Are you heading to the Czech Republic for work? Or are you already living in the Czech Republic as a foreigner and looking for a job or want to change it? We have some useful information and tips to help you find your way around and deal with the paperwork and permits required.
Free admission. Or with a card
First of all, it should be noted that citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein do not need to obtain a permit to practice their profession in the Czech Republic. They have free access to the labour market, as do their family members. The Employment Act specifies other groups of foreigners with free access to the labour market. These are, for example, those who:
- have permanent residence in the Czech Republic
- are in the Czech Republic on a long-term residence basis to be with their family
- are studying or have graduated from a secondary, higher vocational or higher education institution in the Czech Republic
- teaching at a university
Third-country nationals who do not have free access to the domestic labour market and wish to be employed in the Czech Republic need a work permit in addition to a valid residence permit. This is issued by the regional branches of the Labour Office after a written application has been sent. You can apply before you arrive in the Czech Republic, and your future employer can do so too. It is important to know that the work permit is only for a specific position with a specific employer and is valid for a maximum of 2 years. However, it can be renewed repeatedly.
As a third-country national, you can stay and work in the Czech Republic even with an employee or blue card. These – unlike the work permit – are also a residence permit. This is discussed in more detail in this article.
Another possible type of permit that allows third-country nationals to work and stay in the Czech Republic for a long period of time is the intra-corporate transferee card. It applies to managers, specialists or trainees who have been transferred to these positions within a multinational company.
The labour market cannot do without foreigners
Currently, hundreds of thousands of people from abroad work in the Czech Republic. If we take the latest available data from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, we arrive at the figure of 904,983. This is the total employment of foreigners in the Czech Republic at the end of 2022, including both employees and entrepreneurs. The share of both these groups in total employment in the national economy was 18.2%.
Among foreign employees, Slovak citizens are the most numerous among the EU-27 countries on the Czech labour market. Among workers from third countries, the most numerous are citizens of Ukraine. Looking at the individual industries, foreign employees are most represented in manufacturing, administrative and support activities, construction and wholesale and retail trade.
Domestic and European portals will make job search easier
If you have free access to the labour market in the Czech Republic, you also have free scope to find a job. In addition to the traditional specialist job portals and social networks, it is worth checking the job vacancies offered by the Labour Office. The European Employment Service website can also be useful. For example, if you live in a border area in the Czech Republic and don’t mind commuting to Bavaria in Germany to find work.
If you do not have free access to the Czech labour market – i.e. you do not come from one of the EU countries, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein – use the special database of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs when looking for a job in the Czech Republic. The current job offers are clearly divided into applications (e.g. the application for those with a blue card) and in the advanced search you can simply set your preferred field, the salary you imagine or the region you want to work in.
Get information and answers
Before you start browsing job ads, find out how the job market works in the Czech Republic. It’s good to know:
- what your rights and responsibilities are
- what your employment contract must contain
- which organisations can help you communicate with the authorities
- who to contact in crisis situations
And not only that. Living and working in another country is a step that brings with it a lot of changes, challenges and expectations. But with good preparation, patience and the practical information on our website, the formalities and the whole process can be handled with ease. You will be rewarded with new work that you will enjoy and find fulfilling.
