Moving to Czechia with a family: first steps for housing, school and health

Moving as a single person is a puzzle. Moving with children is a puzzle where each piece has a deadline and one of them has to be at school by September. The pieces are the same in Czechia as elsewhere: a home, a school or kindergarten, health cover, money and a residence status. What differs is the order, and the order is what this guide gives you.

Start with status and housing

Everything else hangs on your residence status and your address. The Ministry of the Interior (OAMP) decides on residence permits, including those for family members who join a main applicant. The rules differ by nationality and permit type, so read the Ministry's guidance for your route, and for family reunification in particular (as of 2026; check the Ministry of the Interior). Our first 30 days plan shows the adult paperwork in order.

For housing, families have different needs: space, a lift, nearby schools, a park, quiet nights. See renting in Prague with a family, best areas for families and neighbourhoods near international schools. A lease for a family flat is a bigger commitment than a studio, so read the 12-month lease explained and renting from abroad if you cannot visit first.

Many families look at the suburbs for more space. You can browse new homes around Prague on Novostavby.com (in Czech) to see what is on offer, and then price the commute against school and work. Our guide to the suburbs explains the trade-offs.

School and kindergarten

Foreign children who are legally resident have access to schools on the same terms as Czech children (education act, § 20; MŠMT). The final year before compulsory school, from the September after the child turns five, is compulsory and free of fees in public kindergartens, and it applies also to foreign children who stay in Czechia for more than 90 days (as of 2026; check MŠMT).

Public schools teach in Czech. Ask each school what help it offers children who do not yet speak the language. International and private schools set their own fees and admissions; see Prague neighbourhoods with the best schools for how to approach that choice. Visit before you commit, and ask about start dates for mid-year arrivals.

Health cover

Check how your family is insured before arrival. Employees in the Czech public system are covered through their employer, and children are in the state-insured group when the public system covers them. Non-EU foreigners outside the public system must hold commercial insurance that meets the Foreigners Act (as of 2026; check the Ministry of the Interior). See Czech health insurance for newcomers.

Register with a paediatrician (pediatr) as soon as you can. Ask your insurer or colleagues for English-speaking practices, and keep your children's vaccination records.

Getting around with children

Children under 6 travel free across the PID system, and children from 6 to 15 travel free in Prague, with 6 to 10 needing no proof and 10 to 15 needing proof of age such as an ID or a Lítačka card (as of 2026; check PID). Outer zones differ. See Prague public transport tickets. Costs for adults are in monthly transport costs.

Money, benefits and tax

Plan a family budget with how much money you need to live in Prague, and add school costs, activities and childcare. Some benefits exist, and the rules changed on 1 October 2025, when a new benefit called superdávka began to replace child benefit, housing allowance and other benefits for new claims (as of 2026; check MPSV). Eligibility for foreigners depends on status. Parental allowance and maternity pay depend on insurance history.

If you work and pay Czech tax, the child tax credit for 2026 is CZK 15,204 for the first child, CZK 22,320 for the second and CZK 27,840 for the third and later (as of 2026; check Finanční správa). Ask an adviser how your family situation affects tax. See taxes for first-time earners for the basics.

Settling in as a family

Children usually settle faster than adults, but they need structure around them. Find the nearest playground, library and park in the first fortnight, and ask the school or kindergarten about after-school clubs, which are a good place for children to meet others. Language classes for children exist in many schools and community centres; ask what is on offer in your district. See Prague's parks for green space.

Childcare can be tight. Places in public nurseries are limited, and private nurseries and children's groups exist, with their own fees and waiting lists. Ask early and treat the first offer as one option among several. If both parents work, plan for the gap between your arrival and a confirmed place.

Lean on other families too. Parents in your building and school are the quickest source of practical tips, from an English-speaking paediatrician to the shortcut through the park.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child go to a Czech state school?

Foreign children who are legally resident have access to schools on the same terms as Czech children. Teaching in public schools is in Czech.

Is kindergarten free?

The final year before compulsory school is free of fees in public kindergartens, including for foreign children staying more than 90 days (as of 2026; check MŠMT).

Do children travel free on Prague transport?

Children under 6 travel free in the PID system, and those from 6 to 15 travel free in Prague (as of 2026; check PID).

How do I insure my children?

It depends on your status. The public system covers some groups, and non-EU families outside it need commercial insurance.

What benefits can I claim?

Rules changed in October 2025, and eligibility depends on your status. Ask MPSV and the Labour Office.

Today: write down each family member's residence route and the first date that matters for each.

This is a general explainer, not legal or tax advice.