence certificate for the operation of radio transmitting equipment for an amateur radiocommunication service (amateur station) corresponding to the class. Its issue is conditional on successfully taking a test to prove special competence.

If you pass the test, you will receive a professional competence certificate for the operation of amateur stations, either a HAREC for a class A operator, or a NOVICE certificate for a class N operator (both having international validity). Certificates provide authorisation to operate amateur stations in the corresponding class and are issued for an unlimited period of validity.

Individual authorisation

As the holder of a professional competence certificate for the operation of amateur stations, you may apply to CTU to issue individual authorisation to utilise radio frequencies for an amateur radiocommunication service (amateur radio authorisation), as part of which you will be allocated a call sign, which you can propose yourself when filing the application. The relevant form 13N in the Forms section can again be used to file an application. An administrative fee of CZK 500 is collected for the issue of authorisation.

Authorisation for foreign nationals from CEPT member countries is granted upon presentation of a HAREC certificate or its equivalent recognised by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT). The call sign shall be in the form of OK8 and two or three letters.

Before expiry of the professional competence certificate, you must - if you would like to continue in radio communication service - apply in writing (in free form-by letter) to CTU no later than 30 days before the expiration of this period for extension of validity of the authorisation. There is an administrative fee of CZK 200.

International validity

The amateur radio authorisation and the professional competence certificate issued by CTU in accordance with the recommendations of the The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) No. T/R 61-02, implemented also by the Czech Republic, entitle their holders for short-term (maximum period of three months) operating of  amateur stations in countries that have also adopted this recommendation. For a longer stay, it is necessary to request the relevant authorisation (licence) from a national regulatory authority of visited country. Conditions of release is necessary to check in advance with the relevant authorities.

Foreign nationals from countries which adopted the Recommendations must apply to CTU for the issue of amateur radio authorisation if they wish to utilise radio frequencies for an amateur radiocommunication service within the Czech Republic for longer than three months.  Foreign nationals from other countries must apply even if they wish to utilise frequencies for a shorter period of time. A valid HAREC must be submitted with the application for the issue of authorisation. An administrative fee of CZK 500 is payable in advance into the above-mentioned CTU account.