Family Issues
Entry and stay of family members
in the territory of the Czech Republic
Special conditions for entry and stay in the territory
of the Czech Republic only apply to third-country
nationals who are family members of the citizens
of European Union, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein,
and Switzerland. The entry and stay of family members
who are citizens of EU, Norway, Liechtenstein, and
Switzerland and the entry and stay of family members
who are third-country nationals is governed by the same
regulations that are binding for all foreigners
(citizens of EU, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Switzerland,
Family members of a European Union citizen are understood to include
the spouse, a child under twenty-one years of age, a parent of a child
under twenty-one years of age and a dependent direct relative. The precise
definition of a family member of a citizen of the European Union, Iceland,
Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland is established in Section 15a of the Foreign
Nationals Act. The definition of family members of the citizens of the aforesaid
countries can also be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.
Border checks are performed only at external Schengen borders (i.e. at international airports in the Czech Republic). The border check consists of a so-called minimum check, the purpose of which is to establish identity on the basis of submitted travel documents and documents confirming a family relationship with a citizen of the EU or any of the aforementioned countries.
Nationals of third countries, who are family members of citizens of the EU or the aforementioned states, are obligated to report their presence in the Czech Republic with the appropriate Foreign Police Department of the Regional Police Directorate that holds jurisdiction over the location of place of their stay in the Czech Republic, specifically:
- within 30 days after their entry to the Czech Republic if the intended length of their stay exceeds 30 days and if they accompany a citizen of EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland
- within 3 working days of their entry to the Czech Republic in all other cases.
Conditions for a short-term stay in the territory of the Czech Repbulic ( i.e. not exceeding three months)
Family members of citizens of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland – third-country nationals not subject to a visa requirement – can stay in the Czech Republic for a period of up to three months without a visa and solely on the basis of a travel document. Family members – third-country nationals subject to a visa requirement – must hold a valid visa in most cases. They can stay in the Czech Republic without a visa for a period not exceeding three months under the condition that they are in possession of a valid travel document and a valid residence card issued by a member state of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland. Family members may also be granted a visa on the borders. Family members can also stay temporarily in the Czech Republic without a visa if their uniform short-term visa expires. They must, however, be staying in the territory with a citizen of the EU or one of the aforementioned states, and their stay in the Czech Republic cannot exceed 3 months.
Conditions for a long-term stay in the territory of the Czech Republic (i.e. exceeding three months)
In the case of a joint stay in the Czech Republic with a citizen of the EU or any of the aforementioned countries, which is expected to exceed 3 months, family members are required to apply to the Ministry of the Interior for the issuance of a temporary residence permit within a period of 3 months upon their entry to the territory.
If a family member does not stay in the Czech Republic together with a citizen of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, the conditions for his/her stay in the Czech Republic are the same as those for third-country nationals who do not fall into the category of persons enjoying the Community right of free movement. (see conditions for third-country nationals entering and staying in the territory of the Czech Republic).
For more information visit the website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.
School attendance
Pre-school, basic, secondary and tertiary professional education is governed by Act No. 561/2004 Coll. (in Czech), on Pre-school, Basic, Secondary, Tertiary Professional and Other Education (the Education Act). Higher education is governed by Act No. 111/1998 Coll. (in Czech), on Higher Education Institutions (the Higher Education Act).
Pre-school education
Pre-school education facilities providing care of infants include day-care centres for children between 1 and 3 years of age and kindergartens attended by children between 3 and 6 years of age. Education in these facilities is voluntary and depends solely on the parents' decision. The state does not provide free of charge pre-school education to the children of foreigners so the parents have to pay a fee that covers the care, food and interest activities of the children.
The school year begins in September and ends in June; during summer holidays, the operation of these facilities is usually limited and the kindergartens are closed for at least one month. Some kindergartens offer substitute programmes. Parents may register their children with a kindergarten on registration days, usually in the spring (April to July) before the relevant school year begins.
There is an increasing number of the international schools
and kindergartens in the Czech Republic.
Here you may find links to some of them:
Abacus Adventures, English-speaking school (Praha 5, Zbraslav)
ABC Academy, English Language Pre-school (Roztoky u Prahy) (in Czech)
Bead school (Praha 10)
Bumble Bee, School for Creative Children (Praha 5 and Praha 6)
Eufrat, English Kindergarten (Plzeň) (in Czech)
Hello Teddy!, Czech-English Primary School and Kindergarten (Ostrava)
International Schools in Bratislava and Vienna
Schools for international kids in Brno
Sunny Canadian, Kindergarten and Primary School (Zdiměřice)
Basic and secondary education
Compulsory school attendance in the Czech Republic starts at the age of six years, unless it is postponed, and lasts nine years. Compulsory school attendance is divided into two level – the 1st level lasts 5 years (grade 1 to 5), the 2nd level lasts four years (grade 6 to 9).
The citizens of EU can attend basic, secondary and tertiary professional schools under the same conditions as the citizens of the Czech Republic; third-country nationals are allowed to attend the schools if they prove their right to reside in the Czech Republic.
The school year starts on 1st September of the relevant year and ends on 31st August of the following calendar year. It is divided to the period of schooling and the period of school holidays taking place in July and August. The school year is divided into two terms; pupils receive grades in their school report at the end of each term.
Classes are usually taught in Czech language; other languages may be used with the consent of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Czech language preparatory courses are only organized for EU citizens. When awarding the final mark in Czech Language and Literature the teacher takes into account the level of language achieved by the pupil, or it is possible that the pupil receives no mark in this school subject in the first year of his/her attendance. The number of schools providing classes taught in foreign languages is growing. These schools are usually private and charge a school fee.
Basic schools
Like the citizens of the Czech Republic, foreigners are provided basic education free of charge.
The selection of the school is at the sole discretion of the child's parents. The law provides for primary school districts (i.e., the law defines the regions, from which children may register for and then attend a specific school). Districts must be set in a way that would allow all the children permanently residing in the given district to attend the relevant school, i.e., these children are preferred over children from other districts.
Secondary schools
Secondary education is provided by secondary general schools, secondary technical schools and secondary vocational schools. Students may continue their studies at a secondary school only after completing their basic education. However, 8-grade general schools enable student to enrol after completing the first cycle or during the second cycle of basic education. Students must pass an entrance exam to be accepted to a secondary school. Applications are submitted to the head teacher of the school the student wants to attend. Education at secondary schools is provided free of charge to foreigners who are able to demonstrate at the entrance exam their ability to study in Czech language.
Tertiary professional education
Tertiary professional schools provide general and vocational education as well as vocational training for the execution of demanding activities. Education at tertiary professional schools is completed by an examination called “Absolutorium”. Tertiary professional schools include state schools, private schools and church schools. Students are accepted to tertiary professional schools based on the results of their entrance exam after completing their secondary education and passing the “Maturita” school-leaving examinations. Schools charge a fee which is the same for foreigners as for the citizens of the Czech Republic.
Higher education
Universities are public, state of private. Students can be accepted to a university only upon completing full secondary education or full secondary professional education and upon successfully passing entrance examinations. Foreign students can study in Czech language under the same conditions as Czech students: that is free of charge. Foreign students who want to study in another language must pay for the tuition in full. Degree programmes are of three types: Bachelor’s degree programmes, Master’s degree programmes and Doctoral degree programmes. All degree programmes are completed with a final state examination. The higher education diploma and diploma supplement serve as documents attesting to the closure of studies and the awarding of an academic degree.
For more information on education and school attendance in the Czech Republic visit Home in the Czech Republic
Job opportunities
Job vacancies may be searched on the integrated portal of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, which is pre-set to automatically find vacancies suitable for foreigners. These vacancies originate from the databases of individual Labour Offices. Also, foreigners may register in the database of job seekers.
http://www.sprace.cz/ (in Czech)
http://www.hotjobs.cz/ (in Czech)
http://www.prace.cz/ (in Czech)
http://www.jobmaster.cz/index-en.php
http:/www.joblist.cz/ (in Czech)
http://www.cvonline.cz/index.php?keel=inglise
http://www.zamestnani.cz/ (in Czech)
http:/www.qjobs.cz/ (in Czech)
On the same website you can find more information about Employment in the Czech Republic that you might find useful when searching a job for your family members.
You may find some useful hints related to the family life on the website Home in the Czech Republic.
