You Just Landed in Czechia. Here's What to Do First.
You don't speak Czech yet, and the foreign police deadline is already running.
Every sign is confusing, your university's emails are in Czech, and you're not sure where to start. Here's the one thing that actually has a legal deadline — free, no sign-up.
The First Thing You Must Do
What foreign police registration is
It's registering your address with the Czech Foreign Police (cizinecká policie) so your stay in the country is legally on record. Every non-Czech citizen has to do it, and it's separate from anything your university or landlord does for you unless they explicitly confirm they've handled it.
Your deadline
You must register within 3 working days of arriving in Czechia — but the count starts the day after you land, and weekends and Czech public holidays don't count. For example: arrive on a Friday, and Saturday/Sunday don't count — Monday is day 1, Tuesday is day 2, Wednesday is day 3, so you must be registered by the end of Wednesday. Getting this exact rule wrong is the #1 reason students miss the deadline. Some university dorms handle registration automatically for their students — check with your dorm or accommodation first before assuming you still need to do it yourself.
Where to go
It's strictly city-specific: you have to go to the Foreign Police (OAMP) office responsible for the district where your accommodation is registered. In Prague, the right office depends on your district (Koněvova, Římská, and others); in Brno it's typically the office on Hudcova. Search "Foreign Police OAMP [your city]" to find the exact address and opening hours for your district.
What to bring
- Your valid passport — the original, not a photo
- Your valid visa or entry stamp (the sticker or border stamp in your passport)
- Proof of accommodation — the document that gets rejected most often. It must be signed by your landlord or dorm manager and clearly show your full name, the exact address, and either the landlord's name and ID number (rodné číslo) or property registration details. A Booking.com-style receipt usually isn't accepted for this.
- Health insurance confirmation, if you have it — not always required, but some officers ask for it
The registration form itself is provided at the office — you don't need to bring it filled out. Just bring a pen.
A student last semester missed his foreign police deadline because nobody told him it was 3 working days, not 3 calendar days. He spent 2 months fixing it.
Landed in Czechia? I've Got You.
Your first 2 weeks will be overwhelming. Bank account, foreign police, insurance, transport, phone, and everything is in Czech.
You just landed. You don't speak Czech. Every sign is confusing. You need to register at the foreign police within 3 days but you don't know where it is or what to bring. Your university sent you 4 emails in Czech and you have no idea what they say. I've been through all of this. I live here. I'll give you a complete first-week plan and be available on WhatsApp to answer every question you're afraid to ask.
- Personalized "First 2 Weeks" checklist for your specific city
- Foreign police registration walkthrough (what to bring, where to go)
- Bank account setup guidance (which bank, what documents)
- Czech SIM card recommendation (best plan for students)
- Transport pass setup
- Health insurance verification
- 14 days of WhatsApp support, ask me anything, anytime
A student last semester missed his foreign police deadline because nobody told him it was 3 business days, not 3 calendar days. He spent 2 months fixing it.
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