Adaptation and Integration Course
The Adaptation and Integration Course (AIC) is a course that will help you become quickly familiar with Czech society, get basic information on life in the Czech Republic and on your rights and obligations. The course is compulsory for third countries citizens to whom no exception applies.
Who must take the course?
You must take the course if you have been issued one of the following permits since January 1st 2021:
- Long-term residence permit.
- Long-term residence permit issued for a different purpose (that is after you changed the purpose of residence).
- Permanent residence permit without previous residence in the Czech Republic.
You do not have to take the course if on the day the decision to grant you a residence permit has come into effect (you collect the document), you are under 15 years of age or you have reached 61 years of age.
The course is not intended for EU citizens and their family members.
Also, the course is not for you if you hold:
- a long-term residence permit for the purpose of studies, investment, protection, or if it was issued to you by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- an intra-company employee transfer card or an intra-company employee transfer card of another EU Member State;
- an employee card or a blue card issued under the Highly Qualified Worker and Key and Research Staff government programmes.
When do you have to take the course?
Within 1 year from the day you collected your residence permit document.
Is the course compulsory?
Yes, it is compulsory for everyone concerned. Non-compliance is an offence punishable with a fine of up to 10,000 CZK.
How much does the course cost?
The Adaptation and Integration Course costs 1,500 CZK. Courses not intended for the public cost 800 CZK.
How can you enrol in the course?
In the case of courses for the public, register, pay 1,500 CZK and choose a particular course. You will receive a confirmation by e-mail that you have enrolled in the course successfully.
During registration, please use your biometric card number. Never use the number of your travel document (passport) or visa.
There are also courses not intended for the public. They are provided based on offers of legal entities in cooperation with a corresponding Centre for Support of Integration of Foreigners. Also, in this case, you must register, but the next steps related to the course payment or organisation are established by the legal entity itself. The fee charged for the course is 800 CZK and is paid by the legal entity, not the foreigner.
After you pay for the course, you will see the dates and places of the offered courses as well as the languages into which the courses will be interpreted.
How to pay for the course?
After you register successfully, a payment reference will be generated and you will see the Ministry’s bank account number. You can pay for the course via a bank transfer or a postal money order. If you do not include the payment reference, the payment will not be accepted. Also, do not forget to enter the prefix of the bank account!
It usually takes a few days to match the payment. Therefore, wait at least for 7 days before reporting a non-matched payment issue.
Does the Ministry of the Interior issue an invoice or a receipt for the Adaptation and Integration Course?
No. The Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic cannot issue an invoice or a receipt as it executes its duties in public administration within the meaning of Section 5 of Act no. 235/2004 Sb. on the value-added tax, and such execution does not represent an economic activity.
Who organizes the course and where is it held?
The course is organised by 18 Centres for Support of Integration of Foreigners under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior and it is completely up to you which Centre in particular you choose to take the course.
In what language is the course held?
The lecturers give the content of the course in Czech. The content is interpreted by qualified interpreters into English, Arabic, French, Mongolian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
How long is the course?
The whole course lasts four hours.
What do you need to bring to the course?
You need to bring your biometric card with which you registered for the course. It is also recommended to bring paper and pen.
Do you get any document/certificate at the end of the course?
You will receive a certificate that you have taken the course. Keep it. You do not need to show any proof or documents to the Ministry – an employee of the Centre for Support of Integration of Foreigners will confirm to the Ministry of the Interior electronically that you have taken the course.
Can you enrol in the course if you do not have to take it?
Yes, if you have a biometric card and you pay the fee. If you take the course even though you are under no obligation to take it at the given moment but in the future such an obligation will be imposed on you, it will be considered as fulfilled.
Is there babysitting provided during the course, or is it possible to bring my child to the course with me?
It always depends on the particular Centre for Support of Integration of Foreigners, therefore, it is recommended to contact directly the Centre about similar questions beforehand.
What is the main goal of the course?
The main goal of the course is to make the participants familiar with the specifics of living in the Czech Republic. The course is divided into several topics. You will learn, for example:
- basic information about the Czech Republic,
- about what services integration centres and non-governmental organisations for foreigners provide,
- basic legal knowledge concerning the life of foreigners in the Czech Republic (residence legislation, purposes of residence, reporting changes),
- information on education, Czech language courses, education of children and adults, recognition of education or re-training courses,
- further information on employment (types of employment, work contracts, access to the labour market, employees’ rights) and doing business in the Czech Republic,
- about health care (types of insurance, emergency and preventive care, the emergency unit, doctors and the ambulance),
- about accommodation (fees and contracts),
- about leisure time (possibilities, cultural tips, national holidays, transport),
- about basic customs and traditions (rules and ways to celebrate).