New expat help centre opens in Prague

Following the lead of other European capitals, Prague has now opened a new Expat Centre to help incomers adapt to their new lives.

The new facility offers information, educational courses and contacts and is aimed at entrepreneurs, qualified expat professionals and students arriving from overseas. According to a representative from the city’s government, every expat who’s either worked, lived or studied overseas is aware of the initial difficulties of getting adjusted to the new environment and the need for expert assistance. The guides, he said, are friendly, advisory and will provide a source of support for all new expat arrivals in the city, thus helping them feel at home soon after their arrival.

The centre is expected to be very popular with expats in general as well as new arrivals, as Prague is now a hub for foreign entrepreneurs, students and expat ;professionals. According to a recent official survey, one in every seven residents in Prague is foreign-born, with almost half having permanent residence status in the city. Expats who’ve already taken advantage of the facility are praising the services it offers, saying getting used to the initial disorientation caused by the major move has been eased by the centre’s help in establishing a feeling of belonging in their new country.

However, according to another recent survey, Czech nationals may not be quite as happy with the high number of expatriates now living in Prague. In general, the study revealed some 20 per cent of respondents consider the increasing numbers of foreigners may cause a significant safety and security threat to Czech citizens. It has to be said the focus was on foreign intelligence services, far right as well as far left political groups, followers of radical religions, terrorists and refugees as the main targets of discontent, but newly-arrived expats may well be identified incorrectly due to fear.