I don't know specifically about 1912 but as a general rule emigration from the empire of Austria-Hungary (which included present-day Czech lands until after WWI) required official permission from the government. In order to obtain such permission the applicant had to show they had discharged their debts and other obligations and that they had sufficient cash in hand to pay the expenses of their emigration. Males under middle age had to demonstrate that they had already discharged their military service obligations, both the requirement for active service and then for subsequent service in the reserves. Since many wished to emigrate because of poverty and lack of opportunity to make a living, or to avoid military service, a great many people couldn't get permission and simply slipped over the border and left illegally. A very interesting and detailed study of emigration applications from the Policka region in eastern has been made by Karel Kysilka, who delivered a speech on it at the Genealogy Seminar of the Czech Heritage Society of Texas, Hillsboro, TX.,July 31, 1999. You can read it at: http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/durer/23/emigration/emigration.htm While it has to do with a specific region and with the periods somewhat prior to the one you asked about, it should give you a rough idea of what potential emigrants were expected to go through to get permission. >>> Joanne Brown <jb@tbcnet.com> 6/10/2004 8:32:39 PM >>> Does anyone know what the emigration rules and procedures in the Czech Republic were in about 1912? Were people supposed to register before leaving the country? Were they allowed to leave, or did they leave illegally? The reason I ask is this---I have a portion of my grandfather's brother's diary translated into English and it says that you were not allowed to leave at that time. It also states that the police came looking for my grandfather about a week after he left the country and the family told them that he was working in Pilsen. Joanne ______________________________