The Czech passport (, pas) is an international travel document issued to nationals of the Czech Republic, and may also serve as proof of Czech citizenship. Besides enabling the bearer to travel internationally and serving as indication of Czech citizenship, the passport facilitates the process of securing assistance from Czech consular officials abroad or other European Union member states in case a Czech consular is absent, if needed. Czech citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 186 countries and territories, ranking the Czech passport 7th overall in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index. and 4th in passport index https://www.passportindex.org/. Czech citizens can live and work in any country within the EU as a result of the right of free movement and residence granted in Article 21 of the EU Treaty. Every Czech citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The nationality allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Union, Switzerland and the European Economic Area, but a passport or a national identity card is in practice needed for identification. Application The passport is issued by the Interior Ministry (Ministerstvo vnitra), and as is internationally customary remains property of the Czech Republic and can be withdrawn at any time. It is a valid Proof of Citizenship document according to the Czech nationality law. Citizens can hold multiple passports at the same time, and children can be included in the passport. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sporadically issues a list of nations with visa-free travel arrangements with the Czech Republic. In an application for a Czech passport, one must submit two photographs of 35mm x 45mm size. Physical appearance Czech passports are burgundy like other passports of the European Union, with the Czech coat of arms emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The words "EVROPSKÁ UNIE" () and "ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA" () are inscribed above the coat of arms and the words "CESTOVNÍ PAS" () are inscribed below the coat of arms. Czech passports adhere to the common EU design and International Civil Aviation Organization requirements Identity information page Photo of passport holder Type (P) Code (CZE) Passport no. 01 Surname 02 Given names 03 Nationality (Česká republika/Czech Republic) 04 Date of birth 05 Place of birth 06 Sex 07 Date of issue 08 Date of expiry 09 Authority 10 Holder's signature 11 Personal