Joanne Elvy (CAN)

When I came to Prague from Canada in 2018, the plan was very simple: take an ESL teaching course, enjoy the experience, and then see what happened. I wasn’t necessarily planning to stay long-term — but somewhere along the way, Prague started to feel like home.

During my course, MoveToPrague gave a presentation about visa options, and as a non-EU citizen I knew my situation would be more complicated. That presentation gave me something incredibly valuable: clarity. Suddenly staying didn’t feel impossible anymore — it felt achievable.

After I finished the course, I decided I wanted to remain in Prague, and that’s when I started working with their team. The timing turned out to be perfect. My visa was approved just before COVID disrupted everything, and I honestly felt very lucky — and very supported.

Since then, MoveToPrague has been my trusted guide through Czech bureaucracy. Every couple of years when my visa needed renewing, they walked me through the process step by step. And whenever I had questions (which you always do with immigration), I knew exactly who to call.

What I appreciated most was the consistency. The process always felt calm, organized, and manageable — never overwhelming. They even connected me with a reliable accountant who now helps with my taxes every year, which is another huge relief when you’re living abroad.

Over the years, I built my career, my friendships, and my life here. And recently I reached a major milestone: receiving my permanent residence card. Excited doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt. It was a moment years in the making, and I’m incredibly grateful I had the right people guiding me the whole way.

What started as a short course turned into a new home — and having MoveToPrague supporting me at every stage made that journey smooth, secure, and far less stressful than it could have been.