The days when foreigners could simply drift in and out of Eastern Europe, staying in Prague for 6 months, Budapest for 7 and Krakow for a year, might be over.
With the Schengen agreement now applying to some Central/Eastern European countries, it has gotten more difficult to do all this with just a tourist visa. One now has to apply for Schengen visa, which is a bit harder to obtain.
To add to things, the Czech Republic will probably impose a Czech language test for anyone who is applying for a residency permit here. Starting next year, foreigners applying for residency will be required to speak Czech at level A1( the ability to communicate and to manage basic day-to-day living situations). Those applying for citizenship will have to pass a harder, A2-level language test.
Free first Czech lesson for gadling readers: “Str? prst skrz krk.” (Put your finger through your throat). This is a famous Czech no-vowel tongue twister.