Overcoming Obstacles: How PRAGate Eases the Struggles of Foreigners in Czechia

Anything involving bureaucracy in Czechia can be a horror experience for many foreigners residing in Prague.

Whether signing a rental agreement for your new apartment, registering with the foreign police, applying for a visa, or even simply mailing a letter to the post office, overcoming the obstacles of language barriers and cultural differences can cause a roadblock in expat integration.

For some of us who may not have a close Czech friend to rely on to assist us in these troublesome procedures, it may be important to look elsewhere for help before signing the contract, opening a business, or compiling the necessary documents to apply for residency.

That’s where PRAGate comes in, providing translation and consulting services specifically catered to help you in these situations.

Alexander Mikolas, head of PRAGate, expressed that navigating various matters can be challenging for foreigners in this environment.

“This difficulty is amplified by the language, which acts as a protective barrier for the nation. It determines one’s inclusion or exclusion in Czech society, making interactions with offices, bureaus, and landlords especially challenging for those who find themselves excluded.”

Alexander moved to Prague from his hometown of Karlovy Vary to study law after graduating from high school.

After working for quite some time for the public health authority and law firms in Prague, he was able to gain experience in understanding how the bureaucratic system works, and especially how it treats foreigners who choose Czechia as a home.

Alexander explains that bureaucracies, rather than creating something tangible, tend to reluctantly generate paperwork. Those who receive the papers often don’t want them either, because it’s usually a penalization for some sort of wrongdoing.

What the energy essentially reappears into, according to Alexander is the negative ambiance that fills the atmosphere in such places. Not only does the language barrier cause a direct issue, but the matter of the employees’ attitude towards dealing with foreigners can be quite unsettling, often leaving many frustrated.

That’s why PRAGate is very capable of providing you with the service you need to overcome that roadblock in your Prague life, contracts, documents, and all. The services offered by the enterprise include interpreting, on-location assistance, translating, consulting, and unwavering support that is offered at a fair price by the hour. Simply contact them at this link with whatever issue you’re dealing with, and expect a swift reply ready to assist.

Alexander points out that in many cases in assisting foreigners, it’s the real estate market can be a tricky field to navigate. There’s no end to the number of disturbing experiences expats in Prague tend to hear from their social circles, whether it’s shady landlords, shoddy apartments, or refusal to give back the deposit, the real estate conundrum can be quite the hazard. The reason for that is, partly, is due to the Lemon law.

The current scope of the market here in Prague is that a considerable amount of owners prefer not to rent to foreigners, seeing that it is easier to undergo communication in Czech, in addition to a matter of trust in which the rentee won’t just up and leave. This creates a market for scammers.

“The people who do try to work with foreigners are usually scammers themselves in some way, or the apartment is leaking or cold or there’s some other defect with it. And they’re relying on the customers or tenants to not really have the knowledge and power to get what they want or what they need,” said Alexander.

Not to mention the unbelievably high prices that are sometimes paid out of desperation, or landlords’ preference to rent out to EU citizens only.

Mikolas also highlights the disparity in how the bureaucratic offices treat you depending on where you are from: “There’s a big division between how EU citizens are treated versus the third country nationals.”

“When I worked in a non-profit law clinic for foreigners in Prague, oftentimes I saw third-country nationals encounter some issue in their documents upon applying or re-applying for their visa, and once that happens, there’s no way to correct it. The only thing to do is to go back to their home country and start from point zero again,” added Alexander.

For some, it can be too costly to travel back home and return to Prague again.

One way to overcome all these obstacles may first begin with learning the Czech language, but that’s not entirely possible within the first or second year of living in Prague for many. That’s why PRAGate can be the temporary solution that expats need in order to integrate into Prague or Czechia as a whole.

For those looking to start a business or invest in property, PRAGate can also point you in the right direction regarding who to contact or collaborate with for your new ideas. The next time you or someone you know encounters a difficult situation with a lady at the visa office or a deceitful landlord, it’s worth considering PRAGate for assistance.