All international flights arrive at Václav Havel Prague Airport, approximately 20 km to the Northwest of the city centre. You can get into town either by catching a city bus (No. 119) or by catching the airport shuttle service. A single private company called CEDAZ runs all minibus shuttle services to the airport. You will see their white vans waiting outside the terminal. There is also a taxi service run by a company called Airport Cars FIX. There are four ways you can get from the airport to the dormitory:

1. You can take a taxi. This is undoubtedly the most comfortable way to travel, but also the most expensive. Prices for a taxi journey from the airport into town range from CZK 300,- CZK 900,- depending on your precise destination. You will find a price list for the service offered by Airport Cars FIX by the company's stand in the airport lounge (we can recommend the AAA taxi, they will give you a discount voucher for the way back to the airport). If you do decide to use a taxi, make sure you get a written estimate for the cost of your journey from the company in the airport lounge before you set out, since this reduces the chance of the driver trying to overcharge you (ask a taxi-driver for the price before).

2. Hire a Prague Airport shuttle to take you direct to the dormitory. It costs 24 EUR (for 1–4 passengers) or 37 EUR (for 5–8 passengers), and it is generally cheaper than taking a taxi. However, it is also slower, since the van will have up to eight passengers, and will have to visit up to eight different addresses. Your address may be eighth in line. Write down the address of your dormitory to show to the shuttle driver. See more at http://www.prague-airport-shuttle.com

3. Take city bus No. 119 or the regular airport shuttle service to „Dejvická“ Metro Station, line A (by the Diplomat Hotel). Then, after you get to Dejvická, take a taxi. This reduces the length of the taxi journey. To take the city bus you will need to buy a ticket for CZK 24,- (valid for 30 minutes) or CZK 32,- (valid for 90 minutes) in the airport lounge, and you must remember to validate the ticket by date-stamping it when you get on the bus. There is also the possibility to get „sms ticket“ but this is possible only for those who have the Czech phone number.

4. To take an airport shuttle, you pay CZK 150,- direct to the driver and you will come to V Celnici street in the centre of Prague. It goes every 30 minutes. See more at http://www.cedaz.cz

5. Take city bus No. 100 — a special fast and frequent service from the airport to the Zličín metro station (underground line B) from where you can get to central Prague by metro.

If an EU citizen intends to stay in the territory of the Czech Republic for a period exceeding three months, he/she will be entitled (but not obliged) to apply to the police for a special residence permit (temporary residence permit). The issue of the said permit is not a condition for the stay of EU citizens in the territory of the Czech Republic, irrespective of the purpose of the stay. On the other hand, it has benefits for a foreign resident in situations where proof of a Czech address is required, e.g. for some rental and purchase agreements. If the application is handled affirmatively, the police issue the EU citizen with a permit card Průkaz o povolení k pobytu státního příslušníka členského státu Evropských společenství (cover in purple colour). Citizens of Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and their family members who are not EU citizens will be issued by the police residence permit cards Průkaz o povolení k pobytu (cover in green colour).

Every foreigner as well as any other person residing in the Czech Republic must observe the laws and legal regulations which apply to them (i.e. criminal code, tax laws, etc.) Nevertheless, there are certain (additional) duties, which must be fulfilled by foreigners in particular. This manual provides a basic overview of the rights and duties of foreign nationals when in contact with the police. Nevertheless, the Czech law may occasionally differentiate between the EU citizens including citizens of Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, or Switzerland (hereinafter collectively referred to as “EU citizens”) and the non-EU citizens.

DUTIES

Every foreign national must be able to prove his or her identity, if requested by the police.

• EU citizens can prove their identity with a passport or an ID card.

• Non-EU citizens prove their identity with a passport and/or a residence permit.

After arrival - EU citizens

• If the length of the intended stay is longer than 30 days, the EU citizens are obliged to

  report their presence to the appropriate Foreign Police Department in the location of their stay.

• EU citizens can temporarily stay in the Czech Republic without any special permit, solely on the basis of a travel document or an identity card. However, if they plan to stay longer than 3 months, they can request a certificate of temporary residence or a permanent residence permit.

• EU citizens are also bound to report any changes to surname, marital status, and changes of data contained in the residence card within 15 days to the appropriate authority, which issued the residence card.

• Nečíslovaný seznamEU citizens are required to report a change in the place of residence within 30 working days of this change occurring, if the change is expected to last longer than 180 days (for further information visit

  http://www.mvcr.cz/mvcren/article/reporting-changes.aspx).

Every foreign national must prevent documents issued under the Czech law against loss, theft, damage or misuse and ensure that the contained data are true.

Every foreign national must report loss, damage, destruction, or theft of a document issued under the Czech law within 3 days.

Every foreign national must immediately report loss or theft of passport or other travel document.

RIGHTS

• Everyone has a

  right to equal treatment and non-discrimination.

• Everyone has a

  right to be informed about the nature and cause of the charges laid against him or her, and about the legal basis for such charges. All provided information must be comprehensible and complete.

• Everyone has a

  right to respond to charges laid against him or her.

• Everyone who does not speak the official (Czech) language has a

  right to interpretation and to an interpreter, who will translate all questions asked and answered.

SANCTIONS

In the case of a breach of the above mentioned duties a financial penalty (fine) of up to 3 000,- CZK can be imposed.

The cost of living in the Czech Republic is on average comparable to that of other Central and East European countries. A single student is advised to have available approximately CZK 8 500,- (app. 300 €) per month to cover food, basic transport and accommodation.

Be aware that the level of rent varies depending on which city you live in, whether you use the University dormitory or private place and if you share the flat or not. The final cost of living depends on your personal spending habits, of course.

Money

The currency is the Czech crown (Koruna česká – Kč), divided into 100 hellers. The following denominations are in circulation: Notes: 100; 200; 500; 1000; 2000 and 5000 Kč.

Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Kč.

The Czech Republic is still what is considered a „cash economy”, which simply means that most transactions are made in person, in cash. Nevertheless many stores and service providers accept most major bank cards.

Banks

There are branches of all the main Czech as well se foreign banks such as

• Československá obchodní banka, ČSOB – http://www.csob.cz/en

• Komerční banka, KB – http://www.kb.cz/en

• Česká spořitelna, ČS – http://www.csas.cz

(Students of Charles University who open an account with the ČS bank can be issued a Maestro Univerzita Karlova Student + international electronic card for personal use. The card is designed for students aged 18 – 30, who are enrolled in bachelor, master or doctoral study program (full-time students only). The cardholders are eligible for a variety of discounts with the bank business partners. For more, see the bank web site).

• Citibank – http://www.citibank.com

and other smaller branches where you can open an account. Bank opening hours are generally 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and some banks are open on Saturday morning. Nearly all banks have 24-hour AMT cash machines and a foreign exchange desk where you can exchange your currency and travellers cheques.

Lost Credit Cardss

• American Express – information at: +420 222 800 333, +420 222 800 111

• Visa/MasterCard/Eurocard – information at: +420 272 771 111

• Diners Club Czech – hot line: +420 222 316 675, +420 267 197 450, (on weekend +420 221 779 924)

Emergency medical treatment is free for all visitors to the Czech Republic. Any other medical, dental or hospital care will be charged in full, unless otherwise specified in the governmental agreement between the Czech Republic and the student's home country. Special arrange exists for EU/EFTA citizens – see lower. (It is essential that all other students arrive with adequate health insurance for the entire duration of their stay, arranged in advance of their departure from home.) In the Czech Republic, non prescription drugs and medicines are sold only in pharmacies. They are not available at supermarkets, as in many West European countries. Pharmacies may be recognised by the prominent green cross-displayed over the shop-front. Many have staff who can speak English or German, and are used to offering advice to tourists (esp. in the city centres).

In urgent cases can Erasmus+ student visit the emergency (building S, ground floor at the right side) or specialized emergency in the hospital. Map

EU nationals

Students arriving from EU member states should ensure that they request a European health insurance card (EHIC) from their local health authorities before departure from their home countries. Nationals of EU countries who are staying temporarily in the Czech Republic are entitled to receive URGENT necessary medical treatment free of charge. To obtain treatment under the provisions of the European regulation it is important to contact medical institution (doctor, dentist, hospital), which is covered by the contract with the public health insurance system (most of them do - details can be obtained from the health insurance funds). Your European health insurance card (EHIC), or Provisional certificate has to be submitted to attending physician. If no of above mentioned documents are presented, the physician can insist on cash payment. If non-acute cure needed, the doctor will normally ask you to confirm your expected length of stay in the territory of the Czech Republic and will advise you to choose one of Czech contracting health insurance funds – for non-acute care. For specialist treatment, you need a referral from a general practitioner (GP). You have to pay 30,- CZK for medical treatment or for standard dental treatment. For some extra dental manipulation and materials participation is to be paid in extra particular amounts. Prescriptions are issued by a doctor, and may be filled at a pharmacy. You may have to contribute to the cost of your drugs or medicines, and this cost is not refundable. To get hospital treatment, you need a referral from a GP except in cases of emergency, when you can go directly to the hospital. In case of urgent medical transport or in case of treatment by doctor of emergency service it is also necessary to present your European health insurance card, E111 or Provisional certificate. Please note that non-urgent or elective treatment which can reasonably be postponed until the persons return to his/her country are not covered, and for these eventualities we recommend you take out extra medical or commercial travel insurance with an insurance provider in your home country.

Non-EU nationals

Non-EU students should ensure that they have private medical insurance or they must expect to pay cash for all medical care. We strongly urge all non-EU international students to consult with their home medical insurance company prior to travelling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies to the Czech Republic and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

All students and staff of the Third Faculty of Medicine at Charles University are covered by an insurance policy concluded with Česká pojišťovna, a.s. in respect of „third-party liability for damage arising in connection with the activities performed in accordance with the unabridged version of the Statutes of Charles University”. The amount of the indemnity limit is CZK 20,000,000 and this policy is valid throughout the Czech Republic. The excess for each insured party is CZK 1,000 per insurance claim. This insurance does not cover the risk of contracting an infectious disease.

About Czech Republic

• My Czech Republic – more than a destination guide: http://www.myczechrepublic.com

• Information on the CR: travel, business, study, work and leisure: http://www.czech.cz

• Czech Tourism: http://www.czechtourism.com/Homepage.aspx

• Map of the Czech Republic: http://www.mapy.cz or Google Maps: http://maps.google.cz

About Prague

• Praha.eu – portal of Prague: http://www.praha.eu/jnp/en/home/index.html

• Prague Information Service – tourist portal: http://www.praguewelcome.cz/en/

Transport

• Czech Airlines: http://www.csa.cz/en

• Trains and Buses in CR + find a connection: http://jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/

• Prague Public Transport + find a connection: http://www.dpp.cz/en

STUDY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

• Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports: Act No. 111/1998 on universities and on amendment of further regulations: http://www.msmt.cz

  (only partially in English: http://www.msmt.cz/index.php?lchan=1&lred=1)

• Centre for Higher Education Studies: http://www.csvs.cz

Czech authorities

• Czech Missions and Offices Abroad (Ministry of Foreign Affairs): http://www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/index.html

• Czech Ministry of Home Affairs: http://www.mvcr.cz/mvcren/

• Embassies in Prague: http://www.prague-czechrepublic.com/embassy-in-prague/

Others

• Czech Weather Forecast: http://www.meteoprog.cz/en/

Third Faculty of Medicine

• Official website of the Third Faculty of Medicine: http://www.lf3.cuni.cz/en

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/3lfuk

• Official website of students organization TRIMED: http://trimed.lf3.cuni.cz/en/

A little bit of Czech language