Czech Republic Arbeit
Work visa to the Czech Republic for Ukrainians
For legal long-term employment in the Czech Republic, Ukrainian citizens must obtain a work visa. However, in order to work in the Czech Republic, you need to obtain a work permit. The work permit is submitted by your employer.
How to obtain a work permit in the Czech Republic?
1. Find an employer. Obtain an official job offer from a Czech company.
2. The employer registers the vacancy. The Czech company must register the vacancy with the Czech Ministry of Labor and prove that there are no suitable candidates from the Czech Republic or the EU for this position.
3. Submit an application for a work permit. The employer or employee submits an application to the Czech Employment Center.
4. Required documents
- Employment contract or official job offer
- Foreign passport
- Completed application form
- Copy of the employer's registration certificate
- Documents on education and qualifications (if necessary)
5. Awaiting a decision. The process of reviewing the application for a permit can take 30-60 days.
6. Obtaining a permit. If your application is approved, you will receive a work permit that will allow you to work in the Czech Republic.
7. Applying for a work visa. With a work permit, you can apply for a work visa at the Czech consulate.
A work permit is not required for the following categories of citizens:
- Athletes, artists, scientists
- Rescue workers during missions
- International drivers, if they are employed by foreign companies and sent to the Czech Republic to perform their duties
- Accredited journalists
- Graduates of Czech universities
- Foreigners who have been granted additional protection, asylum, or a long-term residence permit for the purpose of obtaining protection
All other foreign citizens who plan to work in the Czech Republic must obtain a permit.
Which authority should you contact?
- The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs provides information on its website about working in the Czech Republic and employment agencies, and also maintains a database of job vacancies for foreigners.
- The Ministry of the Interior – Department of Asylum and Migration Policy issues work permits. You can find more detailed information here.
How can a Ukrainian citizen obtain a work visa for the Czech Republic?
Once you have obtained a work permit in the Czech Republic, you must contact the Czech embassy or consulate to obtain a visa. Within 3 days of arrival, you must register with the local police department for foreigners.
What documents are required to obtain a Czech work visa?
- An application form, which must be completed in English or Czech, signed and dated by the applicant
- A passport that is valid for at least three months after your date of arrival in the Czech Republic.
- In addition, the passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and contain at least two free “visa pages”
- 3 photographs
- Residence permit/visa (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
- Proof of employment in the Czech Republic (employment contract or job offer)
- Proof of qualifications (diplomas and certificates)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing certificates, diplomas, and qualifications
- Proof of residence (if not specified in the invitation or contract)
- Certificate of no criminal record. The document must be issued in the country where you have lived for the last five years. This document must also be no more than 90 days old and must be apostilled with a translation into Czech or English.
- Medical insurance. Minimum coverage of €30,000
All documents must be submitted in triplicate (1 original and 2 copies) to have 2 complete sets of documents. The originals will be returned after the application process is complete. Documents not issued in Czech or English must be translated.
For more information on the list of required documents and visa requirements, please visit link.
💡 Obtaining a work visa to the Czech Republic is a multi-step procedure with clear requirements for documents, work permits, and grounds for residence. Errors or inaccuracies at any stage can lead to rejection or significant delays in processing.
Legal support will help you go through the entire process correctly on the first try and save time.
What is included in the service:
- consultation on choosing the optimal category of work visa, taking into account your specialty and experience;
- preparation and verification of a complete set of documents for submission to the consulate or immigration authorities of the Czech Republic;
- legal support at all stages of the application process: submission, communication with authorities, responses to inquiries;
- preparation for interviews or additional checks (if necessary);
- monitoring of the process of obtaining a work permit and work visa.
✔️ All work is done remotely — no queues or unnecessary trips
✔️ Up-to-date requirements of Czech legislation and consulates
✔️ Individual approach and support until the result is achieved
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How long does it take to obtain a work visa?
The average processing time for a Czech visa is 10-60 calendar days. It depends on the country where you apply for the visa.
Visa fee
The visa fee for a Czech work visa is €95.
Czech work visa
A work visa for seasonal employment is required for Ukrainian citizens if the work lasts more than three months. Seasonal employment can last for a maximum of six months.
What documents are required to obtain a visa to the Czech Republic?
- An application form that must be filled out in English or Czech, signed and dated by the applicant
- Passport, which must be valid for at least three months after the date of your arrival from the Czech Republic. In addition, the passport must be issued within the last 10 years and contain at least two free “visa pages”
- 3 photos
- Residence permit/Visa (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
- Proof of employment in the Czech Republic (employment contract or job offer)
- Proof of residence (if it is not specified in the invitation or contract)
- Certificate of no criminal record. The document must be issued in the country where you have lived for the last five years. This document must also be valid for no more than 90 days and must be apostilled with a translation into Czech or English.
- Health insurance. The minimum coverage is 30,000 euros.
More details on the list of required documents and conditions for obtaining a visa can be found here.
Where to apply for a Czech work visa?
You apply for a Czech work visa at Czech visa application centers, embassies or consulates.
A short-term work visa (C) is suitable for work that lasts up to 90 days. It can be a business trip, internship, or temporary contract.
What documents are required to obtain a Czech work visa (up to 90 days)?
- An application form that must be filled out in English or Czech, signed and dated by the applicant
- Passport, which must be valid for at least three months after the date of your arrival from the Czech Republic. In addition, the passport must be issued within the last 10 years and contain at least two free “visa pages”
- 2 photos
- Residence permit/Visa (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
- Travel itinerary, accommodation reservation (if not specified in the invitation)
- Confirmation of the visit (letter from the employer)
- Medical insurance. Minimum coverage is 30,000 euros
How to apply?
Step 1: Your employer issues an invitation letter and (if necessary) a work permit.
Step 2: You make an appointment at the Czech consulate to submit your documents.
Step 3: Submission of documents at the consulate or visa center.
Step 4: Waiting for the decision (up to 45 days).
Step 5: Obtaining a visa and traveling to the Czech Republic.
Visa fee for a work visa to the Czech Republic (up to 90 days)
The visa fee is 80 euros, which is paid at the time of application. In addition, you will also need to pay other administrative fees, such as visa center fees, courier fees, etc. depending on the submission of your documents.
Working hours: Legislation limits the length of working hours. Under normal circumstances, a working week should not exceed 40 hours. Employees also have the right to rest and to take scheduled breaks during the working day. The working day generally starts at 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. and lasts until 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. with a lunch break. The working week usually consists of five working days.
Vacations: Vacations are an important part of the Czech work culture. Employees are entitled to a minimum of 4 weeks of vacation per year, and some categories of employees may be entitled to longer vacation.
Dress code: The dress code in the Czech work environment can be quite conservative. In more formal areas, business attire such as suits for men and formal wear for women may be expected. However, in some more informal industries, casual or business casual dress is allowed.
Employment contract: The law requires a written employment contract between employer and employee. The contract must specify working conditions, salary, working hours, and other important details.
Protection against dismissal: The law sets out the rules under which an employee can be dismissed. Dismissal can take place with certain justifications, such as the employee's incapacity, violation of labor rules, or changes in the employee's organization.
The European country is also attractive from a financial point of view: the relatively low average monthly salary of Czech employees, minimal living expenses, and a low income tax rate of 19%.
What types of Czech business structures are there?
There are currently a variety of legal entities that can be established in the Czech Republic.
General partnership (v.o.s.)
In a general partnership, two parties trade under a common name and bear equal obligations and liability for the company's activities up to the amount of their individual contributions. The partners are liable with all their assets, and the company is liable with all its assets.
Limited liability company (LLC)
A s.r.o. is the most common type of company established in the Czech Republic. As in many countries, the partners in an SRO are liable for the company's obligations only to the extent of the capital they initially contributed to the company. In the Czech Republic, SROs must start their activities with a minimum registered capital of CZK 200,000.
Joint-stock company (a.s.)
A joint-stock company is established by concluding a memorandum of association, including the company's articles of association, and issuing shares. Shares can be freely traded without registration in the Czech Commercial Register, which makes it attractive if you plan to take your company public. A joint-stock company must have a minimum authorized capital of CZK 2 million. At least 30% of this amount must be paid at the time of company registration.
Cooperative
A cooperative may conduct business activities in the interests of its members, the number of which need not be specified. A cooperative is liable with all its assets.
Branch office
A branch office is not technically a Czech company, but only a representative office of your foreign business in the Czech Republic. Branches have a rather extensive set of restrictions and must list all planned activities in their application to the Commercial Register. The company must also appoint a head of the branch, who must be either a Czech resident or a foreigner with a long-term residence permit in the Czech Republic.
Joint venture
Any of the above forms of business may be a joint venture, in which there are two partners, one of whom is usually a Czech resident.
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How does the process of setting up my Czech business work?
10 steps to set up your Czech SRO
- Obtain police records for all current or future managing directors.
- Ask the tax office to confirm the documents that none of the company's partners has any outstanding tax liabilities.
- Obtain certified statutory declarations and signature samples for all current and future directors.
- Establish an office for the company's operations, as well as property documents if you are purchasing real estate.
- Prepare a memorandum of association, which must be signed and certified by an authorized representative.
- Open a bank account to deposit the initial capital.
- Register with the Trade Licensing Office and apply for a license.
- After the company is established, apply for registration in the Trade Register within 90 days.
The following documents are required for registration:
- Partnership agreement signed by an authorized person
- Proof of deposits
- Bank certificate confirming the possibility of making deposits
- Certified copies of trade licenses
- Lease agreement or documents confirming the ownership of the office premises
- Declarations of managers required by law
- Police certificates of no criminal record of the managers
- Legal stamp
9. Register with the Social Security Administration and choose a health insurance company within 8 days of registration
10. Finally, register with the Tax Office within 30 days of the company's establishment
What taxes will I have to pay from my Czech business?
If you open a business in the Czech Republic, you can expect to pay two or three types of taxes:
1. Corporate tax - currently 19%.
2. VAT - the standard VAT rate is 21%, but some goods may be taxed at a reduced rate of 15 or 10%.
3. Road tax - applies only if you plan to use the car in your business. Road tax rates vary, but range from 1000 to 5000 CZK per year.
What kind of visa do I need?
If you plan to reside in the Czech Republic, you need to obtain a long-term residence visa.
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