Free Access to the Labour Market for Citizens of Selected Countries

photo: flyer made by MLSA

From 1st July 2024, citizens of the following 9 countries have free access to the Czech labour market:

• Australia
• New Zealand
• USA
• Canada
• Great Britain
• Israel
• Japan
• South Korea
• Singapore

What does it mean?

Having free access to the labour market means you do not need any work permit (employment permit issued by the Labour Office, employee card, intra-company transfer card or blue card) to be able to work in the Czech Republic. You can be employed under the same conditions as citizens of the Czech Republic. However, you need to make sure that your residence permit is valid and regularly apply for its extension, so that you stay in the Czech Republic is legal.

Already in Czechia?

Free access to the labour market also applies to people whose residence permit was issued for a purpose other than employment. If you already have a legal stay in the Czech Republic and you needed a work permit until now, the requirement no longer applies to you from now on.

Employee card holders

If you currently have an employee card without free access to the labour market (a dual employee card: long-term residence permit for the purpose of employment combined with a work permit issued for a specific job position), the new changes will make it easier for you to change employers or terminate your employment. You may start a new employment any time, without having to wait for the approval of the Ministry of the Interior. Your card remains valid and there is no need to change it.

 

Are you planning to go to Czechia to get employed here?

• If you want to work here for less than 3 months, you must apply for a Schengen visa.
• If you want to work here for more than 3 months, you must apply for another residence permit such as a non-dual employee card (called non-dual as it only works as a long-term residence permit; you do not need a work permit any more).

 If you have been granted a Schengen visa and want to continue working after it expires, you must apply for another residence permit at any Czech diplomatic mission. In the EU it is only possible at the Dresden Visa Center.

 

For more information see the website of the Ministry of the Interior in the CR (in Czech and English) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (in Czech).