Accommodation Problems in Family Reunification? How to Handle Proof of Accommodation, Hostels and Strict Authority Requirements

To get approval for family reunification from the Department for Asylum and Migration Policy (OAMP), you have to meet several strict conditions. Along with income, the most common obstacle is suitable accommodation.

Rents on today's Czech property market are at record highs and landlords choose their tenants carefully, so finding a place is a huge source of stress. If you also live in the Czech Republic in a workers' hostel or in housing provided by an employment agency, you are at a dead end: the authorities will almost certainly not accept that kind of accommodation for your wife and children.

The good news is that there is a solution, and we can help you with it from start to finish.

Why hostels and agency housing are not enough

Many foreigners who come to the Czech Republic for work start out in housing arranged by their employer or an employment agency. For a single person, this is a practical solution. For family reunification, it runs into legal limits.

1. Shared spaces and strict hygiene standards

The Czech rules set a minimum living space per person, for example at least 8 m² for one person, 12.6 m² for two people and another 5 m² for each additional family member. A typical hostel room does not meet these requirements for a family.

2. Reluctant agencies and hostel operators

Employment agencies often cannot or will not register family members in their housing. Hostel operators often refuse to sign the official Ministry of the Interior form with a certified signature.

3. The sublease trap

If you only sublet your flat, for example from an agency or another person who is the actual tenant, bringing your family in requires explicit written consent from the real owner, meaning the owner registered in the Land Registry. That consent is often very hard to get without professional negotiation.

What does valid proof of accommodation look like?

OAMP does not accept any ambiguity. To avoid a suspended procedure and unnecessary delays, your proof of accommodation must meet strict formal criteria:

• The right legal document. Either the original or a certified copy of a lease agreement in your name, or the official form "Confirmation of Accommodation" (Potvrzení o zajištění ubytování).
• A certified signature. The landlord's signature on the confirmation must be officially certified, for example at a CzechPOINT office or by a notary, or the document must be sent from the landlord's official data box.
• Match with the Land Registry. The landlord must actually be registered in the Land Registry as the owner, or as a co-owner with a sufficient share.
• Sufficient validity. The accommodation must be secured for the entire period of the requested stay, usually at least one to two years.

How we help you with accommodation

We know how difficult it is to deal with Czech landlords, estate agents and authorities in a foreign country. That is why our services include full support with housing.

1. Help communicating with your current landlord

Do you have a flat, but your landlord is afraid to sign "forms for foreigners"? Czech owners often worry about dealing with the authorities for no good reason.

• We contact your landlord in Czech and explain everything clearly, both in practical and legal terms.
• We prepare the exact forms and lease amendments so that the landlord takes on no risk and the authorities are satisfied.
• We arrange the official certification of signatures.

2. Help finding new, suitable housing

If you live in a hostel or in a flat that doesn't meet the requirements, we will help you find a new home that meets all the legal requirements for your family's arrival.

• We search for flats from trusted landlords and property partners who are open to renting to foreigners.
• We check that the flat is large enough for the number of children and meets OAMP requirements.
• We review the lease agreement so that you are not exposed to unfavourable terms or hidden fees.

3. Valid, error-free proof of accommodation

We make sure that the document you submit, both at the embassy and in the Czech Republic, is completely watertight. We check the Land Registry entry, the validity of the contracts and every detail the authorities examine.

Don't wait for a rejection

Missing or poorly documented accommodation is one of the quickest ways to receive a request to correct deficiencies, have the procedure extended by months, or even have the visa refused.

If you are planning family reunification and are not sure whether your current housing will satisfy the authorities, contact us before you submit your application. Together we will find a way to give your family a stable and fully legal home in the Czech Republic.

This article is general information based on the rules as they currently stand. Tell us your case in a free call and we will confirm what applies to you.