Post Study Work: How to Get a Work Visa in the Czech Republic After Studies
Getting a higher education in European countries has seen increasing growth from the international community. Aside from accumulating global experience, graduating from a well-esteemed university is a big plus on your CV.
Apart from the United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland, international students are eyeing other European countries as a potential destination to develop their personal and academic abilities. Nowadays, the Czech Republic’s offer of affordable tuition fees, living costs, and colorful cultural life has become a popular choice to students.
The Czech Republic is in central Europe, bordered by Austria, Germany, Poland and Slovakia. The country exhibits beautiful scenery, architecture and historic landmarks. The Czech countryside is famed for its rolling hills and extensive forests featuring some of Europe’s most renowned hiking paths. Prague, the country's capital, is an ideal European base for those who love to travel by plane, train, or car.
The Czech Republic is routinely ranked among the best places to live in terms of quality of life and work-life balance. Despite the Czech economy rapidly ascending to the ranks of some of its western neighbors, living in Prague can still be relatively inexpensive compared to other major European cities.
Czech Republic has a favourable business environment thus foreign nationals should not have trouble adjusting to life in the country. International companies like Škoda Auto, Procter & Gamble, DHL, HP and a lot more are operating in Prague and other cities.
With a highly educated and skilled workforce, the competition for a job is fierce. Nevertheless, with the right credentials and experience, you will find opportunities to explore in the country.
As an EU member state, students from EU/EEA and Switzerland are exempt from the visa requirements and work permits if they want to stay back after completing their studies. A certificate of temporary residence is sufficient for EU nationals who intend to stay in the Czech Republic for more than 3 months. The temporary certificate is valid for ten years from the day of issue and cannot be extended.
In case you do not want to apply for a permanent residence permit, the validity of the certificate of temporary residence ends. However, you can apply for a new certificate of temporary residence as an EU citizen. After five continuous years of residence in the country, EU nationals can apply for a permanent residence.
Non-EU nationals need a visa and permit to stay in the country. After successfully completing your university education accredited by the Czech Ministry of Education, students from non-EU countries are eligible to apply for a long-term permit to search for a job or start a business.
If you plan to stay, it is recommended that you submit your application 120 days prior to the expiration of your current permit.
To help you plan your career path in the country, check out your visa options below.
Long-term residence permit
You are entitled to file an application for a long-term residence permit inside the Czech Republic at the Ministry of Interiors (MOI) offices, if
- you have been residing in the Czech Republic on a visa for a stay of over 90 days and
- you intend to temporarily live in the Czech Republic for more than 1 year including the previous visa
- and if, at the same time, the purpose of your stay remains unchanged (exceptions are made e.g. for a blue card, employee card, family members or scientists).
The purpose of “seeking employment”
After completing your studies, university graduates and researchers thus have the option to obtain a residence permit, the purpose of which is merely to seek employment or start a business. The application must be filed in person no sooner than 120 days before the end of the validity of such a residence permit and no later than on the last day of its validity.
You need to prepare the following documents:
- Valid Travel documents
- Proof of accommodation
- Passport size photo
- Proof of Financial Means
- Certificate of successful completion of University programme
- Travel Medical Insurance
* Documents must not be older than 180 days, except for the travel document and photo.
The permit is valid for 9 months and cannot be renewed. If you have a long-term residence permit for starting a business or seeking employment, you will be eligible to file an application for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of business without having to meet the condition of prior five-year residence in the country.
The purpose of “business”
This is the permit if you want to start a business or you want to be self-employed. You can only apply for the permit at the local MOI. You need to prepare the following documents:
- Valid Travel documents
- Proof of accommodation
- Passport photo
- Proof of Financial Means
- Proof confirming the entry into the pertinent business register, list or record
- Confirmation of non-existence of arrears
- Medical Certificate
- Travel Medical Insurance
- Upon request an Income Tax assessment
* Additional documents may be required
The typical turnaround time for the decision is 60 days.
The purpose of “investment”
This permit can be filed at the local MOI.
To apply, you must prepare the following documents:
You need to prepare the following documents:
- Valid Travel documents
- Passport photo
- Document demonstrating access to finances for implementation of significant investment
- Financial statements or similar documents containing the net profits of the applicant/business
- A statutory statement by you or the business that a decision with effect similar to a bankruptcy decision has not been served either on the applicant/business
- Documents proving ownership and origin of other assets to be invested
- Document proving that the foreign national is debt-free
- Proof of registration in the appropriate register, list or record
- A business plan containing a description of the targets of the plan to implement a significant investment, risk assessment
- Travel Medical Insurance
* Additional documents may be required
The typical turnaround time for the decision is 30-60 days.
Employee Card
Once you have landed a job, you can apply for an employee card. It is a new type of permit for long-time residence in the territory of the Czech Republic (CR) where the purpose of the stay is employment for longer than 3 months.
This permit is tied to a specific job and employer which means it will be invalidated once you change employers or position. The permit allows you to live and stay in the territory. This permit can be used for all types of employment regardless of the level of required professional qualifications.
The permit is valid until the end of your job contract but no more than 2 years and can be repeatedly extended if you still meet the criteria. The application can be submitted at your local MOI.
To apply, you need to prepare the following documents:
- Valid Travel documents
- Passport photo
- Proof of Accommodation
- Contract of Employment
- Proof of professional qualification
- Medical Report
*Additional documents may be required
EU Blue Card
If you have a binding job offer for a high skilled work then you can apply for an EU Blue Card. This is a residential status designed for a long-term stay involving the performance of a highly skilled job.
You are entitled to this permit if you intend to stay in the Czech Republic for a period longer than 3 months and if you are to be employed at a position requiring a high level of skills. At the same time, this position must be, according to the Czech Employment Act, open to non-EU foreign nationals.
You need to prepare the following documents:
- Valid Travel documents
- Passport photo
- Proof of Accommodation
- Contract of Employment for at least o1 year
- Documents on attained education
- Travel Medical Insurance
- Medical Report
* Additional documents may be required
An EU Blue Card is valid for 3 months longer than the period of time for which the contract of employment was concluded, but the maximum period of validity is 2 years and can be renewed as long as you still meet the conditions of the permit. This residence permit entitles you to reside and work in the Czech Republic. The process typically takes 90 days.
Permanent Residence – non-EU nationals
After 5 years of continuous residence in the Czech Republic, a foreign national can file an application for permanent residence.
An application for a permanent residence permit can be filed at the MOI offices where you are registered. The application must be submitted in person.
You need to prepare the following documents:
- Valid Travel documents
- Passport photo
- Proof of Accommodation
- Proof of Financial Means
- Czech language exam certificate
Naturalised Citizenship
You can apply for citizenship by naturalisation if you have held a permanent residency permit for at least 5 years and have been resident in the Czech Republic for most of that time. You need to pass a Czech language test unless you are a Slovak citizen.
As a citizen of Czech Republic, you are also an EU national and can enjoy free movement within EU and Schengen member states.
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