September 21st, 2023 at 06:00 am
Czech Republic Work Permit | How to Get a Job and Work in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has drawn expats since the fall of the Iron Curtain. This may be owing to the allure of its capital city, Prague, but it may also be ascribed to the Czech economy’s privatization and subsequent opening to foreign investment during the 1990s. After the Czech Republic joined the EU in 2004, seeking work in the country has become a more viable choice for many more expats.
The Czech Republic’s government registered a new short-form name, Czechia, in 2016, to make life easier for English speakers and to clear up persistent uncertainty and unofficial name shortening. Both the full and abbreviated names can be used interchangeably.
The Czech Market Is the Hub of Everything
Because of its central location in Europe, the Czech Republic is extremely appealing to both foreign personnel and numerous multinational firms. It’s a fantastic location for doing business with Germany and Russia, for example, thanks to solid transportation and infrastructural linkages. Because of this infrastructure, as well as its reputation among investors as a stable westernized market, the country has succeeded in attracting a substantial amount of direct foreign investment.
A talented workforce and an open economy are two more advantages of working in the Czech Republic. While the Czech language is one of the most difficult barriers for international workers, the good news is that English is frequently spoken in the corporate world.
The Powerhouse of the Czech Economy
Manufacturing is essential to the Czech Republic’s economy. Bohemia and Moravia were the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s industrial powerhouses during the nineteenth century. During the interwar years, Czechoslovakia (as it was then known) established itself as one of the world’s major manufacturing economies. Today, around 38% of the entire workforce is employed in the industrial sector, with 60% employed in the secondary sector, which accounts for nearly 60% of the country’s GDP.
The Czech Republic’s primary sectors include automobiles, engineering, steel manufacture, medicines, and others. The automotive industry is the country’s largest single industry, accounting for around 28% of Czech industrial output. Aside from the automobile sector, beer is an important part of the Czech economy; the Czech Republic is Europe’s sixth largest beer producer, but the Czechs outdrink not only the rest of Europe but the entire world!
Sectors in Growth, Stagnation, and Decline
The Czech Republic’s economy, like that of many other countries with a strong manufacturing base, is primarily reliant on exports. As a result of the reduction in overseas demand for their commodities, the country was impacted by the 2008 global financial crisis. However, it has successfully rebounded in recent years, with consistent GDP growth and a low unemployment rate (4% in June 2017).
During the 2008 economic crisis, the Czech banking sector, on the other hand, remained quite healthy. This was largely due to the country’s own banking problems in the late 1990s, which resulted in relatively conservative measures to maintain stability.
While the agricultural industry (which employs 3% of the working force) is declining, the service sector is expanding in the Czech Republic. Although the size of the service industry in relation to its contribution to national GDP has remained stable in recent years at around 60%, it is expected to rise as the country transitions to a more high-tech, service-based economy.
The tourism business is also expanding. While Prague continues to attract record numbers of tourists each year (with well over 7 million visits in 2016 alone), the country’s numerous famed spa towns, as well as its castles, are becoming increasingly popular tourist attractions.
Workplace Challenges: Language and Corruption
Bureaucracy and corruption are commonplace in the Czech Republic; the Czech Republic was placed 47th out of 176 nations in the 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index. Despite the fact that it is theoretically illegal, prosecution for corruption is still poorly enforced.
The Czech language is another big barrier for expats; the Foreign Service Institute rates it as a level four difficulty language, requiring around 44 weeks of instruction to become proficient. However, English is becoming increasingly frequently spoken, particularly among the younger population, and English is widely used in international business.
Expats and the Globalization of the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic’s flourishing tourism industry offers several job opportunities. Because many leisure activities cater to tourists, positions in this sector are frequently suitable for international workers who know languages other than Czech. Because English is the worldwide business language and Germany is the Czech Republic’s largest economic partner, native English and German speakers are in high demand.
If you have the necessary qualifications, you may be able to obtain work as a teacher in a private language school or for a large international corporation. A university degree and/or a teaching credential (such as TEFL) are usually required, as well as some teaching experience. For employment openings and other information, contact your country’s cultural presence in the Czech Republic (e.g., the British Council or the Goethe Institut).
Czech Republic’s Major Players
In the Czech Republic, significant international corporations operate in every industry. Multinational firms are your best hope for employment because they have a lot of experience hiring foreign workers. Exxon Mobil, Mondelez International (previously Kraft Foods), and Tesco are just a few of the worldwide firms that have significant operations in the country.
Of course, there are native enterprises that are major players in the international market, such as EZ, Agrofert, Agropol, Zentiva, Bata, Koda, Budvar, and Pilsner Urquell. Kompass, a global business directory, is a wonderful place to look for local businesses. You can also contact your country’s Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic.
Finding a Job in the Czech Republic
As previously said, international corporations are your best bet for obtaining work in the Czech Republic. If you don’t find any job openings on their websites or by contacting them directly, you could try the usual route of applying through recruiting agencies or foreign recruitment websites. You might also use one of the many Czech recruitment websites if you speak the language. For a list of national and international job portals, please check our article on working in Prague.
Companies in the Czech Republic that require highly trained personnel and are having difficulty filling certain positions frequently post their openings in the register of jobs available for employee cards or blue cards. For additional information on migrating to the Czech Republic, please check our article on the subject.
Entrepreneurial Opportunities
If you’re looking for business prospects in the Czech Republic, you might be interested in the following:
- Science and innovation: Science and innovation span a wide range of fields, including biotechnology (a high-growth area), nanotechnology, education and training (in high demand as businesses invest in human resources), and sophisticated engineering.
- Healthcare: Not only are medical equipment and healthcare management services in high demand but so are lifestyle products.
- Food and drink: As the world becomes more globalized, there is a greater need for more international cuisine and catering to certain groups (for example, vegan food).
- Consumer goods: Imported fashion, furnishings, and accessories are in high demand.
Working Environment in the Czech Republic
Employment in the Czech Republic is governed by a complex set of labor laws. The Labor Code requires that all jobs be governed by a formal employment contract that describes the nature of the work as well as other crucial information such as working hours, the length of the trial period, annual leave, minimum wage, and so on.
The probation term is limited to three months (or six months for managerial jobs) by legislation. Every employee has the right to four weeks of paid annual leave, with one additional week being common in well-established businesses. Full-time employees work an average of 41.7 hours per week, which is slightly more than the OECD average.
Work Permits & Taxation in the Czech Republic
EU/EEA nationals have the right to live and work in the Czech Republic. All other nations, on the other hand, must obtain a work permit before they can lawfully work. Foreigners can generally be employed in the Czech Republic if the employer has secured a labor office permit to employ foreigners and the employee has been granted a work permit for the job in issue.
The First Step in Recruiting Expats
Foreigners may only be hired for occupations for which no acceptable candidates are available in the Czech Republic or other EU member states. The open position must be reported to the Labor Office, and the specification cannot be modified to meet the profile of a possible employee later on. Foreign employees’ working conditions must be comparable to those of Czech employees in comparable roles, but their remuneration must be at least 1.5 times the average gross annual wage in the Czech Republic.
Once all of these basic standards have been met, the employer can apply for permission to hire foreign workers. Applications are sent to the Labor Office in charge of the district where the foreigner will be working. It is critical that the employee obtain a work permit before entering the country; otherwise, the employer may be held accountable for the employee’s expulsion fees.
Have you gotten the job? Get the Work Permit Now!
Before moving to the Czech Republic, a prospective foreign employee must apply for a work permit at the Labor Office. A work permit can only be provided for the specific job and employer listed in the application. It is non-transferable and only good for two years before requiring a fresh application. If any of the criteria mentioned in the work permit change before it expires, the employee must reapply.
An application is made up of the following components:
- identity proof (e.g., a photocopy of the necessary pages of your passport, including the passport number)
- proof of permanent residency in the foreigner’s home country
- all information required to identify the prospective employer (name, registration address, identity number)
- information on the location, duration, and nature of labor
- certification from the employer that the foreigner will be employed
- copies of academic and professional qualifications appropriate to the type of work notarized
- 500 CZK administration fee
All documents must be submitted as originals or legally certified copies, including a notarized Czech translation. Please visit the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs website for further information about acquiring a work permit in the Czech Republic.
Please keep in mind that in order to work in the Czech Republic, you must have a valid work visa. More information about visas and residency permits may be found in our Relocating to the Czech Republic article.
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