Cave exploration or research permit

Main information

To explore or research the cave, it is necessary to obtain a permit from the nature conservation authority.

This applies to you if

You intend to explore or research the cave and at the same time you are not covered by any of the statutory exceptions.

Statutory exceptions apply to:

• persons authorised by the nature protection authority to carry out monitoring or inventory,
• persons in the exercise of state administration,
• the police,
• persons in the performance of State defence tasks; and
• persons in the provision of veterinary care, emergency services or watercourse management.

When to use this service

Anytime during the year.

This is prior consent, which must be requested at least 60 days (ideally 90 days) in advance of the planned implementation.

Vyřízení služby - osobně

What you need if you are using this service

You must provide the Nature Conservation Authority with a request containing the following elements:

• your full identification - name, surname, date of birth and place of permanent residence, or another address for service, or the name, ID number and address of the registered office, if you are applying as an entrepreneur,
• power of attorney, if you are represented,
• the designation of the nature protection authority to which it is addressed;
• it must show that you are applying for a cave exploration or research permit;
• it must sufficiently specify your intention for which you are applying for permission (which cave or part of it is concerned and what exactly you intend to do),
• you must prove that you are a person qualified to carry out the cave survey or research in question; and
• your signature.

The application does not have a prescribed form, so it is written in free form.

Where and how to solve this service

You can submit an application for a permit to explore or research the cave in person or send it by post to the locally competent nature protection authority in whose territorial area you intend to carry out the project. If this place is not located in any of the specially protected areas listed below, this authority is the regional authority.

This does not apply if it is located in one of the following territories:

National parks and their protection zones - here you apply to the National Park Administration:

• here is the contact to the National Park Administration Czech Switzerland
• here is the contact to the Administration of the Krkonoše National Park
• here is the contact to the Podyjí National Park Administration
• here is the contact to the Šumava National Park Administration

Protected landscape areas - here you submit your application to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.

National natural monuments, national nature reserves and their protection zones - here you apply to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.

Nature reserves and natural monuments and their protection zones (outside the Protected Landscape Area – PLA) – here you submit your application to the Regional Authority. Contacts for individual regional authorities can be found on the Public Administration Portal.

Nature reserves and natural monuments and their protection zones (in the Protected Landscape Area – PLA) – here you submit your application to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.

Military uyezds – here you apply to the uyezd office:

• here is the contact to the Újezdní úřad Boletice
• here is the contact to the Újezdní úřad Březina
• here is the contact to Újezdní úřad Hradiště
• here is the contact to Újezdní úřad Libavá

How much will you pay

None

Vyřízení služby - elektronicky

What you need if you are using this service

You must provide the Nature Conservation Authority with a request containing the following elements:

• your full identification - name, surname, date of birth and place of permanent residence, or another address for service, or the name, ID number and address of the registered office, if you are applying as an entrepreneur,
• power of attorney, if you are represented,
• the designation of the nature protection authority to which it is addressed;
• it must show that you are applying for a cave exploration or research permit;
• it must sufficiently specify your intention for which you are applying for permission (which cave or part of it is concerned and what exactly you intend to do),
• you must prove that you are a person qualified to carry out the cave survey or research in question; and
• your signature.

The application can be dealt with using an electronic form in the Central Environmental Register (CER) system.

Where and how to solve this service

The application can be dealt with using an electronic form in the Central Environmental Register (CER) system.

You can send an application for a cave exploration or research permit via the data box to the locally competent nature protection authority in whose territorial district you intend to carry out the project. If this place is not located in any of the specially protected areas listed below, this authority is the regional authority.

This does not apply if it is located in one of the following territories:

National parks and their protection zones - here you apply to the National Park Administration:

• here is the contact to the National Park Administration Czech Switzerland
• here is the contact to the Administration of the Krkonoše National Park
• here is the contact to the Podyjí National Park Administration
• here is the contact to the Šumava National Park Administration

Protected landscape areas - here you submit your application to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.

National natural monuments, national nature reserves and their protection zones - here you apply to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.

Nature reserves and natural monuments and their protection zones (outside the Protected Landscape Area – PLA) – here you submit your application to the Regional Authority. Contacts for individual regional authorities can be found on the Public Administration Portal.

Nature reserves and natural monuments and their protection zones (in the Protected Landscape Area – PLA) – here you submit your application to the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, or to its regional office. This interactive map displays the contacts of the relevant regional workplace by clicking on the affected part of the territory.

Military uyezds – here you apply to the uyezd office:

• here is the contact to the Újezdní úřad Boletice
• here is the contact to the Újezdní úřad Březina
• here is the contact to Újezdní úřad Hradiště
• here is the contact to Újezdní úřad Libavá

How much will you pay

None

Additional information

What is the benefit of this service

In the event of a positive decision on your application, you can legally conduct cave exploration or research.

Appeal options

If you do not agree with the nature protection authority's decision on your application, you can appeal against the decision issued therein to a superior administrative authority through the nature protection authority that issued the decision.

Sanctions

For breach of the obligation to obtain a permit for exploration or research of the cave, you are liable to sanctions:

• as a natural person up to CZK 20 000,
• as a legal and entrepreneurial natural person up to CZK 1 million.

Frequently asked questions

What are the qualifications to be provided in the application?

The Act does not define the exact list of documents by which the fulfilment of qualification requirements can be demonstrated.

As a general rule, a professionally qualified person means a specialised scientific institute or a person with an appropriate university degree.

However, even a separate natural person can fulfil this requirement, for example, if he has a proven track record of research and publication practice or if he has a previous contribution to speleology and has a reputation in speleology.

How do I find out where the caves open to the public are located?

Map depiction of caves accessible to the public is publicly available in Mapomat AOPK ČR.

You can find the caves in the ‘nature protection’ view in the ‘cave open to the public’ tab after ticking the ‘cave open to the public’ option.