Czech Republic

'The Burning of witches night takes place on 30^th April’

Buying & Selling:  The Czech Republic entered the EU in 2004, making it a viable for anyone from the UK wishing to permanently move there.  UK/EEA nationals have the right to live and work in Czech Republic without a work permit. UK citizens do not require any form of residence visa for stays of up to 90 days. For a longer stay you must apply for a visa. It is essential to use the services of a legal representative when buying property in the Czech Republic. The paperwork will be written in Czech. It used to be the case that anyone other than a Czech resident had to form a limited liability company in the Czech Republic known as an SRO to own land and property there.  Non nationals can not buy agricultural or forestry land.  Almost all property in the Czech Republic is “Freehold”. Non EU citizens and non-favoured nation citizens can still own property in the Czech Republic if they establish an aforementioned SRO. Many estate agencies, legal representatives and intermediaries still suggest that anyone considering buying property in the Czech Republic does so via a limited liability company, but it may still be prudent to purchase as an individual. Much will depend on the property and you.

The property should be free of any debts or mortgages and an offer for it can be made to the vendor either directly or via the agent or lawyer. When the offer is accepted it is normal to submit a holding deposit which can be held in an escrow until the purchase contract is ready to be signed.

Before any contacts are signed it is necessary to check that the vendor has the right to sell the property and that it’s title is clean of any debts or disputes. The buyer’s legal representative should conduct searches at the ‘Kadastral’, Prague which is the central registry of property.At this stage buyer can have an independent survey done. After everything has been checked and found to be in order the purchase contract can be drawn up, signed and notarized. Upon signing the contract the buyer doesn’t become the legal owner of the property as this only happens after the contract and relevant documentation have been lodged with the Land Registry office and this whole process can take several months. Therefore its quite normal for a buyer to lodge the balance of funds for the purchase in either a notarial or escrow account until the sale is legally complete, and then finally funds and deeds will be transferred.  Make sure the property is free of disputes and loans/mortgages, plus take advice on whether to buy as an individual or as a company.

Currency:  Koruna (Czech)

Getting To or Through:

Air Travel: The largest airport in the Czech Republic is Prague-Ruzyně. There are smaller international airports in several other towns and cities. Most flights from Czech airports are international services including regular flights from the UK.

Rail: The Czech Republic stands at a crossroads in Europe where many international rail routes meet (EuroCity, InterCity and SuperCity services). The train is an ideal way to get around the Czech Republic.

Car: There is a zero tolerance policy in the Czech Republic and it is against the law to drive and use a mobile phone. A driving license issued in any EU country is valid across the whole of the EU. Drivers from the USA, Canada, and other countries who are residing in the Czech Republic will need to get a Czech license to legally drive there. A certificate of insurance, or ‘Green Card’ is also required and normally valid for three months which proves that you have full liability insurance. If you want to fully travel by car, then motorway driving is inevitable. But you will have to pay for it. Unlike many other countries, the Czech Republic has no tollbooths. Instead, you have to purchase a window sticker that needs to be attached to the inside of the windscreen. The stickers can be bought at petrol stations, border crossings and some post offices. If you are involved in a collision it is forbidden to move your vehicle until there has been a police inspection.

Culture:  Beer is considered a part of the national heritage of the Czech Republic and is recorded as existing there 5,000 years ago. When visiting a Czech house, take your shoes off at the door. Czechs very rarely wear shoes indoors. You may be offered a pair of slippers but it’s probably best to wear a relatively clean, hole-free pair of socks just to be on the safe side. The traditions are mostly maintained in villages, especially in the Moravian-Silesian region, where they remain as a sign of the cultural taste of the specific areas. Traditional costumes are increasingly popular among Czech people and are also appreciated by foreign visitors. One of the popular Czech traditions is The Burning of the Witches Night on the 30th April when people make bonfires and burn witches made from straw and old cloth to end the long winter that the witches keep around.

Geography:  The Czech Republic (Czech: Česká republika) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country has borders with Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. Czech Republic is in Central Europe southeast of Germany. Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country. Historic Prague (Czech: Praha), a major tourist attraction, is its capital and largest city.

Seasonal Climate:  Winters are cold, summers warm; spring and summers are the wettest seasons, yet have somewhat more sunny days than in Western Europe.

Population:  10,300,000

Capital City:  Prague

Language:  Czech

Religion:  Quite Atheist, some Roman Catholic, Christian and less Protestant

General:  Czech, a consonant-rich Slavic language, is among the worlds most complicated. It contains sounds quite difficult for English speakers to produce. A growing number of young people, business people, politicians and shopkeepers in Prague centre speak English. Many of the older generation also speak German.