How to prepare for the move to the Czech Republic and what you're not exactly ready

My name is Irina Gatilov, the last five years I have lived and worked in Moscow, primarily on serious big companies, realizing PR-projects, which can be justified to add a definition "Federal". Five months ago, my husband and I moved to the Czech Republic, and now I'm an independent PR-consultant who not only understands some Russian markets, but also local studies.

I'll tell you how we came to such a life and how it differs from life in Moscow (spoiler: there are disadvantages, too).

Why are we moved

I'd like to start by saying that there "the grass is greener and tastier beer", which, incidentally, is true, but the reason is different and much more banal - we are tired. Always somewhere to run, pass, climb higher and higher, sometimes not knowing why. We were probably lucky that we were not Muscovites, we have not tightened mortgage, we have brought pets (because very often on business trips). At that moment, when we come to understand that "it is time to bring down", we linked with Moscow just a job, friends and a few relatives who, by the way, supported us.

Czech Republic was not a spontaneous choice: we went here a few times a year and almost never lived like tourists. We've got friends, acquaintances and relatives. We knew perfectly well what the climate here and the price, as there quietly, and not afraid of that "after Moscow are you going to die of boredom."

How to go

In my dreams (my husband was thinking more rationally) and the initial schedule, everything was fast, but in the end it took about a year. And it is not surprising that we have heard: "Oh! We have decided that you change your mind! "

At the outset it is necessary to evaluate and consider the possibility of options visas. This is best done with a competent lawyer, rather than information from the forums: there, of course, sometimes there is useful information, but is very common complete heresy. So, one of my subscribers will reported that read on the forum, if a work visa is issued only in the spring, in April. On the forums and found negative, as in any other site where you are requested advice and give them - though sometimes not the ones that you need.

In the Czech Republic is now a small selection of visas for long-term stay in the country, and get them very easily (compared with some other EU countries): labor, business visa, educational, to be reunited with his family, science (for research).

We are not married the first year, are not going to get divorced, so the option of reunification with a citizen of the Czech Republic was definitely not for us. Were educational, work and business visas.

Educational visa is issued, usually for a year (or less), but lived on it for further period of submission of documents for permanent residence be counted only half. That is, when applying for permanent residence when officers will be calculated tenure (requires five years of residence in country on a long-term visa), it will be counted only half of the period, which was held at the educational visa. Also go again to studyHaving behind five or six years in high school, is not very much, especially as we continue to only graduate school or something completely from scratch.

The next option considered was the business visa, but talking to people who already live in the Czech Republic, as also to those who helped in the preparation of documents for visas, we decided that this option is also not us. you need to obtain a visa to a business already working, you were Czech partners, arranged by Czech citizens to work and many other factors, which nevertheless does not guarantee. Yes, and offer a great business model, we then just could not.

There was a work visa. To get it, you need to go through a number of stages.

• Find a job and the employer. If you do not know the Czech language, it will be difficult, but possible. Almost always there is a vacancy for which the most important knowledge of English, and sometimes even Russian. If you programmer, Testing, product manager, engineer - in general, the "techie" - then you definitely find his employer.
• If the employer has a vacancy open and she sagged last month on a special website of the Ministry of Labor, did not help him find specialists in the Czech Republic, and allowed the agency to hire foreigners, it means that you can draw up a contract and to collect documents for visa.
• If this is not done, then the overfill about a month for this procedure. The employer may make your offer immediately after the interview, and even to conclude a pre-contract with you, but the return to work and visa have to wait. Jobs must pass all the required steps before it will be possible to close the foreign worker.
• After receiving the special job code can be recorded on the filing consulate. If suddenly I read not only Russian citizens, but also live in Russia without a residence permit and permission to temporary residence, just for registration: you can immediately register in the Consulate of the Czech Republic in their country.

The recording process is not very easy, but the site has consulateWriting to file applications for long-term visa instructions and a list of documents for recording and for delivery (remember that all documents in Russian language must be translated into Czech and certified by the consulate or directly from the Czech notary).

Upon successful submission of documents waiting period begins, followed by a wild delight comes, when cherished confirmation letter falls e (Do not forget to check the spam). After that - registration of insurance (the employer then draws up a separate working, but first will still have to buy at least 40-day), entrance and reception of the biometric identity card, which states all the way to address residence.

If you are moving with your family, the husband usually submits a visa for family reunification. As in the embodiment above, there are two ways of development of events:

• The ideal: you are saved together in the document feeder, be sure to sticking to the letter translated and certified marriage certificate, as well as documents confirming the availability of work for one of the spouses. Then, most likely, the answer to both visas will come about the same time.
• Normal: apply for a visa after a spouse has already done it, or even get your visa. In this case, also sent all the necessary documents, but in addition it is necessary to attach already obtained a visa, or a certificate of spouse that his documents are taken into consideration.

Before submitting the documents it is best to familiarize yourself with the listLong-term visa for the purpose of family connectionsListed on the site, and make sure that all the documents have been translated into Czech, certified, made copies of them, all arranged into two piles.

By the way, be prepared for the fact that I have questions about what you plan to do in the Czech Republic for a long time whether married, where you will live and so on.

How much is

Accommodation

Even at the moment of obtaining a visa you need to provide confirmation of the future housing, so calculate the cost of accommodation is possible even before the move. By the way, since apartment searchCollides with designations 1 + kk, 2 + kk, 2 + 1, 1 + 1 and so on. Immediately it seems that everyone is talking encryption as in the Soviet film: "light blouse, isolated, and that the buttons on the south and west."

In fact kk - it kuchyňský kout (kitchen corner), it has a living room with a cooking place. Now this plan in the Czech apartments is more common than one option, that is the room with a separate kitchen.

If you do not live in the center of Prague, you can pay for a one-bedroom apartment of about 12 500-13 000 CZK per month (about 37 500-39 000 rubles) plus poplatky (utilities). It is still about 2 500-3 000 CZK (7 500-9 000), depending on the house and the footage.

It is sometimes possible for the same money to find something close to the center, and it superudacha! I know the lucky, but it's a rarity. Such "gifts of heaven" are transmitted from friends to friends as artifacts.

Life outside Prague too, and it's not just the relatively large cities such as Brno or Ostrava (of course, after Moscow difficult to perceive the city with a population of 300 000 as a major), but also smaller cities, too, interesting.

For example, in the spa town of Teplice, situated close to the Prague and the German border, you can remove a good studio or one-bedroom apartment for 7 500-8 000 kroons (22 500-24 000) plus utilities payments.

And if you consider the variant with a mortgage, the rate is now at an average of 2.5-3.5%, including for foreigners. The exact percentage of individual conditions and, of course, be determined by contacting the bank.

Medicine

What other major spending expected when you move? If you, like me, "reunited" with the spouse (work visa we have just the husband), then be prepared to pay for health insurance very decent amount, even if you buy the most ordinary.

Prices start from 18 000 rubles per year. In the basic version, as a rule, a small list of emergency services (ambulance here is not accepted just cause) and covering both prescribed medicines in 5000 kroons (15 000 rubles).

Interesting caveat: if you still call an ambulance and it carries you to the hospital, then cook 90 kroner (270 rubles), which will be paid after the inspection is necessary. This is a mandatory fee for ambulance services.

Communications and utilities expenses

If you are from Russia and used to mutter, "This robbery - to pay 500 rubles a month for the connection," the Czech Republic have exactly unpleasant surprise. Unless you have rodné číslo (analogue INN), and the phone number you are buying for yourself, not the employer, be We are willing to pay an average of 250 kroner (750 rubles) per month and have a 1.2 GB, unlimited text messages and calls within the network.

You can pay a deposit of about € 200 and sign a contract, then the conditions will be better, and mobile traffic - significantly more. Tariffs all operators about the same.

As for home internet, the bonus for him often go TV (c two or three Russian channels) and a home phone. But again, after Russia, the price seems high - 750 kroons (2450 rubles).

Per utilities we pay about 4000 CZK (12 000 rubles). The price includes a gas - 200 kroons (600 rubles), electricity - 400 kroons (1200 rubles) and water, and other fees. It is interesting that there is not our usual receipts, and there is a "collateral", which means that you agree with the utilities, how much money a month they send. Once a year of service make recalculation and either put the expense on the outstanding amount or return the overpayment (We returned the overpaid 1 crown couple of days ago, sent a postal order, the price of which about 30 CZK).

products

The last few years we have been one of those who brought from travel bags products, and sincerely yearned for the good cheese. Therefore, our darling is happy here, not only the quality but also the availability of different types of food.

It turned out that in the Czech Republic there are excellent local cheeses (even with mold), wonderful sausages and quite tasty other products. how much we spend per month on food, hard to say, but I specifically compared the prices in several supermarkets and on the market. It turned out something like this:

• whole chicken (1.4 kg) - 130 kroons;
• pork loin (1 kg) - 100-110 crowns;
• tomatoes (1 kg) - 50-60 CZK (it is normal, but there is absolutely divine for 85-90 crowns);
• potatoes (1 kg) - 18 kroons;
• cucumber (1 kg) - 15 kroons;
• pepper (red, yellow, green) - 40 to 80 kroons to the color;
• red onion - 25-30 CZK;
• bread ( "brick", loaf, roll) - 20-30 CZK;
• lactose-free milk - 30-40 CZK;
• a dozen eggs - 37-40 CZK;
• cheeses - from 20 kroner per 100 g;
• local bottled beer - 13-17 CZK.

Main life hacking - a discount, which will start on Thursday (morning sold out in stores). Now, for instance, you can replenish stocks of champagne: to the nearest Thursday discounts on some of the brand - from 32 to 50%. Similar story with the wine, but the maximum discount - 44%.

For all other goods supermarket also tend to discount, but slightly less in percentage terms. The most memorable action - is a "leg" Jamon, which was worth about 3 300 rubles (with a special stand, and a total weight of 6.5 kg), and geese, are transmitted after a holiday abruptly cheaper.

In the Czech Republic there are several supermarket chains, even in relatively small towns, so that you can always choose what you like more, and on Saturday morning to go to the market.

I love the Czech market, especially in Prague at Výtoň. This is some other world where you begin to learn very quickly, in the morning on Saturday, crowds of people who eat oysters washed down with champagne, listen to music, view on the part of the flea on the barge old records, and just having a great time. It seems to me that the Saturday markets - is an integral part of any Czech towns and even villages.

Entertainment

What we spend more money? Of course, to travel, and spa. Despite the fact that the Czech Republic is relatively small country, there are many places for leisure weekend: nature reserves, parks, castles, resort towns. We are fans of the Czech Switzerland and the Ore District (Ore) mountains in general. There's extraordinary beauty, which can be enjoyed all year round. During the season it can even be combined with a walk along the Elbe on the boat. Types simply open space.

In winter you can spend great time ski resorts (A large number of them are here for every taste and wallet), but if you want to relax, you can arrange a tour of a small but very beautiful Czech towns. For example, to visit the town of Teplice (which I mentioned earlier), where in one of the resorts now works renovated spa with swimming pools and saunas.

If we imagine a traditional holiday in the Czech town for a family without children and over the age of 25, he went away from the options' all weekend lain at home, playing video games, reading or writing "(and I really like this situation), it can turn around next picture.

Friday evening - a meeting with friends over a glass of beer or wine at the bar, the restaurant or the Lord. There you can, and dinner. On Saturday morning you can go to the market (in large cities, they tend to be in each area), buy groceries, eat breakfast, drink a glass of beer, wine or a cup of coffee, take a walk and just relax.

If you live in Prague and do not want to travel outside the city, you can go to one of the many festivals of music, food, design and so on. If you wish to admire the castle and park, but do not want to go far, accessible location in the city. Sometimes even at Visegrad is possible to find secluded paths where the evening is almost no one. Admission is free, emotion and pleasure with a vengeance.

The evening can end another meeting with friends, gathered for dinner in an institution or at home. Trekking in the restaurant mid-priced for two people with a main dish for each and beer or wine would cost approximately NOK 800-900 (2 400-2 700 rubles).

Sure, you can go on a classical route, and after breakfast, go to the cinema (movies is not only in Czech, but also in English), ticket costs an average of 200 kroner (600 rubles). Or visit a museum. The last - for every taste and color (there is even a LEGO museum). But if you feel like painting and you were already in the Tretyakov Gallery, the Hermitage and the Pushkin Museum, likely his Czech museum collections may disappoint. But they organize interesting exhibitions dedicated, for example, aviation, fashion, contemporary art and events that occurred during the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968.

For music lovers the choice is also very large, the main thing - to have time to buy a ticket. On the performances of famous artists and bands they sold out very quickly, even if the pass is not a concert. In May of 5 protrudes Dido, 6th - Francis Leftwich, 7th - Elton John, 25th - Jamiroquai, and 26th - Muse. If you want songs in Russian, the May 10 concert Seeds Slepakova.

The main surprise

I was prepared for the fact that the service industry is not on the Moscow level, but I still have to get used to, that's not running the option "I wanted to manicure Sunday night and went. " Almost impossible to find a salon that will run on Sunday and even more so in the evening. Here the system "look at the bag - it is sealed, brown dot" is now only appears (it is the sterilization of disposable instruments and masters).

Undoubtedly, there are rules and regulations, but, alas, I have seen enough of "sterilization" in some salons and months five did not go for a manicure until I found the master, for which sterile instruments - is not just a phrase.

I never thought I would miss patches. Yes, thus under the eyes. While I was able to find only 3-5 pieces of sets, but not favorite banks in which there are dozens.

In the shops there pelmeni and soup boxes. The latter did not try, but the dumplings quite edible. Buckwheat, incidentally, also has called pohanka. In a supermarket, Prague seen a rack with Russian-Ukrainian products. Made all in Germany or Poland, but yearning for the fatherland - the most it.

It does not always speak English. Yes, in Prague you perfectly understand, will help you and answer, but in smaller cities, be prepared for the fact that even the young English at a very low level. But it is very motivating to learn Czech.

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Do we go back to Moscow? I do not know, anything can happen. Maybe, psihanom and go away to St. Petersburg someday. Is it difficult to move and integrate into life in a new country? Madly. Especially when you are teaching a new language as an infant, from the very beginning, and for calls to various departments to understand everything, but you can respond with great difficulty.

We are glad that moved? Highly. Finally, we can not find time and hundreds of euros to fly from Moscow to Prague or to break in Budapest. Yes, we do not travel every week, but I still try to go at least a couple of days and explore the Czech Republic (if they were not in Cesky Krumlov, recommend highly) and neighboring countries. What is most interesting, we began to see more of your friends. Someone now lives an hour away from us, but for someone our move - an incentive to fly more often in Europe.