The first few weeks in a new country can feel like you need to do everything at once, and it's not always clear in what language. This article is a calm, step-by-step checklist: what to do after arriving in Czechia, in order — what you can sort out online in 15 minutes, and what will require an office visit and patience. We're not replacing a lawyer or quoting laws word for word — we're giving you a roadmap so you understand the logic and don't waste time on the obvious stuff.
This guide is useful both for those still planning their move to Czechia and for those who've already landed and are sorting out daily life: address, bank, phone, insurance, housing, transport. Each point has a separate, more detailed guide linked inside — here you get the general route map.
Briefly, what we'll cover: registering your address and dealing with the foreign police, a bank account (and how Revolut/Wise help in the first days), a local SIM and internet, mandatory health insurance, renting housing and the deposit, transport and travel passes, Czech language courses, and a directory of useful services.
The first thing to understand: the rules depend on whether you're an EU citizen or not. For EU citizens it's simpler — you just need to report your stay if you plan to remain longer than 30 days. For non-EU citizens (third-country nationals), there's a mandatory step — registering with the Odbor azylové a migrační politiky (OAMP) or, in some cases, with the cizinecká policie (foreign police) within a few days of arrival. The exact deadline and authority depend on your visa/residence permit type, so the first thing to do is check the info sheet issued along with your visa.
What you'll almost always need at the start:
Practical tip: keep a separate folder (both physical and on your phone) with scans of your passport, visa, rental agreement, insurance and all confirmations. In Czechia, paperwork is king, and the same certificate will be requested in five different places.
Don't try to keep all the legal nuances in your head — renewal deadlines, permit types, changing employers. If your situation is non-standard (family reunification, status change, a refusal), it's better to consult a migration lawyer once than to fix mistakes later. You can find vetted specialists in our services directory.
There's a small catch here. A full Czech bank account often requires an address already in place, sometimes a birth number (rodné číslo) or residence permit, and the queue for a branch appointment can stretch out for days. But you need to pay for your SIM, transport and groceries today. So a sensible strategy is a two-step approach.
While you don't yet have a local bank, European neobanks come to the rescue. Revolut and Wise can be opened online in 10–20 minutes, give you an IBAN, support koruna and dozens of other currencies, and offer favorable conversion rates — a lifesaver if you brought money in a currency other than koruna. The card (virtual — instantly, physical — by mail) works in Czech shops and on transport, and transferring money to yourself from your old bank goes through without a predatory exchange rate.
For salary, rent, utilities and government payments, you'll almost certainly need a local account with a Czech bank — with a Czech IBAN, support for direct debit (inkaso), and the usual Czech financial ecosystem. Here's a rundown of popular options:
| Bank | What's convenient for newcomers | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Raiffeisenbank | Large network, service in several languages, solid reputation | Fee-free conditions depend on account turnover — check current terms |
| Air Bank | Simple app, transparent pricing, a "human" approach | Opening an account usually requires a branch visit in person |
| mBank | Foreigner-friendly, often no account maintenance fee | Check the limits on free withdrawals and transfers |
Banks' exact rates change, so don't rely on figures from year-old articles — check on the bank's website. A detailed comparison with step-by-step account opening and a list of required documents is available in a separate guide: how to choose and open a bank account in Czechia.
Without a working number in Czechia, life gets hard: verification codes, calls to the bank, couriers, government services via apps. The plan is simple: internet from day one, a local SIM within the first days to weeks.
To avoid being cut off at the airport or having to queue at a phone shop, it's convenient to set up an eSIM in advance. Airalo activates directly on your phone before your flight: you land, and you already have internet — you can call a taxi, open maps, and message your landlord. This is a temporary solution for the transition period, not a replacement for a local number.
Next, get a Czech SIM card — this gives you a local number (needed for banks and services) and reasonable rates for calls within the country. The major carriers are Vodafone, O2 and T-Mobile, plus cheaper virtual operators running on their networks. A prepaid SIM can be bought and activated quickly, while a plan with a monthly fee (paušál) is more cost-effective for regular use.
How to choose a carrier, where gigabytes are cheaper, and what the difference is between prepaid and paušál — covered in detail here: SIM cards and mobile internet in Czechia.
This is one of the most underestimated points, and that's a mistake. For non-EU citizens, health insurance (zdravotní pojištění pro cizince) is a mandatory condition of residence. Moreover, applying for and renewing a residence permit usually requires comprehensive insurance (komplexní zdravotní pojištění) of a specific type and coverage — and this is a separate product, not travel insurance for a trip.
Important. "Travel" insurance and "residence permit" insurance are not the same thing. Before buying, check the exact requirements for your type of permit (coverage amount, term, whether the insurer is recognized). A mistake here can cost you a refused renewal — this is a case where it's better to double-check.
How this works in practice:
Don't buy the first policy you find based on price alone — first check whether it matches your purpose (residence permit, travel, everyday healthcare). If in doubt, a consultation with an insurance broker will clear things up.
Housing is usually sorted out alongside your address (see step 1) — since it's your rental agreement that gives you an official address. The rental market in Czechia, especially in Prague and Brno, is competitive: good apartments go within a day or two, so be ready to decide quickly and have your documents on hand.
You can search on major Czech portals and through services focused on long-term rentals. For example, Stály nájem helps find long-term rentals — convenient when you're not yet familiar with the neighborhoods and want a sensible landlord.
Buying property as a foreigner in Czechia is generally accessible, and with local income it's realistic to get a mortgage (hypotéka). Rates and terms depend on the bank, your status, and your down payment — check current terms before deciding. To compare offers and calculate the real monthly payment, the matching service Hyponamíru can help — this isn't advice to "buy right now," but a tool to understand the numbers before going to the bank.
Public transport is one of Czechia's strong points, and you probably won't need a personal car early on.
In Prague, a single ticket covers metro, trams, buses and part of the suburban trains within the city limits. For regular travel, a travel pass pays off — in Prague it's convenient to set up via the Lítačka card (you can link a bank card or buy a personal pass for a month/quarter/year). Other cities have their own systems, but the logic is similar: single tickets are more expensive, while a monthly pass pays for itself quickly. It's convenient to pay contactless — this is where a Revolut card or a local bank card comes in handy.
A car really opens up Czechia: castles, Český Krumlov, Karlovy Vary, the mountains. For occasional trips, renting is more cost-effective and simpler than owning. Two convenient services:
| Service | What's convenient about it |
|---|---|
| Localrent | Local rental companies, often cheaper and with a personal touch; convenient for regional trips |
| DiscoverCars | An aggregator with a wide selection and price comparison, transparent insurance at booking |
What to check before renting, whether you need an international driving license, and how not to overpay for insurance — in a separate guide: renting a car in Czechia for road trips.
English is enough in Prague for cafés and IT jobs, but Czech dramatically simplifies life: bureaucracy, doctors, renting, neighbors, and most importantly — it's required for the permanent residency (trvalý pobyt) exam. The sooner you start, the less stress later.
Even an A1–A2 level in the first six months noticeably reduces the number of "I didn't understand what they wanted from me at the counter" situations.
If you want to start with a proven school and not waste time searching, take a look at Kover Center — Czech courses for foreigners with a clear approach and groups for different levels: from scratch to preparing for the permanent residency exam.
Sooner or later you'll need someone you can talk to in a language you understand: a doctor, a migration lawyer, an accountant, a repairman, an auto shop, a document translator. Rather than searching through chats and running into random people, check out our services directory — it has vetted specialists organized by category. This saves time exactly when you have the least of it.
For non-EU citizens — meet the registration deadline with the migration authority (OAMP or foreign police) stated in your visa info sheet. At the same time, sort out your phone (SIM/eSIM), a basic account for payments, and health insurance. Housing and a Czech bank follow once you have an address.
For the first few days, yes, with the help of Revolut or Wise: they offer an IBAN, cards, and convenient conversion. But for salary, rent, utilities and government payments, you'll almost certainly need a local account at a Czech bank, so it's worth opening one within the first few weeks.
Yes. Until you're officially added to the state system through your employer, you'll need commercial insurance. And for applying for and renewing a residence permit, a separate comprehensive insurance policy with specific coverage is usually required — check the requirements for your permit type in advance.
Usually 1–2 months' rent (kauce), and the amount is refundable. Set out the return terms in the contract and document the apartment's condition when you move in. Never transfer a deposit for housing you haven't seen in person.
In the city — usually not: public transport is well developed, and a monthly pass is cost-effective. It's more convenient to rent a car for specific trips outside the city through Localrent or DiscoverCars, without committing to ownership.
For everyday life in Prague, you can get by with English for a long time, but Czech greatly simplifies bureaucracy and healthcare, and it's required for the permanent residency exam. It makes sense to start with A1–A2 in the first few months.
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