Due to the expected amendment of the Employment Act by Act No. 408/2023 Coll. with effect from 1. July 2024, for the citizens on the list below, we have decided to describe what this is all about.
We would like to point out that as of 17. This law has not yet been passed in May, so the information in this article is subject to change.
K 17. In May, the change affects the following countries:
✓ Australia
✓ Japan
✓ Canada
✓ South Korea
✓ New Zealand
✓ Great Britain
✓ USA
✓ Singapore
✓ Israel
✓ Taiwan
Citizens of selected countries get freedom to choose where to work
This means that such a foreigner can work anywhere in the Czech Republic without the need for any further approval process, as long as they have a valid visa. You will only need to report the change of employer to the relevant workplace.
This unrestricted access is already granted to EU citizens and their family members, students on certified study programmes, family members of non-EU citizens with a family reunification visa or permanent residence holders.
Will citizens of these countries need a work visa in the Czech Republic?
Yes, a visa or residence permit will still be required for long-term stay in the Czech Republic. These are visas depending on the purpose of your stay – for example, employment or blue cards for employment, or student visas for study.
The new law is only intended to simplify the process by removing the requirement to apply for a vacancy or to apply for a work permit.
How will this affect those already living in the Czech Republic?
This depends on the type of visa they have. Permanent residence holders already have free access to the labour market and therefore nothing will change for them.
Those who have an employee card will benefit from this change when changing employers. They do not have to go through the lengthy process of changing employers, which can take up to 60 days. Instead, they will only have to notify the change of employer, which is a matter of sending one notification without the need for subsequent approval.