TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction.
2. STAYING IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC.
3. EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS.
4. HEALTH INSURANCE AND HEALTH CARE.
5. SOCIAL SECURITY AND SERVICES FOR FOREIGNERS IN PILSEN..
6. EDUCATION..
7. CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT IN PILSEN..
8. TRANSPORT IN PILSEN..
9. IMPORTANT CONTACTS.

Introduction

The updated electronic Information Handbook for Foreigners in Pilsen is primarily intended for foreigners from third countries who live and work in the city, but, of course, not only for them. The publication offers a basic overview of information about the conditions of residence, employment, business, social security, as well as the education and health care systems in the Czech Republic, in five languages. In addition, it provides information about social services, culture and public transport in Pilsen that will help foreigners living in Pilsen to better understand the key areas of everyday life here. Each chapter is accompanied by a list of web links related to the issue, and there are also specific contacts for the relevant institutions.

Given its scope, the Information Handbook for Foreigners in Pilsen contains essential, but also only basic data. Therefore, if comprehensive information is needed, we recommend contacting the specific authority or non-governmental non-profit organisation, a list of which is provided at the end of each chapter and, in detail, in the chapter Social security and services for foreigners in Pilsen.

If this brochure becomes a popular guide for foreigners integrating into our society, it has fulfilled its purpose.

August 2021

PhDr. Alena Hynková, MBA

Head of the Department of Social Services, Pilsen City Hall

STAYING IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Act No. 326/1999 Coll., on the Residence of Aliens in the Czech Republic, regulates the conditions of entry of foreigners into the Czech Republic and the departure of foreigners from the Czech Republic, and it also stipulates the conditions of foreigners’ stay in the Czech Republic

“Foreigner” means a natural person who is not a national of the Czech Republic, including European Union nationals. The aforementioned act divides foreigners into EU citizens and their family members (including EEA[1] and Swiss citizens) and third-country nationals. The admission conditions for applicants for international protection and residence conditions for asylum holders and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection are regulated by Act No. 325/1999 Coll., on Asylum.

All current information, as well as the Residence of Aliens Act, can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, including the latest amendment to the Act, which applies to the new issuance of documents for citizens of the European Union and to the specification of the group of persons who are considered to be their family members: http://www.mvcr.cz/clanek/sluzby-pro-verejnost-informace-pro-cizince-informace-pro-cizince.aspx

This chapter deals with the issue of residence very briefly – especially in relation to foreigners from third countries. If necessary, please contact Pilsen’s office of the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic or the non-governmental organisations listed in the chapter Social security and services for foreigners in Pilsen.

The Residence of Aliens Act distinguishes two basic types of residence – temporary residence and permanent residence.

1. TEMPORARY RESIDENCE

A foreigner may reside temporarily in the Czech Republic:

• without a visa,
• based on a short-term visa,
• based on a long-term visa (a visa for a stay of over 90 days), a long-term residence permit or a temporary residence permit, or
• based on an exit order.

• Staying without a visa

A foreigner may stay temporarily in the Czech Republic without a visa:

• in cases regulated by European Community legislation – Council Regulation (EC) 539/2001;
• if he/she is a citizen of the European Union;
• if he/she is:

1. in detention or custody or is serving a term of imprisonment;
2. detained in a police cell or alien detention facility;
3. under 15 years of age during hospitalisation provided that he/she has arrived with another foreigner in whose travel document he/she is recorded and that foreigner has left the country;
4. a minor, based on a preliminary measure taken by the competent authority;
5. a holder of a permit to stay in another contracting state and the period of stay in that country does not exceed 3 months;
6. a pupil who is not a national of a Member State of the European Union (EU) but resides in another EU Member State and travels on a school trip within the EU;
7. a family member of an EU citizen who is not an EU citizen, a holder of the residence card of an EU citizen’s family member or a permanent residence card for another EU Member State, and the period of stay in that country does not exceed 3 months;

• if he/she is a family member of an EU citizen whose short-term visa has expired, if he/she stays in the territory with an EU citizen and the period of stay in the territory does not exceed 3 months.

Staying based on a short-term visa

• regulated by European Community legislation
• a short-term visa is issued and recorded in the travel document by the police at the border crossing point
• the foreigner must submit an application for an extension of the period of validity to the police
• an EU citizen’s family member who is not an EU citizen and who intends to accompany the EU citizen in the Czech Republic
• a short-term visa can also be obtained for the purpose of seasonal employment[2]
• if the person holds a long-term residence permit issued by another EU Member State for the purpose of scientific research and if the research period does not exceed 1 year
• if the person holds a long-term residence permit issued by another EU Member State for the purpose of studying within an EU programme and the study period does not exceed 1 year

• Staying based on a long-term visa or a long-term residence permit
• Visa for a stay over 90 days
• the visa is issued by the Czech Ministry of the Interior based on the foreigner’s application; it cannot be issued for the purpose of employment – this does not apply if the foreigner applies for a visa for a stay over 90 days for the purpose of seasonal employment or for an extraordinary work visa
• up to 1 year; the visa for the purpose of seasonal employment is valid for 6 months
• Extraordinary work visa
• in the event of an extraordinary shortage of workers on the labour market in a particular sector or profession, the government may grant an extraordinary work visa (based on an extraordinary event specified in Section 31a (2) (a)–(f))
• it is issued with a period of validity and a period of stay in the territory up to 1 year; the validity cannot be extended
• Visa for a stay over 90 days for the purpose of seasonal employment
• issued by the Czech Ministry of the Interior based on the foreigner’s application
• issued with a maximum validity of 6 months
• Visa for a stay of over 90 days for the purpose of leave to stay in the territory

This visa is issued:

• for a necessary period up to 1 year
• to a foreigner who is prevented from leaving the territory by an obstacle independent of his/her will
• to a foreigner who is a witness or victim in criminal proceedings and whose participation in the proceedings is absolutely necessary
• to a foreigner who, during the period of validity of a non-renewable residence permit, applied for a permanent residence permit in the territory
• to a foreigner who has brought a lawsuit against the Ministry which revoked the visa for a stay over 90 days or for a long-term stay or permanent residence or rejected an application for a visa extension

• Temporary residence in the territory based on diplomatic and special visas
  • a diplomatic or special visa (over 90 days) is issued to a foreigner based on an application
  • it is issued to a foreigner who enjoys special privileges and immunities
  • it is revoked by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Staying based on a long-term residence permit
  • long-term residence permit (Section 42)
  • permit for the purpose of family reunification in the territory (Section 42a)
  • residence permit of another EU Member State (Section 42c)
  • permit for the purpose of study in the territory (Section 42d)
  • permit for the purpose of protection in the territory (Section 42e)
  • permit for the purpose of scientific research (Section 42f)
  • employee card (Section 42g)
  • blue card (Section 42i)
  • intra-company employee transfer card + intra-company employee transfer card issued by another EU state (Section 42k + Section 42m)
  • permit for the purpose of investment (Section 42n)

2. PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

THIRD-COUNTRY FOREIGNERS

• they must meet the condition of 5 years of continuous/temporary residence in the Czech Republic based on a visa for a stay over 90 days or a long-term residence permit
• reasons for not issuing, expiring and revoking a permanent residence permit – Sections 75, 76 and 77 of amendment No. 176/2019 Coll. to the Residence of Aliens Act.

An EU CITIZEN may apply for a permanent residence permit:

• after 5 years of continuous/temporary residence in the Czech Republic
• if, at the time of termination of employment, business or other gainful activity, he/she has reached the age for entitlement to retirement pension and has resided in the territory continuously for at least 3 years
• if he/she has terminated employment, business or other gainful activity due to third-degree disability and has resided in the territory continuously for at least 2 years
• if he/she has been employed, has carried on business activity or pursued other gainful activity in another EU Member State for at least 3 years
• if he/she has been granted asylum or subsidiary protection

An EU CITIZEN’S FAMILY MEMBER may apply for residence:

• after 5 years of continuous/temporary residence in the Czech Republic
• after 2 years of continuous/temporary residence in the Czech Republic if he/she has been for at least 1 year a family member of a Czech national who is registered for permanent residence in the territory or is a family member of a citizen of another EU Member State to whom a permanent residence permit has been issued for the territory
• if he/she is a survivor of a Czech national who is registered for permanent residence in the Czech Republic
• if he/she is a survivor of a citizen of another EU Member State who has resided in the territory for the purpose of employment, business or other gainful activity

When applying for a long-term and permanent residence permit, the foreigner is usually obliged to submit the following documents:

• travel document
• photographs
• a document confirming the purpose of the stay in the territory (for example, a work permit, a trade licence, a document of study, a document confirming a family relationship, etc.) or a document confirming that the condition of continuous temporary residence has been met
• proof of accommodation during the stay in the Czech Republic
• a document confirming the funds to stay in the Czech Republic
• a document similar to a statement of criminal records
• consent of parents or, as the case may be, other legal representatives or guardians to the permanent residence of the child in the territory
• proof of health insurance
• in the case of an application for permanent residence, you usually need to submit a document proving the required knowledge of the Czech language

The residence permit is a public instrument. The permanent residence permit card is issued for a period of validity of 10 years. The card can be (repeatedly) renewed for 10 years.

A foreigner is required to report a change of surname and marital status, as well as any change in the data in the travel document and the data in the document issued for the stay in the Czech Republic. In the case of a visa-free stay or a stay based on a short-term visa, the foreigner must report any changes to the aliens’ registration office; in the case of a long-term visa or long-term or permanent residence, any changes must be reported to the relevant office of the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.

CONTACT

DEPARTMENT OF ASYLUM AND MIGRATION POLICY OF THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Department for Aliens’ Residence – Pilsen Region

Pilsen Office

areas: districts of Pilsen-City, Pilsen-South, Pilsen-North, Tachov, Rokycany, Klatovy and Domažlice

Jagellonská 1017/9, 301 00 Pilsen

Telephone: 974 801 801 (information and appointment line)

Mon–Thu: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fri: 8:00–12:00 a.m.

Office hours: Mon, Wed: 8:00–12:00 a.m. and 12:30–5:00 p.m.
Tue, Thu: 8:00–12:00 a.m.
Fri: only at the invitation of the administrative authority
Make an appointment online
A ticket with a serial number can be collected no later than 30 minutes before the end of office hours.

LINKS

• www.mvcr.cz (CZ, EN)
• official website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic
• basic information for foreigners in the Czech Republic, information about delivery of official letters for foreigners, forms to download, etc.

• mzv.cz (CZ, EN)
• official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
• visa information, a list of embassies of the Czech Republic abroad and of foreign embassies in the Czech Republic

• https://frs.gov.cz/cs/ioff/application-status
• application status search

EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS

Foreigners may engage in gainful activity in the Czech Republic as employees on an employment basis or as entrepreneurs.

1. EMPLOYMENT

The conditions for employing foreigners in the Czech Republic are laid down in particular in Act No. 435/2004 Coll., on Employment; labour relations (relations between employees and employers) are regulated in particular in the Labour Code (Act No. 262/2006 Coll.).

A third-country national may only be employed in the Czech Republic if:

• he/she holds a valid employee card, intra-company employee transfer card or blue card (special types of long-term residence entitling the foreigner to both stay and work in the territory) or

• he/she has a valid work permit and a valid residence permit for the Czech Republic issued for the purpose of employment – exceptions to this rule are regulated by Section 98 of the Employment Act

Foreigners with permanent residence in the Czech Republic, as well as EU, EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members, do not need a work permit to work in the Czech Republic.

Employee card

• issued by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic
• the concept of “unreliable employer” newly introduced
• strengthening the relationship between a foreigner and an employer (confirmation of starting a job – a necessary condition for issuing an employee card; limiting the possibility of changing employers; it is not possible to replace an employer with a recruitment agency)
• pursuant to Act No. 326/1999 Coll., on the Residence of Aliens in the Czech Republic, change is not possible until after at least 6 months have passed from the issuance of the original employee card, except in cases where employment is terminated due to immediate termination of employment or termination during probation, both by the employer, or based on dismissal by the employer due to redundancy, termination of activity or the health incapacity of the employee to continue to perform work
• the application must be submitted no later than 30 days before such change

A work permit is issued:

• if the foreigner is sent to the Czech Republic on the basis of a contract concluded with a foreign employer for the purpose of fulfilling the tasks arising from that contract
• if the foreigner will be a seasonal employee employed for an activity dependent on the season of the year
• in the case of fulfilling tasks arising from the subject of activity of a legal entity where such tasks are performed by a shareholder or the statutory body of a business corporation
• in the case of short-term employment for 3 months
• pursuant to Act No. 326/1999 Coll., on the Residence of Aliens in the Czech Republic, change is not possible until after at least 6 months have passed from the issuance of the original employee card, except in cases where employment is terminated due to immediate termination of employment or termination during probation, both by the employer, or based on dismissal by the employer due to redundancy, termination of activity or the health incapacity of the employee to continue to perform work
• the application must be submitted no later than 30 days before such change

• The application for a work permit must be submitted in writing to the relevant Labour Office of the Czech Republic depending on the place of work.
• The work permit is non-transferable and is only valid for employment with the employer specified in the decision (if the foreigner is employed by multiple employers in the Czech Republic, he/she must have a work permit for each job separately).
• The work permit is issued for a definite period of time.
• The application for a work permit is subject to an administrative fee of CZK 500.

Labour relations

• employment is established by an employment contract
• employment based on an employment contract is the most typical and most frequent labour relationship in the Czech Republic

The employment contract must be concluded in writing in two copies (for the employee and the employer) and should contain the following elements:

• type of work
• place of work
• work commencement date

Other specifications are not mandatory in the employment contract. However, the employee MUST be informed of such specifications in writing by the employer. These are:

• remuneration (gross wage) – the statutory minimum wage for 40-hour weekly working time is currently set at CZK 90.50 per hour or CZK 15,200 per month
• probationary period, if any
• working time – under the law, not exceeding 40 hours per week, in two-shift mode not exceeding 38.75 hours per week and in multi-shift or continuous operations not exceeding 37.5 hours per week
• leave – under the law, the employee is entitled to at least 4 weeks of annual leave

Employment may be terminated:

• by agreement between the employee and the employer on termination of employment
• by notice (by the employee or employer, where the employer may only give notice in the cases explicitly stipulated by the Labour Code),[3] terminating the employment upon expiry of the notice period, which is at least 2 months
• upon immediate cancellation (by both the employee and the employer, but only in some cases – for example, risk to the employee’s health, the employer’s failure to pay the salary, gross breach of the employee’s obligations, etc.)
• upon cancellation during the probationary period (without giving reason – both by the employee and the employer)
• upon expiry of the period of employment if the employment contract was concluded for a definite period of time
• upon expiry of validity of the work or residence permit

PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYEES:

• ALWAYS have the employment contract with you in writing – if possible!
• If you perform work elsewhere than specified in the employment contract, have a written order for the business trip with you.
• Comply with the provisions of the employment contract.
• Watch your hours worked (or copy the records of your hours worked) to be able to prove how many hours you have worked if the employer fails to pay your wages.
• In the event of any dispute with the employer, perform acts in writing or in the presence of a third party (to have a witness).
• In the event of breach of work discipline, written warning from the employer is necessary (if it is not in writing, the breach cannot be viewed as termination of employment). If, in your opinion, you have not committed anything of this kind, immediately respond to the warning in writing.
• Before signing any document, read it carefully. If you do not understand the document, contact the Regional Labour Inspectorate or any organisation working with foreigners, presenting the whole text of the document. DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING unless you thoroughly understand it!
• If you are not paid your wages within the set period of time, you must be present for work. After the statutory period has elapsed, wages may be recovered through a court.
• Be careful: the agreement to complete a job (earnings over CZK 10,000) and agreement to perform work (earnings over CZK 2,500) establish the obligation to pay social and health insurance. If social security is not deducted from the remuneration, the employee will not be entitled to unemployment benefits in the future.
• Termination of employment must always be in writing.
• The notice period for employment is 2 months, commencing on the first day of the month following the day on which the written notice was given; for agreements, this period is 14 days, commencing on the day following the day on which the notice was given.
• Be careful: termination by agreement is not always to the benefit of the employee.
• After termination of employment, the employee is entitled to payment of outstanding wages, in some cases also to severance pay and to a certificate of employment.
• In the case of business trips, the employee is entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses and to subsistence allowance.
• In the event of an accident at work, the employee must ask the employer to write a written record of the accident at work and request a copy.
• The probationary period is 3 months (but not exceeding half of the period for which the employment contract is concluded – for example, if the employment contract is concluded for 4 months, the probationary period is 2 months). Employment may be terminated during the probationary period without giving reason, but the other party must be informed in advance. The probationary period is extended by the time of all-day obstacles to work (illness, leave, etc.).

Employment through recruitment agencies

Recruitment agencies must be authorised by the Directorate-General of the Labour Office of the Czech Republic to employ natural persons as regular employees or to mediate their employees in the form of temporary assignment to work with another legal entity or natural person (user).

Under Section 309 of Act No. 262/2006 Coll., the Labour Code:

• During the assignment of an employee to the user, the recruitment agency assigns tasks to the employee, and organises, manages and controls his/her work.
• An employee is assigned on the basis of a written contract (which includes: name and registered office of the user; place of work; duration of the temporary assignment; date of commencement of work; appointment of a manager authorised to assign work to the employee and to check it; the conditions of a unilateral declaration of termination of employment before the end of the assignment period; information about working and wage conditions),
• The temporary assignment ends upon expiry of the agreed assignment period; before the expiry of this period, the contract may be terminated by agreement between the recruitment agency and the assigned employee.
• The recruitment agency and the user are obliged to ensure that the employment and wage conditions of the temporarily assigned employee are not worse than those of regular employees – the temporarily assigned employee has the right to claim satisfaction of his/her rights from the recruitment agency.

In addition to employment, it is also possible to work under non-employment agreements to a lesser extent in the Czech Republic (for example, temporary work).

There are two types of such agreement in the Czech Republic:

• Agreement to perform work (dohoda o pracovní činnosti – DPČ)
• based on an agreement to perform work, work can be performed to an extent not exceeding, on average, half of the set weekly working time, i.e. 20 hours
• an agreement to perform work is not subject to the provisions on transfer to another job, temporary assignment, severance pay, working time and rest time, obstacles to work on the part of the employee, termination of employment, leave and travel allowance
• the regulations on parental and maternity leave must always be observed
• if the method of terminating an agreement to perform work is not agreed, it may be terminated by agreement between the parties as of the agreed date; it may be terminated unilaterally for any reason or without giving reason with a notice period of 15 days
• an agreement to perform work is subject to payment of social security and health insurance premiums

• Agreement to complete a job (dohoda o provedení práce – DPP)
• it is possible to conclude several agreements to complete a job during the year, but their total extent for one employer must not exceed 300 hours per year
• social security and health insurance are paid for agreements to complete a job over CZK 10,000 per month
• persons working under an agreement to complete a job with remuneration exceeding CZK 10,000 per month must participate in sickness insurance (in case of illness, they are entitled to sickness benefit and, if certain conditions have been met, maternity benefit; they are not entitled to nursing allowance and compensatory allowance during maternity and pregnancy, as in the case of an agreement to perform work)

Agreements must be drawn up in writing and must contain the following elements:

• period of time for which the agreement is entered into (definite/indefinite period)
• subject of the agreement – agreed work task or work to be performed
• scope of work – definition of the work task in hours
• remuneration, which may not be lower than the minimum wage

The Labour Code lays down the principle of equal treatment of all employees by employers – both direct and indirect forms of discrimination in labour relations on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, language, faith, religion and political or other beliefs are prohibited.

If you believe that your rights under the principle of equal treatment or legal obligations of your employer are being violated, contact the Regional Labour Inspectorate for the Pilsen Region and the Karlovy Vary Region based in Pilsen or one of the non-profit organisations listed in the chapter Social security / Services for foreigners in Pilsen.

CONTACTS

LABOUR OFFICE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Regional branch in Pilsen

Kaplířova 2731/7, 305 88 Pilsen

Telephone: 950 148 111

Call centre: 800 779 900

Email: podatelna.pm@uradprace.cz

REGIONAL LABOUR INSPECTORATE FOR THE PILSEN REGION AND THE KARLOVY VARY REGION BASED IN PILSEN

Schwarzova 27, 301 00 Pilsen

Telephone: 950 179 611

Email: plzen@suip.cz

LINKS

• www.mpsv.cz/web/cz/pruvodce-pro-cizince-prace-v-cr (CZ, EN)
• unified portal solution of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic

• www.pracevceskerepublice.cz (CZ, EN, RU)
• interactive map – a guide to the labour market in the Czech Republic

• www.suip.cz (CZ, EN, PL, UA, BG, D, RO, VN)
• official website of the State Labour Inspection Office
• information about labour legislation in the Czech Republic, directory of regional inspectorates

• www.mvcr.cz/clanek/zamestnanecka-karta.aspx (CZ, EN)
• website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic – employee card

• www.sprace.cz (CZ)
• job search

• www.jobs.cz (CZ, EN)
• job search

2. BUSINESS

In the Czech Republic, you can carry on business activity as:

1. A) a self-employed person (natural person)

• you carry on business activity on your own responsibility based on your trade and you are liable for your business debts with your entire property
• trade-based business in the Czech Republic is regulated by Act No. 455/1991 Coll., on Trades
• there are 2 types of trade:
• notifiable
• the right to carry on a trade is established in most cases by notifying a trade to the trade licensing office and is certified by issuing an extract from the Trade Register
• unqualified, vocational and professional trades
• licence-based
• the right to carry on business activity is established by granting a licence and is certified by issuing an extract from the Trade Register
• they require specialised professional qualifications

Foreigners who want to carry on business activity in the Czech Republic must meet the following conditions:

• reaching the age of 18 years
• legal capacity
• clear criminal record (evidenced by a statement of criminal records from the country of origin)

In addition, they must submit to the trade licensing office:

• a valid document on residence permit in the Czech Republic
• proof of registered office
• if necessary, evidence of professional competence[4]

The notification or application for a licence may be submitted in person at any trade licensing office or via the CzechPOINT service, regardless of the place of residence.

Do not forget about the obligations arising from business:

• notify the trade licensing office of any changes and amendments to the data and documents laid down for the notification of a trade and submit the relevant documents within 15 days of such changes and amendments
• register for tax payment at the tax office within 30 days of commencing the business activity
• register for participation in the pension and, as the case may be, sickness insurance at the relevant District Social Security Administration
• within 8 days of commencing or ending the business activity, report this fact to the health insurance company
• if necessary, specify your registered office for business[5]

1. B) a legal entity

• for example, a cooperative or a company (for example, a limited liability company or a joint stock company)
• the legislation concerning companies is contained in Act No. 90/2012 Coll., on business corporations

The right of a legal entity to carry on business activity in the Czech Republic is established as of the date of registration of such an entity or, as the case may be, its organisational unit in the public register (Act No. 304/2013 Coll.) 

CONTACTS

PILSEN CITY HALL

Trade Licensing Office

Tylova 36, 306 32 Pilsen

Telephone: 378 034 801

PILSEN REGIONAL COURT

Commercial Register

Veleslavínova 40, 306 17 Pilsen

Telephone: 377 868 888

LINKS

• www.mpo.cz (CZ, EN)
• official website of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Czech Republic

• www.mpo.cz/cz/podnikani/zivnostenske-podnikani (CZ, EN)
• information about trade-based business in the Czech Republic

• www.rzp.cz (CZ)
• search for business entities in the public part of the Trade Register

HEALTH INSURANCE AND HEALTH CARE

In the Czech Republic, health care is fully or partially reimbursed on the basis of health insurance. If you do not have health insurance, you must pay for health care. There are two basic types of insurance within the Czech health insurance system:

1. PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE

In the Czech Republic, health care services are provided mainly on the basis of compulsory public health insurance. If the employee is employed, the employer pays 13.5% of the assessment base to the health insurance company (of which 1/3 is paid by the employee and 2/3 by the employer). In some cases, this insurance is paid by the state (for example, for dependent children, pensioners, etc.).

The public health insurance system in the Czech Republic is based on three parties:

• the insured (person who uses health services)
• health care provider
• health insurance company

Pursuant to the Public Health Insurance Act (No. 48/1997 Coll.), the following persons are insured:

• foreigners with permanent residence in the Czech Republic
• foreigners without permanent residence in the Czech Republic who are employed by an employer based in the Czech Republic
• EU persons carrying on business activity in the Czech Republic
• family members of EU insured persons pursuing gainful activity in the Czech Republic
• applicants for international protection and foreigners granted asylum or subsidiary protection and their children born in the Czech Republic
• foreigners with a long-term visa or long-term stay for the purpose of leave to stay in the Czech Republic – in specific determined cases

Persons covered by health insurance are entitled to a health insurance card if they meet the set conditions. The card is used to prove their entitlement to health care paid for by a Czech health insurance company.

The scope of care paid for by the insurance company depends on the type of card issued. More information on this issue can be found on the websites of health insurance companies.

Rights and obligations of a public health insurance participant

Participants’ rights:

• to choose a health insurance company – the health insurance company may be changed once every 12 months (as of the 1st day of the calendar half-year – the insured or his/her legal representative must submit an application to the selected health insurance company no later than 3 months before the required date for change)
• to choose a health care provider (doctor and health care facility) that has a contractual relationship with the relevant insurance company – this right may be exercised by the insured once every 3 months
• to temporal and local availability of the reimbursed services provided by the contractual providers of the relevant health insurance company
• to be provided with the reimbursed services to the extent and under the conditions stipulated by the law – the provider may not accept any reimbursement from the insured for such reimbursed services
• to medicinal products – without direct payment in accordance with the law
• to be provided with information from the health insurance company
• to participate in the control of provided health care covered by health insurance
• to be issued a proof of payment of the regulatory fee – issued by the provider upon the insured person’s request
• to be issued a proof of payment of the supplementary charge
• to be paid the amount exceeding the limit for regulatory fees

Participants’ obligations:

• to comply with the notification obligation – to report commencement or termination of self-employment; to report that the participant has become a person without taxable income, etc.
• on the day of commencement of employment, to inform their employer of the health insurance company with which the participant is insured and, if relevant, inform the employer of a change of health insurance company during employment
• to pay the insurance premium to the relevant health insurance company if laid down by the law; failure to pay premiums in the specified amount and in time establishes a debt that the health insurance company will recover – including a penalty
• to undergo preventive examinations upon request
• to follow measures to avert disease
• to avoid behaviour that leads to harm to one’s own health
• to produce a valid health insurance card or a substitute document issued by the relevant health insurance company when provided with health care
• to notify the relevant health insurance company of the loss of or damage to the health insurance card within 8 days
• to return the health insurance card to the relevant health insurance company within 8 days in the event of expiry of the health insurance policy, change of health insurance company or a long-term stay abroad
• to notify the relevant health insurance company of a change of name, surname, permanent address or birth certificate number within 30 days of such change
• to pay regulatory fees to the health care facility

If the public insurance system is not available to you, you are required to take out commercial health insurance.

2. COMMERCIAL HEALTH INSURANCE

If a foreigner is not covered by the Czech public health insurance system, such a person must take out commercial health insurance for his/her stay in the Czech Republic.

The insurance must cover all costs that might be incurred during the foreigner’s stay in connection with emergency medical care, emergency hospital care or death and repatriation to the home country.

The following types of insurance may be currently arranged:

1. insurance of necessary and urgent care
2. comprehensive health insurance

1. Insurance of necessary and urgent care

Insurance of necessary and urgent care is intended especially for foreigners who plan to stay in the Czech Republic for fewer than 90 days and apply for a short-term visa. The maximum period for which this insurance can be arranged is 2 years. Compared to comprehensive health insurance, it is much more attractive from a financial point of view, but on the other hand, as the insured, you have to take into account that you will be reimbursed only the costs associated with urgent and outpatient care, as implied by its name. You must pay for regular preventive examinations from your own resources.

2. Comprehensive health insurance

Comprehensive health insurance is intended especially for persons staying in the Czech Republic for more than 90 days who apply for long-term residence or permanent residence. As part of comprehensive health insurance, health care provided to the insured in the insurer’s contractual medical facilities is reimbursed without direct payment of the costs of treatment by the insured in order to maintain his/her state of health prior to the conclusion of the insurance contract, i.e. both outpatient care and preventive health care, as well as health care related to pregnancy and childbirth. In this case, the statutory minimum amount of insurance benefit is EUR 60,000 per insured event.

Health insurance companies

• Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna ČR (VZP ČR) https://www.vzp.cz/
• Vojenská zdravotní pojišťovna ČR (VoZP ČR) https://www.vozp.cz/
• Česká průmyslová zdravotní pojišťovna (ČPZP) https://www.cpzp.cz
• Oborová zdravotní pojišťovna zaměstnanců bank, pojišťoven a stavebnictví (OZP) https://www.ozp.cz/
• Zaměstnanecká pojišťovna Škoda (ZPŠ) https://www.zpskoda.cz/
• Zdravotní pojišťovna ministerstva vnitra ČR (ZPMV ČR) https://www.zpmvcr.cz/
• Revírní bratrská pokladna, zdravotní pojišťovna (RBP) https://www.rbp213.cz/cs/

Insurance companies are not obliged to conclude a contract for commercial health insurance with a foreigner.

If your life or health is seriously endangered, you will be treated in any health care facility even if you are not insured. However, you will be obliged to pay for the health care provided from your own resources.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

There are both state and non-state health care facilities in the Czech Republic. Almost all of these facilities have concluded a contract for the provision and reimbursement of health care with an insurance company and provide health care to patients insured with the relevant health insurance company without direct payment.

In the event of illness, a patient should usually first contact primary care doctors who work in his/her area of ​​residence. These are general practitioners for adults, general practitioners for children and adolescents, dentists and general gynaecologists. A patient may go to an expert specialist without recommendation from a primary care doctor in the Czech Republic.

For all primary care doctors, a patient must first register, which is only possible with doctors who have concluded a contract for the provision of health care with an insurance company with which the foreigner is insured. Upon registration, the doctor becomes obliged to provide the registered patient with systematic care, i.e. to provide basic care (including the visiting service) and, if necessary, to ensure special care by specialist doctors or hospitals.

A doctor may refuse to register a patient in cases where the registration would entail such workload that would prevent the doctor from taking good care of other patients or if prevented by operational or staffing reasons. The reasons for refusing to register a patient for care are assessed by the doctor, and the doctor issues a written report on the reasons for a refusal to the patient.

CONTACTS

EUC Klinika s.r.o. – POLIKLINIKA DENISOVO NÁBŘEŽÍ

Denisovo nábřeží 4, 305 94 Pilsen

First aid medical service:

• General care:

Telephone: 378 218 300, 378 218 111

(Mon–Fri 6:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. / Sat, Sun, holidays 6:00–6:00 a.m.)

• Pharmacy care:

Telephone: 378 218 126

(Mon–Fri 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)

• Dental care:

Telephone: 378 218 467

(Mon–Fri 6:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. / Sat, Sun, holidays 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)

MĚSTSKÁ POLIKLINIKA PLZEŇ, SPOL. S R.O.

Francouzská tř. 4, 326 00 Pilsen

Telephone: 378 014 111

First aid medical service:

• General care:

Telephone: 377 243 000, 378 014 310

(Mon–Fri 6:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. / Sat, Sun, holidays 6:00–6:00 a.m.)

• Pharmacy care:

Telephone: 377 240 788

NEMOCNICE U SV. JIŘÍ

Staniční 1126/74, 301 00 Pilsen

Telephone: 377 266 647

First aid medical service for children and adolescents:

Telephone: 377 262 970, 377 263 965, 377 266 647

(Mon–Fri 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. / Sat, Sun, holidays non-stop)

PILSENSKÁ LÉKÁRNA, K. S. – LIPOVÁ LÉKÁRNA

alej Svobody 60, 323 18 Pilsen

Telephone: 377 441 401

First aid pharmacy service:

Telephone: 377 533 259

Devětsil JST, s.r.o., Lékárna DEVĚTSIL (at Poliklinika Slovany)

Francouzská třída 2079/2, 32600 Pilsen

First aid pharmacy service:

Telephone: 377 240 788

FAKULTNÍ NEMOCNICE PLZEŇ-LOCHOTÍN (PILSEN-LOCHOTÍN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL)

alej Svobody 80, 304 60 Pilsen

Telephone: 377 103 111

https://www.fnplzen.cz/node/916

LINKS

• http://www.plzensky-kraj.cz/cs/clanek/pohotovostni-sluzby

• www.mzcr.cz (CZ, EN, D, VN, E, RU, F)
• official website of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic
• information for patients, directory of health care facilities

• www.mvcr.cz (CZ)
• official website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic
• information about foreigners
• www.mzv.cz (CZ, EN)
• official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

• www.mpsv.cz (CZ, EN)
• official website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic

• www.szpcr.cz (CZ)
• official website of the Association of Health Insurance Companies of the Czech Republic
• information about foreigners

SOCIAL SECURITY AND SERVICES FOR FOREIGNERS IN PILSEN

The social security system in the Czech Republic is based on three pillars:

1. SOCIAL INSURANCE

The social insurance system includes sickness insurance and basic compulsory pension insurance.

• Sickness insurance

Social security includes sickness insurance, which is regulated by Act No. 187/2006 Coll., on Sickness Insurance. Sickness insurance is intended for gainfully employed persons and its purpose is to secure these persons with cash benefits at a time when they lose their income from gainful activity due to a short-term social event (temporary incapacity for work, maternity, etc.). Sickness insurance of self-employed persons is voluntary. There are 6 benefits provided from sickness insurance of employees and 4 benefits provided from sickness insurance of self-employed persons (excluding nursing allowance and compensatory allowance):

• Sickness benefit – an employee participating in sickness insurance who has been recognised by a doctor as being temporarily unable to work or who is unable to work due to a quarantine order is entitled to sickness benefit.
• Nursing allowance – an employee who is unable to work because he/she has to nurse or take care of a child under 10 years of age or, as the case may be, has to nurse another member of the household and has a common household with the nursed person is entitled to nursing allowance.
• Maternity benefit – a female employee who participated in sickness insurance for at least 270 days in the last two years prior to the commencement of maternity benefit is entitled to maternity benefit.
• Compensatory allowance during pregnancy and maternity – a female employee who has been transferred to another job due to pregnancy, maternity or breastfeeding and whose earnings have been reduced due to such transfer is entitled to compensatory allowance during pregnancy and maternity.
• Paternity benefit – the father of a child or the insured who has accepted a child into care replacing the care of the child’s parents based on the decision of the competent authority is entitled to sickness insurance benefit provided for 7 days in connection with the care of a new-born child. The child’s father must be registered in the child’s birth certificate. The parents do not have to be married.
• Long-term nursing allowance – a new benefit provided since 1 June 2018 which allows people to stay at home to take care of a family member if the treating doctor of the health care facility providing in-patient care (usually a hospital) decides that the child’s medical condition requires full-day home care after being released from hospital. A long-term nursing allowance also provides room for a possible subsequent decision by the family on how to take care of their family members if they can be expected to continue to require care. One option would be to apply for care benefit under the Social Services Act.
• The amount of sickness benefit depends on the amount of income.

• Pension insurance

Pursuant to Act No. 155/1995 Coll., on Pension Insurance, old-age, disability, widow’s, widower’s and orphan’s pensions are provided from the basic pension insurance.

In order to qualify for a pension payment, it is generally necessary to meet the condition of the required insurance period; for the old-age pension, the condition of reaching the retirement age must also be met.

The relatively long period of insurance required to qualify for the Czech pension (especially the retirement pension) is often the reason why a foreigner does not meet the conditions for entitlement during his/her active life in the Czech Republic. The situation is partially solved by international bilateral agreements between the Czech Republic and other states – under these agreements, in order to meet the required insurance period, the contracting states also take into account the period completed in the other state. If the total period meets the necessary insurance period, the pension is granted in the amount corresponding to the ratio of the periods completed in each of them.

The application for any type of pension is submitted to the District Social Security Administration; its staff will also provide you with more detailed information about the individual types of pensions.

CONTACT

PILSEN-CITY DISTRICT SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

Americká 28-30, 303 18 Pilsen

Telephone: 377 486 111

Electronic filing office’s email: posta.pm@cssz.cz

2. STATE SOCIAL SUPPORT

The state social support system is regulated by Act No. 117/1995 Coll., on State Social Support. The following social benefits are provided under this Act:

• Income-dependent benefits:
• Child allowance – basic long-term benefit provided to families with children (it is provided in three levels depending on the age of the child and in two assessments depending on the type of income).
• Housing allowance – benefit intended to cover housing costs incurred by low-income families and individuals.
• Childbirth allowance – a one-off benefit the entitlement to which arises on the day a child is born or upon taking a child up to 1 year of age into permanent care replacing the care of his/her parents, based on the decision of a competent authority, i.e. a court decision to commit a child to the care provided by a person other than his/her parent, on the adoption of a child or on handing over a child to the adopter for pre-adoption care. The amount of childbirth allowance is CZK 13,000 for the first child and CZK 10,000 for the second child.

• Income-independent benefits
• Parental allowance – a parent who personally and properly cares for the child that is the youngest in the family, twenty-four hours a day throughout the calendar month, is entitled to parental allowance up to 4 years of age of that child, for a period of time not exceeding the moment when the parent has been paid a total amount of CZK 300,000 in parental allowance for caring for that child, unless specified otherwise. If the youngest child in the family is 2 or more children born at the same time, the parent is entitled to 1.5 times the amount of CZK 300,000.
• Funeral allowance – a person who has arranged a funeral for a dependent child or a person who was a parent of a dependent child is entitled to funeral allowance, provided that the deceased person was permanently resident in the Czech Republic on the date of death; the amount of funeral allowance is set at CZK 5,000.

3. ASSISTANCE IN MATERIAL NEED

The system of assistance in material need is regulated by Act No. 111/2006 Coll., on Assistance in Material Need. The following benefits are provided for assistance in material need:

• Subsistence allowance – basic benefit of assistance in material need which addresses the insufficient income of the person or persons assessed jointly.
• Housing supplement – for a person or family whose own incomes are not sufficient to cover housing costs (including the housing allowance).
• Extraordinary immediate assistance – is provided as assistance in severe and exceptional situations where assistance needs to be provided immediately.

CONTACT

LABOUR OFFICE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC – PILSEN REGIONAL BRANCH

Kaplířova 2731/7, 320 73 Pilsen 1

Telephone: 950 148 111

Email: podatelna.pm@uradprace.cz

LINKS

• www.mpsv.cz (CZ, EN)
• official website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic
• information about state social support benefits and benefits in material need

• www.cssz.cz (CZ, EN, D, F)
• official website of the Czech Social Security Administration
• information about pension insurance and sickness insurance, including directory of branches

SERVICES FOR FOREIGNERS

Social services are governed by Act No. 108/2006 Coll., on Social Services, which regulates the conditions of providing assistance and support to people in an unfavourable social situation through social services and care allowance.

In the Czech Republic, social services are often provided by non-governmental non-profit organisations. Services are usually provided free of charge to clients and are based on the following principles:

• individual approach and respect for the client’s needs
• client support by the service provider
• equal approach regardless of origin, age, disability, etc.
• compulsory confidentiality on the part of the service provider

A list of all organisations providing services to foreigners can be found on the website of Pilsen City Hall’s Department of Social Services:

socialnisluzby.plzen.eu/katalog-sluzeb/?sk=9&co=vse&dr=vse

CONTACT

Martinská 2 (1st floor), 306 32 Pilsen

Telephone: 378 033 351

http://socialnisluzby.plzen.eu

In Pilsen, free services to foreigners are provided by the following organisations:

• Advisory Centre for Foreigners of the Pilsen Diocesan Charity

Target group

• immigrants and asylum seekers – foreigners and refugees, family members of foreigners and refugees, Czech citizens with links to foreigners

Services provided

• social advice – information and advice on life in the Czech Republic (issues connected with residence permits, international protection, Czech citizenship, employment, housing, education, social security, health care, etc.)
• legal advice and assistance with writing appeals, court submissions, etc.
• assistance in dealing with administrative matters (filling in forms, writing a CV, understanding documents, etc.)
• accompaniment and assistance in dealing with authorities and other institutions
• community interpreting in several languages
• Czech language courses
• PC reading room with free internet access
• mediation of material assistance (in justified cases)
• educational and integration activities
• registered social service

All services are provided free of charge.

Contact

Address: Cukrovarská 16, 301 00 Pilsen

Jagellonská 9, 301 00 Pilsen, Department for Aliens’ Residence, Department of Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic in Pilsen

Telephone: 731 433 060, 731 433 027, 731 591 883, 731 433 008, 731 433 023, 731 433 096

Email: poradna@dchp.charita.cz

www.dchp.cz

• Foreigner Integration Support Centre – Pilsen Region

Target group

• foreigners legally residing in the Czech Republic for a long period of time based on the Residence of Aliens Act, holders of international protection (asylum, additional protection) and persons who do not belong to the above g roups and demonstrably have similar integration needs as the above groups

Services provided

• basic and professional social advice – both in the centre and in the field
• legal advice
• Czech language courses
• socio-cultural courses
• internet workplace and library for foreigners
• educational cultural and sports events for foreigners and the general public

Contact

Address: Americká 39, 301 00 Pilsen

Telephone: 725 874 975/6, 377 223 157

Email: icplzen@suz.cz

www.integracnicentra.cz

• Organizace pro pomoc uprchlíkům, z.s. (refugee assistance organisation)

Target group

• foreigners from countries outside the EU with all types of stays in the Czech Republic and their family members
• EU foreigners in a difficult life situation

Services provided
• free social and legal advice

• advice to international protection seekers
• return advice
• job coaching
• Czech language courses
• retraining and language courses
• assistance in verifying evidence of education from the country of origin
• assistance in finding a specific job
• assistance in dealing with employers
• assistance in dealing with authorities
• assistance in dealing with recruitment agencies
• individual assistance with housing
• seminars and lectures

All services offered by the Pilsen branch of the organisation are provided free of charge.

Contact

Address: sady Pětatřicátníků 33, 301 00 Pilsen

Telephone: +420604809165

Email: opu.plzen@opu.cz

www.opu.cz

Terrain for endangered persons Diaconia Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren (Diakonie ČCE) – West Bohemia Centre

Target group

• immigrants and asylum seekers; victims of human trafficking; persons commercially abused and victims of crime.

Services provided

• employment law and social advice on issues concerning employment and foreigners (unpaid wages, withheld wages, withholding of documents, forced labour, etc.),
• escorts in negotiations with institutions (Department of Asylum and Migration Policy, Foreign Police, District Social Security Administration, Labour Office, Labour Inspectorate, doctor, health insurance companies, etc.),
• escorts in negotiations with employers,
• preparing documents for a lawsuit, an instigation to the Labour Inspectorate,
• preparing documents for a visa application, temporary and permanent residence,
• preparing documents for state social support benefits, material need benefits, sickness benefits, etc.,
• resolving the situation if documents are lost or their deadline expires,
• interpreting: Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian and English.

All the services are provided free of charge.

Contact

Address: Resslova 12, 301 00 Pilsen

Telephone: 737 651 641 (SOS mobile)

E-mail: teren@diakoniezapad.cz

www.diakoniezapad.cz

LINKS

• socialnisluzby.plzen.eu (CZ)
• official website of Pilsen City Hall’s Department of Social Services
• a list of organisations providing social services for foreigners in the City of Pilsen

• www.czech.cz/en/Home-en (CZ, EN, F, D, E, RU)
• official website of the Czech Republic
• basic information about culture, study, employment and business in the Czech Republic

• ekskurzy.cz (CZ)
• official website of Evropská kulturní skupina, z. s. (educational and advisory organisation)

EDUCATION

The basic legal regulations governing education in the Czech Republic are Act No. 561/2004 Coll., on Preschool, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Professional and other Education (Education Act) and Act No. 111/1998 Coll., on Higher Education Institutions.

PRESCHOOL EDUCATION

(3–6 years)

The nursery school provides preschool education to children usually aged 3–6 years. Education up to 5 years of age is not compulsory. Preschool education is compulsory from the beginning of the school year following the day on which the child reaches the fifth year of age until the child begins compulsory education.

Compulsory preschool education also applies to citizens of another Member State of the European Union who stay in the territory of the Czech Republic for more than 90 days. Furthermore, compulsory preschool education applies to other foreigners who are entitled to stay in the Czech Republic permanently or temporarily for more than 90 days, as well as to parties to proceedings for granting international protection.

Enrolment for preschool education takes place from 2 May to 16 May (the date and place of enrolment are set by the principal of the nursery school). The child may also be admitted to preschool education during the school year.

Payments in nursery schools

Nursery education is subject to a charge (for children up to 5 years of age). During compulsory education (the last school year in the nursery school), it is free of charge.

Boarding is subject to charge for the entire period of preschool education.

In addition, there are children’s groups and other private entities where children under the age of three can usually be enrolled. These services are paid.

PRIMARY EDUCATION

(6–15 years)

Education is compulsory for nine school years. Pupils are educated together in primary schools organised in two stages (1st–5th grade and 6th–9th grade). After finishing the first stage of the school, it is possible to continue at the second stage of the primary school or at multi-year grammar schools.

Compulsory education also applies to citizens of another Member State of the European Union who stay in the Czech Republic for more than 90 days. Furthermore, compulsory education applies to other foreigners who are entitled to stay in the Czech Republic permanently or temporarily for more than 90 days, as well as to parties to proceedings for granting international protection.

The legal representative is obliged to register a child who has reached the age of six by 31 August of the given year for enrolment for compulsory education from 1 April to 30 April of the calendar year. The date and place of enrolment are set by the principal of the school.

The legal representative is obliged to enrol the pupil for compulsory education within 90 days of coming to the Czech Republic, i.e. also during the school year.

If the child is not physically or mentally mature, the principal of the school may be requested at the enrolment to postpone education for one school year. The application will be granted if supported by a recommending assessment of the relevant school counselling facility (see Educational-Psychological Counselling Centre below) and a specialist paediatrician or clinical psychologist.

For the fulfilment of compulsory education, municipalities define catchment school districts for children with a place of permanent residence and for foreigners’ children with a place of residence in that area. The schools in the school district are obliged to accept children until their capacity is reached.

Pupils may not be rejected for any other reason.

Payments during primary education

Compulsory primary education in public schools is free of charge. Only meals and staying in school care (school clubs) are subject to charge.

SECONDARY EDUCATION

After completing compulsory education, most pupils continue their education at the next level of education.

1. a) secondary education (obtained by students by successfully completing an educational programme of 1 or 2 years of full-time education)
2. b) secondary education with a certificate of apprenticeship (obtained by students by successfully completing an educational programme of 2 or 3 years of full-time education or an educational programme of shortened study for obtaining secondary education with a certificate of apprenticeship)
3. c) secondary education with a school-leaving examination – “maturita” (obtained by students by successfully completing educational programmes of a six-year or eight-year grammar school, an educational programme of 4 years of full-time education, an educational programme of follow-up study of 2 years of full-time education or an educational programme of shortened study for obtaining secondary education with a school-leaving examination – “maturita”)

EDUCATION AT CONSERVATOIRES

Having completed compulsory education, students can continue to study at a conservatoire, provided that they have passed the admission procedure, including talent examinations in the arts.

The following levels of education can be achieved by successful completion of the educational programme at a conservatoire:

1. a) secondary education with a school-leaving examination – “maturita” (obtained by students by successfully completing the corresponding part of an educational programme at a conservatoire after 4 years of full-time education in a six-year educational programme at the earliest or after 8 years of full-time education in an eight-year educational programme)
2. b) higher vocational education at a conservatoire (obtained by students by successfully completing a six-year or eight-year educational programme)

Payments during secondary education

Secondary education is usually free of charge. Students pay for textbooks, school supplies and meals.

HIGHER PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Students who have obtained education with a school-leaving examination (“maturita”) may continue their studies at higher professional schools or higher education institutions (state, public or private schools).

EDUCATIONAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLING CENTRES

Educational-Psychological Counselling Centres, together with special educational centres and educational care centres, are school counselling facilities. Educational-Psychological Counselling Centres provide educational-psychological and special pedagogical counselling services and educational-psychological assistance in pupil/student education.

Counselling services are provided free of charge.

RECOGNITION OF ACHIEVED EDUCATION

Decisions on the recognition of foreign certificates from primary and secondary schools and higher professional schools are made by the regional authority of the relevant region in which the applicant is registered for permanent residence.

Applications for the recognition of higher education may be submitted to:

• the rectorate of a public higher education institution offering an accredited degree programme with similar content
• the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
• the Czech Ministry of Defence – for military education
• the Czech Ministry of the Interior – for education in the field of security forces

Full information can be found at: www.msmt.cz

LINKS

• plzen.eu/vzdelavani/vzdelavani.aspx (CZ)
• Pilsen City Hall’s Department of Education, Youth and Sports

• plzenskeskoly.cz/ (CZ)
• official portal of Pilsen primary and nursery schools

• http://plzensky-kraj.cz/skolstvi-a-sport (CZ, D, EN)stredniskoly.cz/seznam-skol/plzensky-kraj/ (CZ)
• website of the Regional Authority of the Pilsen Region

• a list of secondary schools and current information about them

• msmt.cz/ (CZ, EN)
• official website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic

• npi.cz/ (CZ)
• official portal of the National Institute for Further Education (support of teachers educating foreign children/pupils; provision of interpreting and translations)

• pepor-plzen.cz/ (CZ)
• official website of the Educational-Psychological Counselling Centre in the Pilsen Region

CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT IN PILSEN

With its 171,000 inhabitants, Pilsen is the fourth largest city in the Czech Republic. It occupies an important position in the western part of Bohemia, as a strong industrial, commercial, cultural and administrative centre. The city was founded in 1295 at the confluence of the Úhlava, Úslava, Radbuza and Mže rivers by the Czech king Wenceslas II.

Pilsen is known as an industrial and brewing city. The large factory halls of the former Škoda plant produce means of transport, while the well-known Prazdroj and Gambrinus beers are brewed on the other side of the regional metropolis. Pale lager is known worldwide as Pilsner or Pils according to the German name of the city – Pilsen.

The most important sights in this West Bohemian metropolis include the historic city centre and the surrounding streets, which are now protected as an urban conservation area. The dominant feature of the city is the Gothic Church of Saint Bartholomew, which is the highest in Bohemia with its 102-metre tower. Furthermore, Pilsen boasts the Great Synagogue, which is the largest synagogue in the Czech Republic and the third largest in the world. Secular monuments are represented by the unforgettable Renaissance town hall from the 16th century, J. K. Tyl Theatre, the West Bohemian Museum and 17.5 kilometres of historical underground cellars and corridors.

There is the Zoological and Botanical Garden of the City of Pilsen and many public parks and gardens (Luft Garden, Hruška Meditation Garden, Sofronka Arboretum, etc.).

Among the most valuable cultural traditions in Pilsen is the J. K. Tyl Theatre. Pilsen is a venue for cultural events and festivals of international importance, such as Smetana Days, Skupa’s Pilsen, the Historical Weekend, Pilsner Fest, the international Drawing Biennial and the Theatre Festival. The Pilsen Cultural Summer hosts concerts and theatrical performances on open stages in the city centre.

LINKS

• www.plzen.eu (CZ, EN, D)
• official website of the Statutory City of Pilsen

• www.depo2015.cz (CZ, EN, D)
• website of DEPO2015 – a living space where culture connects with business

• www.regionplzen.cz/kultura (CZ)
• web cultural portal of the Pilsen Region

• www.plzenskavstupenka.cz/cs/ (CZ)
• information, reservations and online sale of tickets

• www.zooplzen.cz (CZ, EN, D)
• website of the Zoological and Botanical Garden of the City of Pilsen

• www.zpc-galerie.cz (CZ, EN, D)
• website of the West Bohemian Gallery in Pilsen

• www.zcm.cz (CZ)
• website of the West Bohemian Museum in Pilsen

• www.techmania.cz (CZ, EN, D)
• website of Techmania Science Center o. p. s.

• www.pilsnerpubs.cz (CZ)
• a list of restaurants, bars and pubs in Pilsen

• www.mkcr.cz (CZ, EN)
• official website of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic

TRANSPORT IN PILSEN

The city public transport system in Pilsen consists of trams, trolley buses and buses. The three tram lines represent the backbone of urban transport, connecting the largest suburbs with the city centre, as well as train and bus stations; city buses provide connections to distant parts of the city and, as suburban connections, also to some suburban municipalities.

Public transport may only be used with a valid ticket. Passengers without a valid ticket must pay the fare and surcharge on the fare.

Fare subscription

Fare subscription, for example, a one-month (31-day) subscription, is good value if the passenger makes at least 30 journeys during the 31-day period. If you buy an annual subscription, you only need to make 250 journeys (in 365 days) to make subscription more advantageous compared to single tickets. Fare subscription can be activated on the Pilsen Card, on Czech Railways’ In Karta card or on the Virtual Card app.

The Pilsen Card (or Czech Railways’ In Karta card) is a chip card that serves as a medium for public transport subscription and electronic money for use at the terminal in the vehicle. Passengers with a Pilsen Card can use both subscription and convenient transfer fare, which can be bought through a payment from the Pilsen Card electronic wallet at self-service terminals directly in public transport vehicles.

Virtual Card

A system to top up and prove a subscription using a contactless bank card or mobile app. The app is free to download on AppStore or Google Play. After registering and filling in your personal data, you need to choose an identifier to prove your identity (bank card or mobile phone), and then you can top up your subscription via the e-shop. If checked by a ticket inspector, produce either your bank card or your mobile phone, depending on which identifier you chose in topping up.

Fare subscription for the Pilsen Card can be bought in the following ways:

• via the Pilsen Card e-shop at https://eshop.plzenskakarta.cz/; user registration is not required; online payment via a payment gateway or bank transfer; you need to validate the purchased subscription by waving your card over the coloured Cardmenu in the public transport vehicle, at Česká spořitelna ATMs or at the customer centre of PMDP a.s. (Pilsen City Transport Company)
• through Česká spořitelna ATMs; you do not need to be a holder of a bank card issued by Česká spořitelna; top-up is free of charge for everybody; the purchased product is immediately active on the card (no validation required); payment by bank card only; more than 70 ATMs throughout the Pilsen Region
• in person at Pilsen Card point of sales (a list of points of sale can be found at pmdp.cz); a handling fee is charged for top-up

Single tickets can be bought in the following ways:

• at the coloured Cardmenu in the vehicle using a contactless bank card – the bank card must be issued by Visa or MasterCard, must have offline transactions activated and must have sufficient funds available
• in the vehicle via the Pilsen Card, Pilsen Mini or other partner cards (Czech Railways’ In Karta card, FC Viktoria Plzeň permanent pass, Karlovy Vary Card, Mariánka, etc.) – Pilsen Mini in the form of a chip also serves as an electronic wallet (or as a portable subscription medium) on which the passenger deposits cash and then buys single tickets in the vehicle; the Pilsen Mini is portable, so you can lend it to your family members or friends
• via the Virtual Card mobile app – you need to install the Virtual Card app on your mobile phone (the app is available free of charge on AppStore or Google Play); you can buy tickets immediately after you download the app (no registration required)
• via SMS – to order an SMS ticket you need to send a short text message in the format PMDP35M (transfer SMS ticket valid for 35 minutes) or PMDP24H (transfer SMS ticket valid for 24 hours) to the phone number 90206; passengers are entitled to travel only after receiving a confirmation SMS; the telephone number for which the ticket is ordered must be registered with one of the Czech operators
• paper tickets mechanically marked in vehicles – available at customer centres of PMDP, a.s. or from distributors (newsagents, convenience stores, Czech Post, etc.)

A price list of fares and subscription, a diagram of lines, timetables and other information can be found at www.pmdp.czinfo@pmdp.eu. . Should you need further information, you can also use the PMDP info line at 371 655 600 (Mon–Fri 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) or email address

LINKS

• pmdp.cz (CZ, EN, D)
• information about timetables, single fare prices and fare subscription prices, a diagram of lines, contractual transport terms and conditions, complaints rules, etc.

• plzenskakarta.cz (CZ, EN)
• information about Pilsen Card (including the forms needed to submit an application), the Virtual Card app, the Pilsen Card e-shop, etc.

• idpk.cz (CZ, EN)
• transport for the entire Pilsen region – ČSAD buses, Czech Railways trains and other transport providers throughout the Pilsen Region; fare prices, travel conditions, etc.

• www.mdcr.cz (CZ, EN)
• official website of the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic

• www.cd.cz (CZ, EN)
• information about train transport

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

112 Emergency number

150 Fire and rescue service

155 Emergency medical service

158 Police of the Czech Republic

156 Municipal Police

1180 Information about telephone numbers in the Czech Republic

LINKS

• www.policie.cz (CZ, EN)
• official website of the Police of the Czech Republic
• contact details of individual sections and departments, traffic service, etc.

• www.ceskaposta.cz/index (CZ, EN)
• official website of Czech Post (Česká pošta, s. p.)
• information about postage prices and postal codes, including a directory of post offices in the Czech Republic

• www.intercash.cz (CZ, EN)
• Western Union international money transfers

• www.ochrance.cz (CZ, EN)
• Ombudsman – Public Defender of Rights

• justice.cz (CZ)
• official website of the Czech judiciary
• courts, public prosecutor’s offices, criminal records, Prison Service, search in the Commercial Register

• kstcr.cz/cz (CZ, EN)
• official website of the Chamber of Court Appointed Interpreters and Translators

• nkcr.cz (CZ, EN, D, F)
• official website of the Notarial Chamber of the Czech Republic
• a list of notaries in the Czech Republic

• cak.cz (CZ, EN, D, F, RU)
• official website of the Czech Bar Association
• information about free legal advice, a list of attorneys, etc.

• cizinci.cz (CZ, RU, UA, VN, MGL, EN)
• official website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic focused on the integration of foreigners
• up-to-date information about the integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic, including a directory of contacts, information materials and publications for foreigners

• gov.cz (CZ, EN)
• portal of public administration of the Czech Republic
• practical information about residence, employment, business, the education system and the health care system in the Czech Republic, including instructions for dealing with selected life situations

• domavcr.cz (CZ, RU, UA, VN, MGL, EN, F)
• practical information and advice for foreigners living in the Czech Republic, including a contacts directory

When preparing the handbook, we relied on the applicable laws and information published on the websites of the relevant institutions and on the information provided by the individual institutions and organisations.

The Information Handbook for Foreigners was published with the financial support of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic as part of the

“Support for the Integration of Foreigners at Local Level in 2021” project.

[1] European Economic Area. The EEA currently covers only Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

[2] Directive 2014/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the conditions of entry and stay of third-country nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers.

[3] The employer must not give notice to the employee during the protective period (Section 53 of the Employment Act – for example, incapacity for work, pregnancy, maternity and parental leave).

[4] For example, education, work experience; it does not need to be provided for unqualified trades.

[5] The registered office is the address from which the entrepreneur manages his/her business activity.