Czechia Employee Card

Third-country nationals with a qualifying work arrangement in Czechia, regardless of the education or qualification normally required for the type of work.

• Third-country nationality

  You must be a third-country citizen.

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• Work arrangement

  Provide a work contract, an agreement on performing work, or a preliminary contract or agreement committing both parties to conclude one within an established time limit. An agreement on completing a job cannot be used.

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• Working hours

  The work-relation document must show at least 15 working hours per week.

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• Monthly pay

  Regardless of working hours, the monthly wage, salary or remuneration must be higher than the basic minimum monthly wage.

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• Vacancy number

  State the number of the vacancy registered in the Central Database of Vacancies for which Employee Card holders can be hired. You do not need the number if a work permit has been issued for the position or you have free access to the labour market.

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• Employer reliability

  The employer must fulfil its obligations and must not be considered an unreliable employer.

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• Job qualification, if required

  For a position registered in the Central Database of Job Vacancies, provide a document certifying your professional qualification if the employer, the nature of the job or the law requires it.

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• Work permit, if required

  If the job requires a work permit, provide one issued by the Czech Labour Office.

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• Proof of free labour-market access, if applicable

  If relying on free access to the labour market, provide proof of that access; citizens of the listed third countries do not have to provide this proof.

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• Application documents

  For an application from outside Czechia, provide the application form, travel document, photograph, proof of accommodation, proof of the work relation, any required separate document stating the vacancy number, and a document similar to a criminal record certificate issued by your country of citizenship.

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• Further documents on request

  If requested, provide a medical report and a document similar to a criminal record certificate from other states where you resided for a total of six months during the three years before applying.

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• Document formalities

  For applications outside Czechia, attached documents generally cannot be older than 180 days; documents in languages other than Czech or Slovak need certified Czech translations, and specified foreign public documents need an apostille or superlegalisation. The page lists exceptions and original-document requirements.

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• Medical insurance before entry

  Before receiving an entry visa, provide proof of travel medical insurance covering the period from entry into Czechia until you start employment and become covered by public medical insurance; the diplomatic mission may also request proof of payment.

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• Governing-body restriction

  An Employee Card cannot be issued to a member of a legal entity’s governing body when the application is for activity corresponding to that entity’s scope of business.

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• Employee Card consular application fee, applying outside CzechiaResearched just now · being double-checkedSourceKč 5,000 per person
• Employee Card application fee, applying in Czechia insteadResearched just now · being double-checkedSourceKč 2,500 per person
• Decision timeFor applications submitted at a diplomatic mission, the processing period is 60 days from submission, or 90 days in particularly complex cases or if the Ministry of the Interior asks the Labour Office for a binding opinion. The period stops running if proceedings are suspended or there is another le2 months to 3 months

1. Get ready

   • Secure a qualifying work arrangement

     Agree a qualifying work contract, agreement on performing work or preliminary agreement that meets the working-hours and monthly-pay conditions.

     You’ll need: Work contract, agreement on performing work or preliminary agreement

   • Gather your documents

     Collect the documents listed for an application from outside Czechia, including any qualification or work-permit evidence required for your position.

     You’ll need: Travel document, Photograph, Proof of accommodation, Proof of work relation, Vacancy number or evidence of an applicable exception, Criminal-record document from your country of citizenship, Any required qualification document or work permit

   • Complete and sign the form

     Complete and sign the application form, stating the registered vacancy number unless a work permit has been issued for the position or you have free access to the labour market.

     You’ll need: Signed Employee Card application form

2. Apply

   • Contact the diplomatic mission

     Contact the diplomatic mission where you can apply, check whether it is accepting Employee Card applications and make an appointment.

   • Submit your application

     Submit the application in person at the diplomatic mission and pay the consular fee, unless an exception to personal submission applies.

     You’ll need: Signed application form, Supporting documents

   • Wait for the decision

     The Ministry of the Interior assesses the application and may ask you to correct documents or attend an interview.

     You’ll need: Any further documents requested

3. Visa

   • Collect an entry visa if needed

     If the application is granted and you need a D/VR entry visa, provide proof of the required travel medical insurance before collecting it at the diplomatic mission.

     You’ll need: Proof of travel medical insurance, Proof of insurance payment if requested

4. Travel

   • Travel to Czechia

     When you arrive

     Enter Czechia using the D/VR visa or another lawful means of entry available to you.

     You’ll need: Travel document, D/VR visa if needed

5. Settle in

   • Register after arrival

     When you arrive

     Register at a Ministry of the Interior office within 30 calendar days of arrival if you received a D/VR visa, or within three days if you entered legally another way.

     You’ll need: Travel document

   • Attend your biometrics appointment

     Attend the appointment arranged during registration, bring your travel document and agree a date to collect the completed card.

     You’ll need: Travel document

   • Collect your Employee Card

     Collect the biometric card within 60 days of giving biometrics and present your employer’s confirmation that you started work in the position for which the card was issued.

     You’ll need: Employer’s confirmation that you started work

The card can be extended repeatedly, for no more than two years at a time; permanent residence may be available after five years of continuous residence in Czechia if its requirements are met.

• Fees - Third-country Nationals - ipc.gov.czipc.gov.czOfficial
• Processing periods - ipc.gov.czipc.gov.czOfficial
• Proof of Work Relation - ipc.gov.czipc.gov.czOfficial
• Employee Card - ipc.gov.czipc.gov.czOfficial
• Formal Requirements (Third-country Nationals) - ipc.gov.czipc.gov.czOfficial
• Visa Fees | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republicmzv.gov.czOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.