Employment Requirements for Foreigners

Last update: June 2025

• Work requirements for foreigners in the CR
• Employee Card
• Which office to contact?

Work Requirements for Foreigners in the CR

A foreign national’s right to work in the Czech Republic depends on the type of residence permit they hold and their country of origin. The first step is to determine whether you have free or conditional access to the labour market.

With free access to the labour market, you do not need any additional permit to work.

With conditional access to the labour market, you must obtain a work permit. With conditional access to the labour market, you need to arrange a work permit. The most frequent types of permits are the Employee Card, Blue Card, Special Work Visa, and a work permit issued by the Labour Office.

Free access to the labour market

Citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland, as well as their family members, do not need an employment permit. Family members of Czech citizens who are not EU citizens may also access the labour market without an employment permit, Employee Card, Blue Card, or Intra-Company Employee Transfer Card, provided that they have obtained a temporary residence permit in the form of a residence card for family members of EU citizens issued by the Ministry of the Interior, or if they can prove (by an entry in their travel document or an official confirmation) that they have applied for such a temporary residence permit.

You also hav free access to the labour market if:

• You reside in the Czech Republic on the basis of a permanent residence permit;
• You are a student enrolled in a full-time study programme that has not been suspended;
• You reside in the Czech Republic on the basis of a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification with a spouse who holds a long-term or permanent residence permit;
• You are a graduate of studies in the CR. However, if the purpose of your stay is employment, you must obtain an Employee Card, which serves only as a residence permit;
• You are a holder of international protection.

Conditional access to the labour market 

The following groups of foreign nationals must obtain a work permit in order to work in the CR:

• Third-country nationals coming to the Czech Republic for employment who are not citizens of designated countries.
• Students under 26 participating in exchange study programmes.
• Employees posted to the CR by a non-EU international employer.
• Interns.
• Holders of a long-term residence permit for the purpose of business.
• Holders of short-term and long-term visas.

Types of work permits for foreigners

Here you will find basic information about:

• the Employee Card
• the Blue Card
• the employment permit issued by the Labour Office of the Czech Republic.

The work permit that foreigners apply for most often is the Employee Card.

You may also apply for the Blue Card. You apply for it if you as a foreign national want to work at a position conditioned by higher qualification (higher vocational or university educationt).

Employee Card

The Employee Card is the most commonly applied-for work permit for foreigners. It allows you to live and work in the Czech Republic on a long-term basis. There are two types of Employee Cards:

• Dual, which serves as both a residence and work permit (2 in 1).
• Non-dual, which entitles you to stay in the CR, but to work you must either have free access to the labour market (e.g. students and graduates of Czech schools), or obtain an additional work permit (e.g. if you are transferred to the Czech Republic by an international employer).

The employee card is a plastic card with biometric elements issued for a maximum period of 2 years, depending on the length of your employment contract. You may apply for an extension of the card no earlier than 120 days before its expiration and no later than the last day of its validity. If you plan to come to the Czech Republic for employment, you must apply for the Employee Card at a Czech diplomatic mission in your country of origin. You may also apply from within the Czech Republic if you have been residing here on a long-term visa (excluding a tolerance visa). You cannot apply in the Czech Republic if you are staying under a visa waiver or on a short-term visa (up to 90 days).

The Employee Card is always issued for a specific job position that does not require a high level of qualification (i.e. does not require higher vocational or university education).

Changing your employer or job position

You must notify the Ministry of the Interior of any change no later than 30 days in advance. You do not need to report the change if you have free access to the labour market or if the new position is covered by an existing work permit. After submitting the notification, you must wait for the Ministry’s confirmation that all requirements for the change have been met. You may not change your job within the first six months from the date you collected your Employee Card.

More detailed information about the Employee Card, including what it looks like and how to apply for it, how to extend its validity and how to change your job, is available on the Official Information Portal of the Ministry of the Interior of the CR. 

Blue Card

Another type of permit you may apply for is the Blue Card. This permit is intended for non-EU citizens who wish to work in a position that requires a high level of qualification (i.e. higher vocational or university education). You can apply for the Blue Card at a Czech diplomatic mission abroad, or from within the Czech Republic, if you already hold a Blue Card issued by another EU country (in this case, you must apply within one month of your arrival in the Czech Republic).

You may apply for a Blue Card if you meet the following conditions:

• You have a university degree or higher professional education (minimum of 3 years of study).
  
• You will be employed in a position that requires such qualification.
  
• You have an employment contract for at least 6 months.
  
• Your salary is at least 1.5 times the average gross salary in the Czech Republic.
  

The Blue Card allows you to legally live and work in the Czech Republic, travel within the Schengen area and apply for a residence permit for your family members. The Blue Card is issued for up to 3 years of for the duration of your employment contract plus 3 months. If you change or leave your job, you must notify the Ministry of the Interior within 3 working days.

Work permit

As a third-country national, you are required to apply for a work permit in the Czech Republic in certain cases, especially if:

• You are working as a seasonal employee (for a maximum of 6 months).
• You perform work tasks within a commercial company (e.g. you are a managing director who also performs operational tasks beyond company management).
• You are working on a short-term basis for up to 3 months (with a short-term visa for employment purposes).
• You are a trainee seeking to gain professional experience or qualifications (for a maximum of 6 months).
• You are a young person under 26 years of age working occasionally during an exchange programme.
• You hold a long-term visa or residence permit for the purpose of toleration.
• You have applied for international protection (you may apply for a work permit no sooner than 6 months after submitting your application for international protection and must not work until then).
• You are transferred by an international employer to work in the Czech Republic.
• You hold a residence permit for the purpose of business, but wish to be employed in addition to running your business.

The application must be submitted to the regional branch of the Employment Office responsible for the region where you will be employed. You must attach an employment contract and any other required documents to your application. If your employer submits the application on your behalf, you must provide them with a power of attorney. The Labour Office has 30 days to decide on your application. A work permit can be issued for up to two years, and its validity may be extended.

A work permit will not be granted if:

• The employer has been fined for illegal employment within the last 4 months.
• The employer has been declared bankrupt.
• The employer has received a serious fine for a labour law violation within the last 3 months.

Remember that in addition to a work permit, you must also have a valid residence permit in order to work legally in the Czech Republic!

Which Office to Contact?

• The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs provides information about working in the CR and about recruitment agencies on their website. The ministry also manages a database of vacancies available to foreigners. Since the web redesign in 2019, all relevant information can be found in the Foreign Employment section. Information is available in English, Russian, and Ukrainian.

• Labour Offices issue employment permits. In Prague, you should contact the regional branch responsible for the city of Prague. Labour offices also provide job placement services if you lose your job.
• Ministry of the Interior – Department of Asylum and Migration Policy issues Employee Cards. For more information see their website.

Labour Inspectorate

The main role of the labour inspectorate is to monitor compliance with labour laws, including occupational health and safety regulations. This applies to both Czech citizens and foreign nationals. The Labour Inspectorate also verifies whether foreigners are legally employed in the Czech Republic – checking whether they hold a valid residence permit and, when required, a work permit. In justified cases, the Labour Inspectorate may impose fines for administrative offenses and other violations. They can also assist you in asserting your rights as an employee.