Living in a new country comes with its fair share of challenges — and figuring out how public offices work is definitely one of them. In the Czech Republic, there are various government institutions responsible for different parts of daily life. This article gives you a clear overview of where to go if you need to sort out residency, social security, marriage, or even registering your car.

City Hall / Municipal Office

Every city or town has either a city hall (magistrát) or a municipal office (obecní úřad). Here, you can take care of:

• Registering your permanent residence
• Officially verifying signatures and documents
• Getting residential parking permits
• Applying for a trade license (the Trade Licensing Office is usually part of the municipal office)
• Applying for a Czech ID card or passport (if you have permanent residence)

💡 Note: If you’re a non-EU citizen, some of these services only apply if you have long-term or permanent residency.

Registry Office (Matrika)

The registry office is typically located within the municipal office. You’ll need to go here for:

• Registering the birth of a child – obtaining a Czech birth certificate
• Marriage ceremonies – civil or religious
• Reporting a death – getting a death certificate
• Changing your name or surname
• Getting official copies or extracts from Czech registers (needed for international use)

Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ)

This is the institution that manages social insurance. You can handle the following:

• Registering for social insurance (especially if you’re self-employed)
• Requesting confirmation of your pension insurance history
• Applying for a pension
• Sick leave and maternity benefits
• Getting statements about your contributions

📌 If you’re employed, your employer usually handles these for you. But if you’re self-employed, it’s your responsibility.

Labour Office (Úřad práce)

At the Labour Office, you can deal with:

• Registering as unemployed
• Applying for unemployment benefits
• Housing support and other social benefits
• Career counseling and job search support
• Enrolling in retraining courses

⚠️ Some benefits may be available to foreigners depending on your residence status and how long you’ve been in the country.

Financial Office (Finanční úřad)

This office handles everything related to taxes:

• Filing your tax return
• Getting a tax identification number (DIČ)
• Information on tax deductions and obligations
• Support for freelancers and small business owners

💼 If you’re employed, your employer usually handles your income tax. But if you freelance or have other income, you must file taxes yourself.

Immigration Authorities – Foreign Police & MOI

For non-EU citizens, immigration matters are handled by:

• Foreign Police – reporting changes of residence, arrival registration
• Ministry of the Interior (OAMP office) – applying for or renewing residence permits, collecting biometric cards, updating address

Health Insurance Companies

In the Czech Republic, everyone must have health insurance. The largest public provider is VZP, but there are others too (e.g., OZP, ZPMV, etc.).

At a health insurance office, you can:

• Register for public health insurance
• Switch insurance providers
• Get confirmation of coverage
• Enroll your newborn baby into the system

Final Tip

If you’re unsure which office to contact, your best bet is to call your local municipal office or check their official website. Many public websites now offer information in English or provide services for foreigners.

• Labour Office (Úřad práce): https://www.uradprace.cz/en/
• Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ): https://www.cssz.cz/web/lang?lang=en
• Financial Office (Finanční úřad): https://financnisprava.gov.cz/en/index