Quality of life and Schengen travel on one side, the visa position for Russian and Belarusian passports on the other: the numbers from 2026 sources and a plan for the first 90 days.
In brief
As of 7 November 2026, the Czech Republic suits people who value everyday quality of life and a central European base, and it is harder to enter on a Russian or Belarusian passport. InterNations Expat Insider 2026 puts Czechia 25th of 31 destinations overall, but 13th in the Quality of Life Index and 6th for Travel & Transit, and 72 percent of expats say they are happy there against a global average of 70 percent. The average gross wage was CZK 49,215 in 2025, and a one-bedroom in Prague rents for roughly CZK 20,000 to 26,000 a month. Check the visa position first: the ban on visas and residence permits for citizens of Russia and Belarus has been extended without an end date, with exceptions.
What moving to the Czech Republic gives you
- Everyday quality of life. In the 2026 InterNations survey, as reported by Expats.cz, Czechia ranks 13th of 31 in the Quality of Life Index, helped by 6th place for Travel & Transit. That is the part of life you notice on an ordinary Tuesday: getting around, getting away for a weekend.
- A positive mood among people who live there. 72 percent of expats say they are happy in Czechia, close to the global average of 70 percent.
- Wages that grow. The Czech Statistical Office reported an average gross wage of CZK 49,215 for 2025, up 7.2 percent, as reported by Expats.cz. It is a national average, not a Prague figure, and not a net one.
- A fixed address in the Schengen area. Once you hold a status, your base in Prague or Brno is a base for the whole region. The rules for the status itself are covered in the section below.
- A clear route to health cover. A long-term visa or permit application asks for comprehensive health insurance for foreigners, and one insurer's price lists work out to roughly CZK 1,050 to 1,210 a month (2024 and 2025 lists, so confirm a current quote). Children under 18 with a long-term permit have been in the public system since 1 January 2024.
What to prepare for
Each point below has a practical answer.
- The visa position for Russian and Belarusian passports. Press and aggregator pages say Czechia extended its ban on visas and residence permits for Russians and Belarusians without an end date. Exceptions named are holders of existing Czech permits, family members of EU or Czech citizens and humanitarian cases; dual nationals are described differently in different sources. A proposal to ease the rules for Belarusians with close relatives was reported, and we did not find confirmation that it was adopted. What to do: read the current text on the Czech foreign ministry site before you plan anything, and ask the consulate that handles your country. We did not research the rules for Kazakh or Ukrainian passports.
- Documents and language. The foreign ministry's embassy page says supporting documents for these applications must be in Czech. What to do: budget for sworn translations and time for them.
- Entry documents. One 2026 source says only biometric Russian passports are accepted at entry. What to do: check your passport type before you buy a ticket.
- Keeping the rules. The same source says authorities can refuse or withdraw a long-term permit after repeated minor administrative offences, from 1 January 2026. It is one source, so treat it as a reason to keep every deadline, such as the Foreign Police registration.
- Rent. Expats.cz puts a one-bedroom in the capital at about CZK 20,000 to 26,000 a month, and Expat Arrivals (April 2026 data) gives CZK 26,000 in the centre and CZK 22,000 outside it. Other websites give very different figures, so these are indicative. What to do: rent for a few months first, then decide where to settle.
- Social integration. The same survey puts Czechia second to last in the Expat Essentials Index, which covers settling in. What to do: plan your first weeks around a language course and local groups, and use the checklist in first 30 days in the Czech Republic.
Who it suits and who may prefer another country
It suits people who already have a status or a route to one, who like a calm, walkable city and who want a base from which to travel around Europe. Families with children can use the public system for children under 18 with a long-term permit; see schools and education when relocating.
It may be a harder choice if you plan to apply as a Russian or Belarusian citizen without a family link or an existing Czech permit, because the ban is the first thing to resolve. In that case a trial in another country can come first: the idea is described in a trial year abroad, and the scoring method in how to choose a country.
Your first 90 days
- Days 1 to 3: report your place of stay to the Foreign Police if the accommodation provider has not done it, and keep your insurance papers together.
- Weeks 1 and 2: open a bank account and start a language course. Read a resident bank account abroad.
- Weeks 3 and 4: sort out health cover (health insurance and doctors after moving abroad) and read about tax residency (tax residency when relocating).
- Month 2: choose a neighbourhood after living in two areas, and write down your monthly costs.
- Month 3: review what worked, and decide on a longer lease. The full approach is in should you move abroad.
Where a property purchase fits
Buy after you have a status and a few months of living there, not before. The market and the rules for foreigners are in buying property in the Czech Republic, the tax side for owners in the property tax return for Czech residents, and the regional comparison in Czech Republic against Hungary and Romania. If you hold crypto, see buying property in the Czech Republic with crypto.
This text is information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm every rule with the office.
FAQ
Is the Czech Republic a good country to move to in 2026? For quality of life and travel, the 2026 InterNations survey puts it 13th and 6th of 31, and 72 percent of expats say they are happy; for settling in it ranks near the bottom, so plan for the first months.
Can a Russian or Belarusian citizen move to the Czech Republic? Sources say the ban on visas and residence permits was extended without an end date, with exceptions such as existing permit holders and family of EU or Czech citizens. Check the current text with the foreign ministry or a consulate before you plan.
How much does a one-bedroom cost in Prague? Expats.cz gives about CZK 20,000 to 26,000 a month, and Expat Arrivals CZK 26,000 in the centre and CZK 22,000 outside it. These are indicative figures.
Do I need health insurance to move? A long-term visa or permit application asks for comprehensive health insurance for foreigners; one insurer's lists work out to about CZK 1,050 to 1,210 a month. Confirm a current quote.
Should I buy a flat first? Rent first, buy once you hold a status and know the city. See the purchase guide linked above.