Czech Republic
Work Assignment
Intra-company employee transfer card (“ICT-Card”)
The ICT-Card allows for the intra-company transfer of third-country nationals. It is intended for companies based outside the EU that want to temporarily transfer staff to a branch office or subsidiary located in the Czech Republic. The ICT-Card allows managers, specialists, or employed trainees to stay and work on the territory of the Czech Republic for more than 90 days. The ICT-Card is issued for a maximum period of 3 years for managers and specialists and 1 year for employed trainees and may be extended for the same period. The ICT-Card also allows its holder to leave and re-enter the Czech Republic repeatedly. Moreover, it also enables foreigners to travel within the Schengen Area without a visa. The employee’s employment contract concluded under foreign law remains in force. However, the employee’s working conditions cannot be worse than those stipulated in the Czech Labour Code.
Employment Immigration
Blue Card
The Blue Card is a type of so-called “dual card” that combines a residence permit and a work permit. The Blue Card is intended for highly qualified third-country nationals residing in the Czech Republic for more than 3 months. To apply for the Blue Card, a foreigner shall have a duly completed university or higher vocational education of at least 3 years (for certain positions in the field of information and communication technologies, a higher professional qualification may be certified as equivalent to the required education). Furthermore, the foreigner shall apply for a job that requires higher qualifications and enter into an employment or preliminary employment contract for a period of at least 6 months with a 40-hour working week and a salary equal to 1.5 times the average gross annual salary as set out by the Czech government. The Blue Card is issued for a period of 3 months longer than the term of the employment contract, up to a maximum of 3 years. A change of employment must be notified to the Ministry of the Interior within 3 business days. The validity of the Blue Card may be extended several times for a maximum of 3 years. The Blue Card also allows the holder to leave and re-enter the Czech Republic repeatedly. Moreover, it also enables foreigners to travel within the Schengen Area without a visa. Foreign employees are subject to social security and health insurance contributions in the Czech Republic.
Employee Card
Unlike the Blue Card, the Employee Card does not require any specific qualification and/or education. Typically, the Employee Card is issued as a “dual” card combining a residence permit for a period of more than 3 months and a work permit for a position specified therein. To apply for the Employee Card, the foreigner shall conclude an employment or a preliminary employment contract or an agreement to perform work (in Czech: dohoda o pracovní činnosti) with a minimum working week of 15 hours and a minimum monthly salary as set out by the Czech government. The Employee Card is issued for the duration of the employment, up to a maximum of 2 years. A change of employer is permissible no earlier than 6 months after the Employee Card was issued. Any change of employment must be notified to the Ministry of the Interior at least 30 days in advance. The Employee Card may be renewed for a maximum period of 2 years. The Employee Card also allows the holder to leave and re-enter the Czech Republic repeatedly. Moreover, it also enables foreigners to travel within the Schengen Area without a visa. Foreign employees are subject to social security and health insurance contributions in the Czech Republic.
Work permit
A third country national may apply for a work permit to carry out seasonal work for up to 9 months, short-term work for up to 3 months, internship for up to 6 months, or other business activities on the territory of the Czech Republic, . A work permit does not include a residence permit, meaning it must be applied for separately. The work permit may be issued for a maximum of 2 years and may be renewed for a maximum of 2 years. Foreign employees are subject to social security and health insurance contributions in the Czech Republic and must conclude a local employment contract, a preliminary employment contract or an agreement to perform work (in Czech: dohoda o pracovní činnosti).
Temporary Protection
Following the Russian invasion and the start of the war in Ukraine, the Council of the European Union adopted a decision activating temporary protection. The temporary protection is generally granted to Ukrainian citizens, their family members, and other persons specified by Czech law who were residing in the Ukrainian territory before 24 February 2022 and left thereafter. The temporary protection allows the refugees to stay in the Czech Republic until 31 March 2025. The refugees also have free access to the labour market, i.e., no special work permit is required, and access to public health insurance (which is paid by the Czech Republic for the first 150 days of the temporary protection). If the refugee does not meet the legal requirements for the temporary protection, they may apply for a tolerance visa and a work permit to stay and work legally in the Czech Republic.
