On the night from Friday 26th to Saturday 27th of March, the Census of Population, Housing and Dwellings 2021 began in the Czech Republic. It takes place every ten years and helps to obtain comprehensive information about the population, their needs and living standards. For the first time in history, it will take place primarily online, although a paper form will also be provided. The online census will take place until May 11, the printed form will be available from April 17 to May 11.
Foreign students studying in the Czech Republic, who have also stayed here for a longer time during their studies, cannot avoid the obligation to enumerate. This also includes students within the Erasmus+ program and other exchange study programs if they stay in the Czech Republic on the night from March 26 to 27 and for more than 90 days. However, not everyone can use the electronic form. To register for it, you need one of the personal documents issued to foreigners by the Czech authorities.
The documents that can be used to log in to the online form include a long-term visa, a residence permit, a residence card for a family member of a citizen of the European Union (EU) or a residence permit for foreigners. Czech documents or a data box are also required to log in via various forms of electronic identity. International students who do not have any of the above documents, such as students from EU countries, are required to use a paper form available from mid-April on these places.
Under certain conditions, it is possible to use login via the European international authentication called “International ID Gateway”, but it is necessary to have activated access in your home country. This is usually conditioned by other electronic identifiers, such as an identity card with an electronic chip.
The census is mandatory for all those who have a permanent or temporary residence or granted asylum in the Czech Republic, regardless of citizenship. However, it also applies to all those who, although not officially registered in the Czech Republic, were on its territory at the decisive moment of the beginning of the census, which means from midnight on March 26-27. This includes all citizens of the Czech Republic and foreigners with an unregistered stay longer than 90 days. To simplify the census, the online form is also available in English, German, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese and Romani. The paper form will be available only in Czech, but there will be aviable a translated sample form in all seven languages at contact points. The only exception to the census is diplomats and foreigners with a short stay.
Foto: scitani.cz
