Employee Card in the Czech Republic: Complete 2026 Guide

You need an Employee Card if:

• You are a non-EU/EEA citizen
• You want to work in the Czech Republic for more than 90 days
• Your position is listed in the Central Register of Vacancies (available at up.gov.cz)

You do NOT need one if:

• You are an EU/EEA citizen or Swiss national (free movement)
• You have permanent residence in the Czech Republic
• You are a family member of an EU citizen with a residence card
• You hold a Blue Card (for highly qualified positions paying at least 1.5x the average gross annual wage the Ministry of Labour announces for Blue Cards)
• Your country has a free labour market agreement (check with the Czech Labour Office)

Required documents for the Employee Card application:

1. Application form — Completed and signed (available at mv.gov.cz)
2. Valid passport — Valid and recognised by the Czech Republic. The 10-year age limit, 2 blank pages and 3 months of remaining validity are set by § 108(3) FOR LONG-STAY VISA applications; the Act does not extend them to residence permits, so do not treat them as universal.
3. 2 passport photos (3.5 x 4.5 cm, white background)
4. Employment contract or job offer letter — Must include: position, salary (at least minimum wage), working hours, start date
5. Proof of accommodation — Rental contract, accommodation confirmation from employer, or "souhlas s ubytováním"
6. Criminal record certificate — From your home country. Supporting documents must not be older than 180 days under § 55(1), which covers the documents as a SET and does not apply to your passport, to civil-registry documents such as birth and marriage certificates, or to your photograph. Apostilled/superlegalized and officially translated to Czech
7. Proof of qualifications — Diploma or certificate (nostrified if required for regulated professions)
8. Health insurance — Travel health insurance for the initial period (you'll get public insurance once employed)

Important notes:

• All foreign documents must be officially translated into Czech by a sworn translator (soudní překladatel)
• Where the labour-market test applies, the vacancy must have been offered and published by the Labour Office for at least 30 days from notification — but the regional branch may shorten that to 10 days depending on the market (§ 37a(4) of Act 435/2004). Applicants with free access to the labour market need no registered vacancy at all. before application
• Apostille or superlegalization is required for documents from countries that are part of the Hague Convention

Step 1: Find a job

Your future employer must register the position in the Central Register of Vacancies at the Czech Labour Office (Úřad práce). The position must be available for at least 30 days.

Step 2: Gather documents

Collect all required documents. Start early — criminal records and apostilles can take weeks.

Step 3: Submit application

• From abroad: Submit at the Czech embassy or consulate in your country of residence
• From Czech Republic (if you already have valid residence): Submit at the regional office of the Ministry of Interior (OAMP)

Step 4: Wait for decision

• Standard processing: 60 days
• Complex cases: up to 90 days
• Embassy applications may add additional time

Step 5: Collect your Employee Card

If approved, you'll receive a biometric card at the OAMP office. You must provide fingerprints.

Step 6: Register at the Foreign Police

Within 3 WORKING days of arrival, register your place of residence with the police (§ 93(1)) — unless your accommodation provider does it for you, which covers most hotels and registered flats. EU citizens have 30 days and only if staying over 30 days (§ 93(2)). (FRS — Cizinecká policie).

Total estimated cost: we do not publish a total. The official fees above are confirmed; translations, apostilles and insurance are priced by third parties and any total we gave would be a guess dressed as guidance.

You can renew your Employee Card up to 120 days before it expires. Apply at your regional OAMP office.

For renewal you need:

• Application form
• Valid passport
• Current Employee Card
• Employment contract (or new one if changing employer)
• Proof of accommodation
• Updated criminal record (if requested)

Renewal fee: 2,500 CZK

Processing time: 60 days

Important: If your Employee Card expires while waiting for a renewal decision, you may legally stay and work in the Czech Republic on a "fikce pobytu" (fiction of stay) stamp in your passport.

1. Documents too old at submission — Supporting documents must not be older than 180 days under § 55(1), which covers the documents as a SET and does not apply to your passport, to civil-registry documents such as birth and marriage certificates, or to your photograph
2. Missing apostille — Every foreign public document needs apostille or superlegalization
3. Wrong translation — Only sworn translators (soudní překladatel) are accepted
4. Job not in register — The position must be in the Central Register for 30+ days
5. Insufficient salary — § 42g(2)(b) requires that the monthly wage not be lower than the monthly minimum wage, whatever that is at the time. We do not publish the amount: it is set by government decree and we have not verified the current one. Check mpsv.gov.cz.
6. Late renewal — Apply at least 60 days before expiry to avoid gaps
7. Not registering accommodation — You must register within 3 days of arrival

• Ministry of Interior (OAMP): [mv.gov.cz](https://mv.gov.cz)
• Czech Labour Office: [up.gov.cz](https://up.gov.cz)
• Foreign Police (FRS): [ipc.gov.cz](https://ipc.gov.cz/)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (embassies): [mzv.gov.cz](https://www.mzv.gov.cz)
• Central Register of Vacancies: Available through up.gov.cz