State Integration Programme

State Integration Programme and its Objectives

The current integration programme follows on the existing assistance provided to the persons who have been granted international protection in the Czech Republic since 1994. The aim of the programme is to facilitate the process of integration of persons who have been granted international protection (beneficiaries of asylum and subsidiary protection), especially with respect to the Czech language instruction, their entry to the labour market, housing, education and retraining courses.

The State Integration Programme (the "SIP") is based on ss. 68–70 of Act No. 325/1999 Coll., on Asylum. The new SIP was approved under Government Resolution No. 954 dated 20 November 2015 and it came into effect on 1 January 2016. With its Resolution No. 36, the Government of the Czech Republic approved modifications in the SIP concept on 16 January 2017.
 

General Provider of Integration Services

From 2016 onwards, integration services to beneficiaries of international protection are provided by a general provider of integration services (the "Provider"). The Provider that is active throughout the whole country is responsible for the co-ordination and provision of integration services to beneficiaries of international protection in co-operation with other entities such as the ministries concerned, municipalities, non-government non-profit organisations, churches, volunteers, employers, etc. The Provider may render individual services via a third person that will act as a subcontractor.

In 2017, the  Refugee Facilities Administration of the Ministry of the Interior (pdf, 67 kB) (the "RFA") acts as the general provider of integration services.
 

Integration Stages

The integration process has two stages: a stay in an integration asylum centre of the Ministry of the Interior which is followed by a settlement in municipalities in the Czech Republic.
 

Integration in an Integration Asylum Centre

During the first stage, beneficiaries of international protection may use temporary accommodation in an integration asylum centre (the "IAC") of the Ministry of the Interior operated by the RFA. Currently, there are four IACs in the Czech Republic: in Jaroměř - Josefov, Ústí nad Labem - Předlice, Brno-Židenice and Havířov. In these centres, recognized refugees have available separate dwelling units where they pay rent and utility fees. The stay in the centre is focused on the initial adaptation to life in the Czech Republic. It includes a free intensive course of the Czech language arranged by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, as well as a search for permanent housing and a job, or improvements of qualifications in order to have a better chance in the labour market.
 

Integration under Permanent Placement in a Municipality

The Provider, in co-operation with the beneficiary of international protection, IAC employees and other organisations, prepare an individual integration plan (the “IP”). The IP is a basic document describing the integration objectives of a specific person and the course of integration in the key integration areas specified below. The IP will be drafted during the course of the stay at the IAC. If a foreign national does not stay at an IAC, the IP is drafted in co-operation with him/her as soon as possible after international protection has been granted. The IP is updated depending on the course of integration of the foreign national in the respective municipality.
 

Areas of Integration

Integration services will be provided for a maximum of 12 months in the following key areas of integration:

Housing: in particular provision of

• housing under a lease or sub-lease agreement, or an accommodation agreement in the event that accommodation is connected with employment for a minimum period of one year;

• in case it is necessary to pay initial costs: provision of a commission for a real estate agency for the maximum rent amount for one month of the leased flat; a one-time and non-refundable financial contribution to housing; payment of the first and, if possible, the second rent;

• flat furnishings with the necessary basic furniture and other equipment;

• moving of the eligible person into the flat, including the payment of the moving costs.
   

Employment: in particular assistance when

• filing an application for arranging an employment – the outcome is the registration at a labour office branch;

• looking for a job using the offer of vacancies;

• arranging retraining courses;

• arranging other courses.
   

Education: in particular assistance when

• integrating children at primary schools as part of the compulsory school attendance;

• arranging study at a secondary school or institution of higher education;

• filing an application for the recognition of secondary and higher education obtained abroad and the relating documents (so-called recognition and validation);

• integrating children in after-school clubs and activities as part of the primary school attendance;

• arranging an above-standard language course, if they wish so (e.g. in order to get a job);

• integrating children as part of pre-school education.
   

Social services: in particular assistance when

• filing an application for social benefits under Act No. 117/1995 Coll., on State Social Support, as amended, and during the following appointments;

• filing an application for social benefits under Act No. 111/2006 Coll., on Assistance in Material Need, as amended, and during the following appointments.
   

Healthcare services: in particular assistance when

• filing for registration at a health insurance company;

• filing for registration at physicians and during individual appointments;

• purchasing and paying for special medical care equipment and devices for the handicapped.

Interpreter’s assistance during interactions with authorities and other entities is provided.
 

Czech Language Course

The SIP relating to the acquisition of the Czech language is implemented by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in the form of a basic free language course covering 400 lessons at RFA facilities as well as outside these facilities. The course is provided in groups or on an individual basis and lasts between 6 and 12 months. It is concluded with a test and consequently issuance of a certificate of completion and a final examination.
 

Other Legal Entities Co-operating in the Implementation of the SIP in Addition to the Ministries Concerned

• Municipalities
  Through active co-operation with the Ministry of the Interior and the Provider in the integration of foreign nationals with international protection in municipalities, in particular with respect to housing, employment and social services. Through an offer of the foreign nationals’ involvement in activities taking place within the municipal territory.

• Non-government and Non-profit Organisations
  In addition to the Ministry of the Interior, the Provider and the RFA, the SIP implementation is assisted by non-government non-profit organisations such as Poradna pro integraci (Counselling Centre for Integration) (PPI), Charita Česká republika (Caritas Czech Republic), Organizace pro pomoc uprchlíkům (Organisation for Aid to Refugees) (OPU), Centrum pro integraci cizinců (Centre for Integration of Foreigners) (CIC), Sdružení pro integraci a migraci (Association for Integration and Migration) (SIMI) or InBáze (InBaze) and many other entities.
   

Information for and about Beneficiaries of International Protection

Raising the awareness of foreign nationals who have been granted international protection in the Czech Republic as well as of employers, people working in direct contact with these foreign nationals and last, but not least, of the public is one of the key priorities of the Ministry of the Interior with respect to the integration of recognized refugees. Many information materials have been published to increase this awareness; some of them were created in co-operation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Czech Republic (UNHCR in the Czech Republic).