Foreign nationals who hold long-term or permanent residence permits in Czechia can no longer afford to ignore the country’s four-hour Adaptation and Integration Course (AIC). A decree that took effect on 1 January 2026 has connected every future extension of stay to real-time data pulled from the Interior Ministry’s new Foreigners Information System. When an expatriate uploads the application for an Employee Card renewal, the system now checks automatically whether their AIC certificate number is on file; if the course is missing, the system flags the case and the extension will be put on hold until the requirement is met.
Until now enforcement was lax. Since the AIC was introduced in 2021, many newcomers simply paid the CZK 1,500 fee but never showed up, or postponed the session for years with little consequence. By digitising the entire immigration workflow, the ministry can track completion instantly and issue fines of up to CZK 10,000—or, in serious cases, refuse to renew a residence permit. Officials say the change is designed to boost integration and reduce misunderstandings after several highly-publicised incidents in which foreign residents claimed ignorance of Czech regulations.
Navigating these updated requirements can be daunting, but services such as VisaHQ make the process easier. Their Czech Republic portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) breaks down the latest rules, offers personalised checklists and can help clients secure AIC slots, submit extension paperwork and track deadlines so that crucial renewals stay on schedule.
![Czechia links mandatory integration course completion to residence renewals]()
The course itself remains unchanged: participants spend four hours at one of 18 regional Foreigners’ Centres learning about Czech laws, healthcare, taxes, housing rights and cultural norms. Interpreter support is offered in 20 languages, and upcoming sessions are already sold out through February. Employers can sponsor “closed” in-house courses, but they too must upload attendance lists to the new database within five working days.
Corporate mobility managers are advised to audit staff files immediately. HR teams should cross-check whether every non-EU employee hired since 1 January 2021 has both paid for and attended the AIC, and schedule any missing courses well before critical renewal dates. The ministry warns that the busiest period for renewals—April to June—is also when course slots are hardest to secure. Companies that fail to plan ahead risk costly project delays if key personnel fall out of status.
For foreigners already facing looming deadlines, integration centres in Prague, Brno and Ostrava have added extra Saturday sessions, and a pilot “express” booking link is being tested for high-priority cases referred by major employers. The Interior Ministry says it will review the first quarter of enforcement data in April to decide whether additional capacity or grace periods are needed.
Until now enforcement was lax. Since the AIC was introduced in 2021, many newcomers simply paid the CZK 1,500 fee but never showed up, or postponed the session for years with little consequence. By digitising the entire immigration workflow, the ministry can track completion instantly and issue fines of up to CZK 10,000—or, in serious cases, refuse to renew a residence permit. Officials say the change is designed to boost integration and reduce misunderstandings after several highly-publicised incidents in which foreign residents claimed ignorance of Czech regulations.
Navigating these updated requirements can be daunting, but services such as VisaHQ make the process easier. Their Czech Republic portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) breaks down the latest rules, offers personalised checklists and can help clients secure AIC slots, submit extension paperwork and track deadlines so that crucial renewals stay on schedule.
The course itself remains unchanged: participants spend four hours at one of 18 regional Foreigners’ Centres learning about Czech laws, healthcare, taxes, housing rights and cultural norms. Interpreter support is offered in 20 languages, and upcoming sessions are already sold out through February. Employers can sponsor “closed” in-house courses, but they too must upload attendance lists to the new database within five working days.
Corporate mobility managers are advised to audit staff files immediately. HR teams should cross-check whether every non-EU employee hired since 1 January 2021 has both paid for and attended the AIC, and schedule any missing courses well before critical renewal dates. The ministry warns that the busiest period for renewals—April to June—is also when course slots are hardest to secure. Companies that fail to plan ahead risk costly project delays if key personnel fall out of status.
For foreigners already facing looming deadlines, integration centres in Prague, Brno and Ostrava have added extra Saturday sessions, and a pilot “express” booking link is being tested for high-priority cases referred by major employers. The Interior Ministry says it will review the first quarter of enforcement data in April to decide whether additional capacity or grace periods are needed.
