Take Caution When Changing Your Address in the Czech Republic

1) False or incorrect accommodation documents

Submitting a forged document is a criminal offense. Always submit only authentic and unaltered documents. The information contained therein must correspond to reality.

2) The property is not suitable for living

The property must have a land registry house number and must be registered by the building authority as a property intended for residential use (e.g., apartment unit, apartment building, family house). It cannot be a non-residential space, such as offices, basements, or warehouses.
Note: This may not be obvious during a viewing. An owner could have rebuilt a flat into offices without permission. Always check the property type in the Land Registry, which is available online. If the Ministry of the Interior cannot confirm in the Land Registry that the property is suitable for living, your change of address cannot be registered.

3) Landlord’s signature is not verified

The landlord’s signature on the confirmation of accommodation must be officially verified at CzechPoint or by a notary. A simple signature is not enough.

4) Incomplete accommodation documents

The documents must show the link between the foreigner and the property owner (the person listed in the Land Registry). The safest option is either a confirmation of accommodation signed by the owner with a verified signature, or a rental agreement signed directly with the owner. If you only have the original rental agreement, make a certified copy – do not give the ministry your only original. The owner can also be represented by someone based on a power of attorney – in that case, this authorization must be submitted as well, and the owner’s signature on the power of attorney must be officially verified.

If your confirmation of accommodation or your lease (or sublease) is signed by someone other than the property owner (e.g. real estate agency, tenant), you must also provide a document proving the connection to the owner. This could be, for example, a lease agreement between them, a power of attorney given by the owner, or the owner’s consent to accommodate a foreigner. The same applies in the case of cooperative housing – in that case, proof of the landlord’s membership in the cooperative or the cooperative’s consent to accommodate the tenant must be provided.

Example:
Mrs. Alice Bohatá enjoys her retirement at her cottage in the Jeseníky mountains. Besides the cottage, she also owns an apartment in Prague, which she decides to rent out to earn some extra money for her pension. However, she definitely does not want to be bothered with anything related to the rental. Therefore, she uses the services of the real estate agency Bezstarostné nájemné, s.r.o., which promises to handle everything concerning the apartment (for a small fee). She rents her apartment to the company based on a lease agreement.
A few days later, Ms. Valerie, who holds an employee card in the Czech Republic, comes across an advertisement from Bezstarostné nájemné. She likes the apartment during the viewing, and she is also attracted by the idea of dealing with a professional company, since in her previous apartment the landlady constantly bothered her with inspections. Therefore, she signs a lease agreement with Bezstarostné nájemné and becomes the tenant of Mrs. Alice’s flat.
Two weeks after moving in, Valerie finds her passport in the last unpacked box and remembers that she must report her change of address to the Ministry of the Interior. She fills out the change-of-address form, makes a certified copy of her lease contract, and goes to her local OAMP office. After waiting in line, she learns that her documents are not enough. It is also necessary to provide proof of the relationship between the agency Bezstarostné nájemné and Mrs. Alice.
The agency ignores her request for two weeks, which causes Valerie to miss the 30‑day deadline for reporting the change. Afterwards, the agency points her to the price list on its website, according to which they charge 1,500 CZK for the confirmation. At first, Valerie hesitates, but in the end she pays the fee. Another week passes and she still does not receive anything – because Mrs. Alice does not wish to be bothered with anything related to the rental of her apartment.

5. The accommodation provider wants money for the confirmation

The accommodation provider is obliged to issue you with confirmation of accommodation upon request. This obligation is stipulated by law and is unconditional. Therefore, the accommodation provider must issue the confirmation free of charge. If they refuse, this constitutes an offense, which you can report to the Ministry of the Interior. The accommodation provider faces a fine of up to CZK 50,000.