In this chapter you will learn information about organisations and the services they provide to migrants living in Prague.

If you are a migrant living in Prague and you are seeking advice, looking for a Czech language course or another type of course, want to get involved in or just come to one of the cultural, community or sports events, contact the Integration Centre of Prague. The Integration Centre of Prague, o. p. s. was established by the Prague City Hall. Its task is to carry out systematic and comprehensive work in the area of integration of migrants. The slogan of the Integration Centre of Prague is “Metropolis for All”, which refers to one of its main aims: to create conditions which will allow migrants living in Prague to feel like fully-fledged citizens of our metropolis and participate in its public life.

In Prague there are also many other NGOs which provide social, legal and psychosocial counselling, Czech courses and other educational and professional courses. You can come to their cultural and community events and meet other migrants and Czech people who live in Prague. You can also engage in volunteer activities and help improve the situation of cohabitation of all people in Prague. Events organised by Prague NGOs are available for anyone who would like to meet new people and discover new cultures.

Activities and services of NGOs are provided free of charge or only for a symbolic fee.

Non-profit non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are funded by the state, European Union projects, and other financial resources. NGOs support charitable activities in various areas, the integration of migrants being one of them.

The Prague Integration Centre and NGOs offer social and legal counselling for migrants. Social counselling is provided within the scope of social services and it is necessary to register with the organisation in question to be able to benefit from it. Social counselling covers the issues of housing, employment, healthcare and health insurance, social security, child and adult education, the recognition of diplomas, arranging various tasks at Czech offices, etc.

Legal counsellors are able to help you with issues related to your stay in the CR, i.e. long-term visa applications or long-term residence permits and their extension, temporary or permanent residence applications, inaction of administrative bodies in residence proceedings, cancellation of residence permits, etc. Legal counselling also covers issues related to family relationships (determination of paternity, marriage, divorce, maintenance), employment (employment permit, employer’s failure to pay wages, work contracts), private law issues (apartment lease agreement, debts and receivables) and business.

Each of the organisations listed below provide different types of services and activities. We therefore suggest that you have a closer look at their websites at first hand. To learn about the conditions of legal and social counselling contact the particular organisation.

These organisations employ educated professionals – counselling is provided by lawyers or social workers with many years of experience. They will always give you up-to-date and accurate information. Employees of NGOs will tell you how to become self-sufficient and self-reliant, so that you can arrange most things yourself as soon as possible.

In Prague there is also a number of organisations which were founded by migrants. They organise a lot of activities and especially cultural events. Some of them publish their own magazines. Meeting people of the same origin, making new friendships and helping each other is very important for migrants especially when they are new in a foreign country. At the same time, people from these organisations try to show their fellow Czech citizens the beauty of countries they come from.

In the chapter about intercultural professionals and community interpreters, you will find contacts that you may find useful if you need to facilitate communication and break down linguistic and socio-cultural barriers between the majority and migrants. Community interpreters help people overcome language differences but they also know how to deal with cultural differences which often make a stay in a new environment even more difficult.

This part of the website pays a lot of attention to Czech language courses which are organised for new inhabitants of Prague by various providers all over the city.

We would also like to recommend you the adaptation-integration courses called “Welcome to the Czech Republic” funded by the Ministry of the Interior of the CR. These courses help all newcomers understand their rights and responsibilities after their arrival to the Czech Republic and the city of Prague.