The Czech employee card
The employee card (zaměstnanecká karta) is a combined work and residence permit for any job. It’s valid for up to 2 years, and the ministry decides within 60 days (90 in complicated cases). Source: the ministry’s employee card page.
The basics
| Where to apply | A Czech embassy in your country of nationality or where you’ve lived 2+ years (from an EU country, only via Dresden), or a ministry office in the Czech Republic if you already hold a long-term visa or permit |
| Fee | CZK 5,000 at an embassy; CZK 2,500 in the Czech Republic and for extensions |
| Decision within | 60 days; 90 if complicated; 30 days under the Key and Scientific Staff programme (programmes) |
| Valid for | Up to 2 years, never longer than the job |
| After approval | Register within 30 days of arriving; collect the card within 60 days of biometrics, with your employer’s confirmation that you started |
| Extending | Apply 120 days to the last day before expiry, by post, data box or signed email. You stay legal while it’s being decided |
Document checklist
- Application form, passport and photo
- Proof of accommodation
- Employment contract, work agreement or preliminary contract
- The vacancy number from the central register of vacancies, unless you have free access to the labour market
- A diploma or certificate, only if the job or the law requires it (recognition for regulated professions)
- Criminal record certificate, for embassy applications
- Travel health insurance from your arrival until the job starts
Foreign documents need an apostille or superlegalisation, a certified Czech translation, and must be no older than 180 days.
Changing employer
If you don’t have free access to the labour market, you must report the new job before you start (source):
- The ministry must receive your report at least 30 days before the new start date.
- It answers within 30 days with a written notification. Only then may you start. There’s no fee, and no appeal.
- You can’t change employer in the first 6 months after collecting your first card. This doesn’t apply after an extension, for a new role with the same employer, or if the employer ended the job for certain reasons.
If you do have free access to the labour market, you can start any time and report it within 3 days.
Lost your job? You have 90 days. See What if.
The EU Blue Card in brief
For jobs that need a university degree or high skills, paid at least 1.5 times the average gross salary. Valid for the contract plus 3 months, up to 3 years. Fee CZK 2,500 in the Czech Republic or CZK 5,000 at an embassy; decided within 90 days. Report a job change or a job ending within 3 working days (source).