Practical Information for Everyday Life

Foreigners Reporting to the Police

EU citizens are required to report to the state police the place of their residence within 30 days after entering the country. We can help you with this and you will be provided with more information during the orientation week.

Visa

EU Countries: If you are an EU citizen then you are not required to obtain a visa for a long-term or short stay in the Czech Republic. However, you must have a valid passport or ID card. We strongly recommend that you bring your passport.

Non-EU Countries: Students from countries outside the EU must usually have a long-stay visa. Please check the current information at your Ministry of Foreign Affairs or use the English version of the Czech Ministry for Foreign Affairs mzv.cz

Health Insurance for Foreigners

We recommend that you arrange your own health insurance before you arrive in the Czech Republic. Otherwise, you will have to obtain insurance at a Czech insurance company. In this case, we will do our best to help you with the insurance process.

Telephone Calls and Emergency Numbers

The country code for the Czech Republic is 00420 or +420.

You should check with your phone operator if you can use your phone in the Czech Republic with access to roaming services. A cheaper alternative is to become a client of our local operator. Prepaid phone cards are perhaps the most efficient option for short-term use. Please check the following websites for more information:

• O₂: o2.cz
• T- Mobile: t-mobile.cz
• Vodafone: vodafone.cz

In the case of an emergency, call one of the following numbers (free, 24-hour service):

• Emergency calls central number: 112
• Emergency ambulance: 155
• Fire: 150
• Police: 158
• Municipal police: 156

Electricity Plugs

Electricity sockets in the Czech Republic usually supply electricity between 220 and 240 volts AC. The sockets are one of the two European standard electrical socket types: “Type C” Europlug and “Type E” and “Type F” Schuko. If the plug for your appliance does not match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to connect your appliance. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance’s plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into.

For more information visit: http://www.adaptelec.com/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&products_id=143

Tipping

There is no general protocol concerning tipping. The waiter will tell you the total sum for your meal or drink and it is up to you if you decide to tip the waiter or not. Most Czechs usually pay the sum with a tip which is rounded up to the next 10 CZK. However, this is not the rule; it always depends on the total sum and how satisfied you are with the service.

Glossary of Basic Czech Words and Phrases