Work permits for employees in the Czech Republic (Czechia): A complete guide for employers

When hiring or expanding your company's operations to the Czech Republic, it is crucial to ensure that all employees have the necessary work authorization. Employing individuals without proper authorization is illegal and can result in severe penalties, such as fines, imprisonment, or a ban on hiring foreign workers.

Before making your first hire in the Czech Republic or transferring an employee there, familiarize yourself with our comprehensive guide. It covers essential information, including who requires a work visa, the work permit application process, and frequently asked questions regarding work permits for employees in the Czech Republic.

What is a work permit in the Czech Republic?

A work permit, also known as a work visa, is an official document issued by the Czech government. It enables foreign nationals to engage in legal employment within the Czech Republic for a specified duration. Upon expiration, individuals must either renew their work permit or return to their home country. This document is essential for foreign workers to ensure their lawful employment status in the Czech Republic.

The issuing authority of work visas in the Czech Republic depends on the type of permit. They are issued by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the Czech Republic, the most common long-term work visa is the Employee Card. These permits are related to specific jobs that are posted by employers on the Czech Republic’s central register of job vacancies. The Employee Card is usually issued for the duration of the employer-employee relationship (maximum two years with an option to extend).

Who needs a work visa in the Czech Republic?

Foreign nationals who don’t have permanent residency in the Czech Republic, usually need to obtain a work permit to work in the country.

However, there are some exemptions:

• Citizens of EU/EEA member states, citizens of Switzerland, and their families.
• Long-term residents of the EU. These are people who are not citizens of the EU but have lived in the EU legally for at least five years.
• Family member of a diplomatic mission, embassy, or a family member of an employee of an international government organization established in the Czech Republic.
• Those who have been granted asylum.
• Artists, educational workers, academics, scientific and research workers, development workers, students under the age of 26, athletes, and persons who arrange the supplies of goods or services in the Czech Republic, or perform warranty and repair work (time limits apply).
• Those not required to have a work permit based on an international treaty.
• People employed in international transport if posted to work in the Czech Republic by a foreign employer.
• Members of the media.
• Those who hold a residence permit of an intra-corporate transfer issued by another EU country and have been subject to intra-corporate transfer to the territory of the Czech Republic.
• Foreign nationals whose work is in the interest of the Czech Republic.
• Temporary workers from countries that have an agreement with the Czech Republic.

When you send an offer letter to a new hire in the Czech Republic, it should include a clause about the offer being contingent on their eligibility to work in the Czech Republic legally.

Hiring in the Czech Republic? Learn how to create a compliant offer letter with our guide

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How long does it take to get a work permit in the Czech Republic?

Processing times in the Czech Republic depend on the type of permit. The range is from 15 days to 120 days. However, the applicant should assume 90 days in most cases.

Types of work visas in the Czech Republic

There are several types of work permits in the Czech Republic. These vary by the nationality of the employee (EU citizens or third-country nationals), the length of employment, and the type of employment. If you’re hiring foreign (non-EU) workers in the Czech Republic, the most important permits are: the Employee Card, the EU Blue Card, and the Intra-Company Employee Transfer Card.

• The Employee Card: In the Czech Republic, the Employee Card is a work permit issued by the Czech government that allows foreign nationals to legally work and reside in the country for periods of more than 90 days.
• The EU Blue Card: The EU Blue Card is granted to highly qualified non-EU workers, allowing them to live and work in an EU country. Eligibility requires higher professional qualifications, such as a university degree, as well as an employment contract or a firm job offer with a duration of at least one year.
• Intra-Company Transfer Card: The Intra-Company Employee Transfer Card allows foreign nationals to work in the Czech Republic for more than three months as managers, specialists, or employed interns transferred within multinational companies. It facilitates temporary transfers from non-EU countries to branches in the Czech Republic.
• Special Work Visa: The Special Work Visa is issued for stays over 90 days. It authorizes the holder to stay in the Czech Republic for a period no longer than one year. It is subject to government regulations specifying job sectors and eligible citizenship.
• Schengen Short-Term Visa: A Schengen visa for short-term employment may be issued for periods of less than 90 days.
• Seasonal Work Visa: Short-stay (maximum three months) or long-stay (maximum six months) visas are issued for seasonal work (for example, agriculture).
• Digital Nomad Visa: This visa (Živnostenský list) is a long-term residency and employment permit for those who have obtained a trade license as a freelancer. It is valid for 12 months and can be renewed.

Remember, residents of the European Union are not covered by these permits as they automatically have authorization to work in the Czech Republic and other EU states.

Application process for Czech work visas

There are several steps required for the most common work visas in the Czech Republic. They are:

Employee Card:

• The worker applies at the Czech Embassy in their home country. Some foreign nationals, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, can apply at any Czech Embassy. If the worker is already legally residing in the Czech Republic, they may apply at the Ministry of the Interior.
• Pay the required fee.
• The applicant must include the number of the job vacancy from the Central Register of Job Vacancies on the official application form. This contains specific information about the job/employer.
• Several documents must be submitted with the application form including a valid travel document (passport), proof of accommodation, photograph, approval to work issued by the Public Employment Service, and additional documentation (for example, proof of health insurance or travel medical insurance), as required. Only originals or certified copies are accepted. Some documents must be translated into Czech.
• If an employer of the applicant is a job agency and the applicant will be temporarily allocated by this job agency to another employer, it is necessary to submit additional documentation.
• Once approved, the worker will receive a temporary visa to travel to the Czech Republic. After arrival, they must provide biometric data to the Ministry of the Interior. The Certificate on Compliance with Conditions for Issue of an Employee Card will then be issued. With this, the applicant can be hired and start work while waiting for the biometric Employee Card to be issued.

The EU Blue Card:

• The worker files an application at a Czech Embassy or the Ministry of the Interior if they are already legally residing in the country.
• They submit original or notarized copies of the required documents, including: a travel document (passport), proof of accommodation, photograph, contract of employment, confirmation of educational credentials, and if applicable, confirmation of the ability to perform a regulated position (professional activity or trade), and any other requested documentation.
• Pay the required fee.
• If an employer of the applicant is a job agency and the applicant will be temporarily allocated by this job agency to another employer, it is necessary to submit additional documentation.
• Once approved, the applicant and employer are notified.
• If already inside the Czech Republic, the applicant must provide biometric data to the Ministry of the Interior. They may begin working while waiting for the Blue Card to be issued.
• If the applicant is outside of the Czech Republic, they may obtain a 90-day visa from the Czech Embassy in their country. With this, they can travel to the Czech Republic to provide biometric data to the Ministry of the Interior. They may begin working while waiting for the Blue Card to be issued.

Special Work Visa:

• The worker personally files an application at a Czech Embassy.
• They submit original or notarized copies of required documents (travel documents, proof of accommodation, photographs, etc.).
• They submit a copy of the decision to permit employment, issued by the Public Employment Service.
• Pay the required fee.
• Once approved, the applicant and employer are notified and the applicant takes possession of the visa at the Czech Embassy in their country.

Intra-Company Transfer Card:

• The worker files an application at the Czech Embassy (the employer may do this on the employee’s behalf).
• They submit original or notarized copies of the required documents (passport information, proof of accommodation, photograph, transfer document outlining the details of the transfer, etc.).
• Upon approval, the applicant obtains a 90-day visa from the Czech Embassy in their country. With this, they can travel to the Czech Republic to provide biometric data to the authorities. They may begin working while waiting for the permit to be issued.

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Frequently asked questions about work permits for employees in the Czech Republic

Do US citizens need a work permit to work in the Czech Republic?

Yes. US citizens must follow the same rules for foreign nationals to obtain a work visa for the Czech Republic.

What documents are required to apply for a Czech Republic work permit?

When applying for a Czech work permit, a worker will need:

• A valid passport or travel document.
• Completed applications for the Employee Card, EU Blue Card, Special Work Visa, Intra-Company Employee Transfer Card (use the application for Long-Term Residence), or another type of visa.
• Evidence that they meet the requirements for their prospective job position and the visa for which they’ve applied.
• Proof of accommodation.
• Proof of funds in some circumstances.
• Photos of themselves and any accompanying family members.
• Proof of relationship with spouses, children, and common-law partners.
• Copy of the offer of employment in some circumstances.
• Proof of professional standing in some circumstances.
• Educational records in some circumstances.
• Medical records in some circumstances.
• Criminal check in some circumstances.
• Additional requirements and documents specific to the type of visa applied for.

What’s the fastest way to get a work permit in the Czech Republic?

The process cannot be expedited. However, employers and their workers can prevent processing delays by ensuring that the application is complete and includes all required forms and documents when initially submitted.

How much does it cost to get a Czech work permit?

These are the fees for the most common work permits in the Czech Republic. Fees below are listed in Czech koruna (CZK) and US dollars.

Are family members included in work visa applications in the Czech Republic?

Family members of a third-country national holding an Employee Card in the Czech Republic can apply for a long-term residence permit for family reunification through the Ministry of the Interior. The specific family members who can apply are determined by the Czech authorities.

Similarly, family members of a third-country national with a Blue Card or a Special Work Visa are eligible to apply for a long-term visa for family purposes. This application should be submitted to the Czech Republic Embassy abroad.

How do you renew your Czech work permit?

Employee Cards and Blue Cards can be renewed, provided the same reasons still exist for holding the permit. They can be extended for the length of a new employment contract but not for more than two years. The application must be made at the Czech Ministry of the Interior and filed before the expiration of the previous permit, but not earlier than 120 days before expiration.
Special Work Visas cannot be extended.

Is there a limit on the number of work permits you can obtain in the Czech Republic?

It depends on the type of work permit. The Employee Card and Blue Card can be renewed repeatedly but in two-year periods. The Special Work Visa cannot be renewed.

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Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.