What You Need to Know When You’re Moving to Brno

Relocating to Brno

About the City

Located in the South Moravian Region in the south-east of the country, Brno is the second largest and most populous city in the Czech Republic after Prague, the capital city. The city is home to nearly 800,000 people, around 300,000 of which live in the city center. Its population is made up of two main ethnic groups, Czechs and Moravians, whilst there are also communities of Poles and Germans; there is also a growing expatriate community in the city. Whilst the official language is Czech, Brno has its own distinct dialect, which also takes influences from Yiddish and German, and is referred to as the Hantec dialect. Many people will also speak in the traditional Czech dialect, and younger people may have some grasp of English; Polish is also commonly spoken as a second language.

The Climate in Brno

Brno has a unique climate that it formed of a combination of both oceanic and humid continental climatic features. This means that expatriates moving to Brno will need to adjust to cold, wet winters and hot, humid summers. In the summer months, the average temperature ranges between 19.5 °C (67.1°F) and 24.5°C (76.1°F), although temperatures as high as 35.1°C (95.2°F) are not uncommon. By contrast, the winter is much colder, with an average temperature of −2.5°C (27.5°F) in January, the coldest month. Expatriates living in Brno should expect fairly wet winters, with rain falling on average 150 days every year. The city also has a number of protected natural areas, like Moravian Karst and Stránská Skála, which have their own distinct ecologies and climates.

Visas for the Czech Republic

As the Czech Republic is a member of the European Union, EU/EEA and Swiss nationals will not need a visa to enter the country or to move to Brno for up to 90 days. However, should they wish to stay for longer than this period, they must register with the Czech Republic’s Border Police within 30 days of moving to Brno, after which they can stay in Brno indefinitely. Expatriates from non-EU/EEA nations will need to apply for a visa before moving to Brno. In addition, they must have already obtained their work permit before applying for a long stay or residence visa. A long stay visa will allow expatriates to move to Brno for up to a year, after which they will need to apply for a residence visa, the length of which is determined on a case by case basis.