On July 1, 2024, a government regulation will enter into force, introducing free entry to the Czech labour market for citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
What to Expect
- Citizens of these countries who wish to be employed in Czechia are no longer required to obtain a work permit, but only a residence permit.
- Employers of citizens of selected countries are no longer required to notify the Labour Office of vacancies for the purpose of including vacancies in the central register of vacancies.
Permit Requirements
- Those planning to work in Czechia for up to three months must obtain a Schengen visa for employment purposes.
- Visa-free entry does not permit work.
- If the work period is extended beyond three months, the visa holder must exit Czechia and apply for a long-term residence permit at a Czech embassy abroad.
- Those planning to work in Czechia for more than three months must apply for a so-called non-dual employee card at any Czech embassy. This type of employment card can be issued for a job that the employer has not reported to the Labour Office and is not included in the central register of vacant jobs that can be filled by holders of the employment card. The cardholder is then entitled to change jobs freely (and additionally notify the Ministry of the Interior of the change within three days).
- A highly qualified foreign national can apply for a blue card, which includes benefits for the purposes of mobility within the EU, family reunification or social security. However, this card can only be issued for a vacancy announced to the Labour Office and included in the relevant central records, and the rules for its issuance therefore do not change for citizens of the selected countries with free access to the labour market.
- A citizen of an eligible country who is to be temporarily transferred to Czechia as a manager, specialist or graduate-intern within the framework of a multinational business corporation for a period longer than three months should apply for an intra-company transfer employee card.
Free access to the labour market, without a work permit, will also apply to eligible foreign nationals who are sent by their foreign employer to a Czech client to perform work on the basis of a contract. The same approach will be applied in the case of eligible foreign nationals who have so far been able to enter the Czech labour market within the framework of closed memoranda and work leave programs, but who nevertheless had to apply for a work permit for this purpose.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.