#LifeInCzechia Are you a third-country citizen who’s new to the Czech Republic? Have you been granted a long-term residence permit or a permanent residence permit? There’s a high probability that you have to attend the Adaptation and Integration Course “Welcome to the Czech Republic”. The Ministry of the Interior has established this obligation for specific groups of third-country citizens who got their residence permits after 1 January 2021. Here are the details.
You have to finish your integration course within 1 year of receiving your permit.
What is the advantage of taking the course?
The Adaptation and Integration course is aimed at helping foreigners with day-to-day life. It helps them settle in their new environment and culture.
What are the first steps to take upon arrival to the Czech Republic? How does the Czech education and healthcare system work? The course participants will learn this and other information related to how the Czech society functions and what the rights and duties of immigrants are.
Who is it for?
The course is intended for the majority of third-country (non-EU) citizens who got their long-term or permanent residence permit after 1 January 2021. This obligation does not apply to e.g. EU citizens and their family members holding a temporary residence permit or to foreigners residing in the Czech Republic on a visa.
You can find the full list of exceptions defined by law on the Ministry of the Interior website.
Why register now?
The deadline for attending the course is within one year of receiving your residence permit. This means that if you received your biometric card at the beginning of this year, you should take the course in December latest. If you fail to attend the course within the given deadline, you risk being subject to a fine of up to CZK 10,000.
About the courses
The Adaptation and Integration Course takes 4 hours. The course is taught by certified lecturers in Czech and is interpreted into English, Arabic, French, Mongolian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. To attend the course, you need to register in advance HERE.
The registration process includes creating a profile in the FRS system, paying the 1 500 CZK fee (per person), receiving the payment confirmation and finally enrolling in a specific course. After completing the course, you’ll receive a certificate proving the fulfilment of this duty.
You can find more information at vitejtevcr You also find out more information about the course and a guide on how to enrol on the Integration Centre Prague website.
Where does the course take place?
The Course is organised exclusively by the Centres for Support of Integration of Foreign Nationals in specific regions.
There are two types of Adaptation and Integration Courses:
- the first one is the so-called public course attended by the foreigner directly at the Integration Centre.
- The second option is a so-called private course, agreed upon by the Integration Centre and a legal entity such as an employer. It’s a form of an employee benefit, wherein the employer assists the employees with fulfilling their legal obligation. Ask your employer if he plans to organize this kind of course at your workplace.
Have questions or need help?
Contact the Integration Centre and ask for more information. Most courses are offered by the Integration Centre Prague (ICP). ICP also provides foreigners with free counselling, gives advice on whether the course applies to them and assists with online registration. If you are not from Prague, you can contact a Centre in your region.
Source article: ICP
Source photo: Pixabay.com
