Employee Card for South Korean citizens
South Korean citizens do not need a Czech work permit. Since 1 July 2024, a government decree has given citizens of South Korea (Jižní Korea) free access to the Czech labour market, so you need only a residence permit — normally a non-dual Employee Card — and no separate employment authorisation for a specific job.
What free access changes for you
- You do not need an employment permit (povolení k zaměstnání). Only a residence permit is required.
- Free access applies even if your residence permit was issued for a purpose other than employment, such as study or family reunification.
- If you already live in Czechia and previously had to hold an employment permit, that obligation no longer applies to you.
- If you hold a dual Employee Card issued before the decree, you may start a new job at any time without waiting for the Ministry of the Interior to confirm you meet the conditions. Your existing card stays valid and does not need to be replaced.
- You still have to report the change. You may start the new job immediately, but you must notify the Ministry of the Interior within 3 working days of starting it. There is no fee for reporting a change of employment.
Which permit to apply for
| How long you will work | What you apply for |
|---|---|
| Under 3 months | Schengen visa for employment |
| Longer than 3 months | Non-dual Employee Card |
If you were granted a Schengen visa and want to keep working after it expires, you must apply for another residence permit at a Czech diplomatic mission abroad. Applying from inside the EU is done exclusively at the Dresden Visa Centre. Dresden Visa Centre
Changing employer
You must still report the change within 3 working days. You may start the new job immediately, but you must notify the Ministry of the Interior within 3 working days of starting it. There is no fee for reporting a change of employment. This is § 42g(11) of Act 326/1999 — free access removes the waiting period, not the notification duty.
If you hold a dual Employee Card issued before the decree, you may start a new job at any time without waiting for the Ministry of the Interior to confirm you meet the conditions. Your existing card stays valid and does not need to be replaced. This is the clearest practical difference from the dual Employee Card, where a change of employer normally has to be notified and confirmed before the new job starts. Ministry guidance on changing employment
Fees and processing times are not listed here on purpose. They change and we will not publish a figure we have not just checked. Take the current amounts from the Ministry pages linked above before you pay or submit anything.
Next steps
Full Employee Card guide
Documents, the application itself, and what happens after you file.
Employee Card forms
The official forms, with field-by-field guidance in English.
Other nationalities with free access
Track your application from here
Free checklist, deadline reminders, and every official form in English. No credit card.
This page is general information, not legal advice. It reflects the government decree in force since 1 July 2024, as published by the Ministry of the Interior and last checked on 2026-09-09. Rules change — always confirm your situation with the official source or a qualified adviser.