"A great foundation for all foreigners," says Abdel from Egypt about the Welcome to the Czech Republic course.

"I would recommend the course to all foreigners. It’s a great foundation for anyone planning to stay in the Czech Republic for a while," says Abdel from Egypt, a graduate of the Welcome to the Czech Republic adaptation-integration course. The idea of organizing such courses was introduced over ten years ago by the organization Slovo 21. Since January 2021, it has been mandatory for selected groups of foreigners. Over 30,000 people have completed the courses since then.

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What did the Welcome to the Czech Republic adaptation-integration course give you? Was it just a mandatory obligation you had to fulfill, or did you actually take something away from it?

I took away a lot of practical information that I had no idea about before. Especially regarding residency legislation and the labor code. These are things that we, as foreigners, would find very difficult to navigate in a new country without.

‍So, would you recommend it to others as well?

Definitely. And not just to those who are required by law to complete it, but also to those for whom it isn't mandatory. I think it can help them avoid potential inconveniences, problems with authorities, fines, and things like that. It’s simply a great foundation for all foreigners planning to stay in the Czech Republic for some time.

‍How did you find out that completing this course is mandatory?

To be honest, from a colleague. Otherwise, I would have had no idea about this requirement.

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By the way, what brought you to the Czech Republic?

Work. I received an interesting offer from a company. And since I’m interested in Central European culture—even though it’s completely different from that of North African or Middle Eastern countries—I accepted the offer.

‍What was the hardest part for you after arriving in the Czech Republic?

It was a bit of a culture shock. As I said, our cultures are completely different, but I am gradually trying to adapt to the new environment. So far, I like it in the Czech Republic. And at least in Prague, I feel that people are welcoming and open to new cultures.