8 Things You Should Know Before You Marry a Czech

Anyone anywhere on the planet who has a foreign spouse can expect to deal with the immigration authorities, though in the Czech Republic bureaucracy can be particularly unpleasant. According to František Cihlář, a counselor at the Association for Integration and Migration, this is one of the biggest challenges faced by the marrieds he counsels. A lot of time, effort, and assertiveness is required to make your stay legal. And in the Czech Republic, the rules are changing. In July 2017, the country introduced legislation tightening the rules for foreigners, especially those seeking family-member status. See more on the Foreigners Amendment Act here.

For non-Czech women marrying Czech men, naming requires some forethought. The looming question is whether or not to add the traditional –ová suffix to one’s married name—not a choice to be made lightly as not doing so means upsetting the gender-based system of the Czech language. Not only will you have to make this decision for yourself but, when you apply for your marriage license you will be asked to declare your future children’s surname. And if you want to hyphenate, note that your maiden name will follow your married name, in the Czech manner. See more on naming here.

From articles in women’s magazine doling out advice on how to conduct a secret affair to high-profile politicians who openly cavort with mistresses and see no real public backlash, and a literary and film tradition (Kundera, Klíma, Forman) portraying infidelity as a regular part of life behind the Iron Curtain, the Czech attitude toward sex outside marriage is well documented. Dr. Petr Weiss a clinical psychologist at the Sexology Institute in Prague tells us that, “In all areas to do with sex, Czechs are very tolerant.” And the numbers don’t lie: according to a 2017 poll, the Czech Republic came in as the country most accepting of extra-marital affairs.

It goes without saying that in a country which is repeatedly named the most xenophobic in the EU (not to mention the most sexist) and boasts Europe’s largest population of atheists, you may encounter vastly different attitudes toward these hot-button issues depending on your country of origin. Evaluating shared values and beliefs before entering into a serious relationship is a must says Czech psychologist and marriage counselor Milan Polák who often treats mixed-couples faced with such conflicts.

Entering into a cross-cultural relationship is fairly easy, sustaining one is another thing entirely. Polák says that many Czech people still think that counseling or psychotherapy is only for the mentally ill and are therefore hesitant to seek this kind of help. He says that some of the biggest issues mixed couples seek help for are conflicts with the traditionally overbearing Czech in-laws, as well as clashing parenting styles, and the expat partner’s inability to speak Czech. See more tips from Polák here.