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.

The Czech Republic offers a variety of employment opportunities for Ukrainian workers. Here are some popular industries and work options in the Czech Republic:

• IT sector: The Czech Republic has a developed IT industry and is looking for qualified IT specialists. Software development, web development, cyber security and other IT specialties are in demand.
• Language Education: Teaching English or other foreign languages is a popular job option for foreigners. There are many language schools and institutes in the Czech Republic that are looking for teachers.
• Tourism and hospitality industry: The tourism industry is developed in the Czech Republic, especially in Prague. Working in hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and services for tourists can be employment options.
• Medical field: The Czech Republic is looking for medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Local hospitals and medical facilities offer opportunities for qualified professionals.
• Manufacturing and Engineering: the Czech Republic has a strong manufacturing industry, including automotive, electronics, mechanical engineering, and other sectors. Engineers, technicians and production specialists have employment opportunities.
• Finance and Banking: Banking institutions, insurance companies, and financial organizations in the Czech Republic.
• Construction: The Czech Republic has an active construction industry that may offer employment opportunities for Ukrainian workers. Repair, construction, installation work and other specialized services may be required.

The Czech Republic hosts various Job fairs, which are a great opportunity to find a job and establish contacts with potential employers. Here are some famous job fairs held in the Czech Republic:

1. Prace Domu (House Job Fair): This job fair specializes in job offers in the domestic sector, including nannies, governesses, caregivers and other professions. It is held in Prague and other cities in the Czech Republic.
2. Jobspin Job Fair: This job fair is aimed at foreign workers, including Ukrainians. It provides job opportunities in various industries such as IT, finance, medicine, hospitality and others. Jobspin Job Fair is held in Prague.
3. Profesia Days: This job fair is one of the largest job fairs in the Czech Republic and offers vacancies in various fields including IT, business, medicine, tourism, construction and others. It is held in Prague and Brno.

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

1. Obtain police records for all current or future managing directors.
2. Ask the tax office to confirm the documents that none of the company's partners has any outstanding tax liabilities.
3. Obtain certified statutory declarations and signature samples for all current and future directors.
4. Establish an office for the company's operations, as well as property documents if you are purchasing real estate.
5. Prepare a memorandum of association, which must be signed and certified by an authorized representative.
6. Open a bank account to deposit the initial capital.
7. Register with the Trade Licensing Office and apply for a license.
8. 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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