One of the countries that facilitated the relocation of digital nomads is Czech Republic. Foreigners who can identify themselves as digital nomads can apply for a Czech Republic digital nomad visa. The immigration document is not necessarily a visa for digital nomads, but it is addressed to persons who work as remote employees and because of this, digital nomads can also benefit from its advantages. In this article, you can find out the main requirements you must comply with in order to obtain this visa; if you need legal advice or representation, you can always address to our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Digital nomad visa – definition | It is an immigration document granted to certain categories of foreigners who develop their work activities via online means of communication, while being self-employed or employed in a company in another country. |
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Visa suitable for digital nomads in Czech Republic |
The digital nomad visa in Czech Republic is the Zivno visa (Trade License visa), addressed to foreign self-employed (freelancers) persons, who are also allowed to sign contracts with Czech entities (individuals and companies). |
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Who needs to apply for the visa |
The visa is addressed to non-EU citizens. |
| Where to initiate the visa procedure | The Czech embassy or consulate operating in the applicant’s home country. |
| Duration of the visa application process |
The digital nomad visa in Czech Republic can be processed in minimum 90 days and maximum 120 days. |
| Residency rights |
The visa holder can stay in Czech Republic for 1 year. |
| Proof of financial means required (yes/no) |
Yes |
| Minimum financial funds imposed to applicants |
CZK 156,500 (financial threshold increased starting with November 2023, from the previous CZK 124,500 requirement). |
| Application fee |
CZK 5,000 |
| Obligations upon the arrival in Czech Republic | The holder of the digital nomad visa in Czech Republic is required to report his or her address within 3 days since the arrival. |
| Visa extension possible (yes/no) |
Yes |
| Duration of the visa extension |
2 years |
| Institution in charge with the visa extension |
The Czech Ministry of Interior |
| Institutions to contact after the arrival in the country |
The Foreign Police (for the registration of address), the Trade License Office (for the issuance of the trade license), the Ministry of Interior (for the issuance of the residence permit) |
| Mobility rights for visa holders | Visa holders have the right to move freely within the borders of the 26 Schengen states. |
| Interview obligations (yes/no) | Yes |
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Documents to prepare for the application |
– the passport; – the application form; – 2 recent photos; – application for the trade license; – proof of having accommodation in Czech Republic; – proof of funds; – a valid medical insurance; – clean criminal record. |
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Medical insurance – minimum coverage |
EUR 60,000 |
| Nationalities included in the Digital Nomad Program | As of June 28, 2023, the Czech authorities have established to grant the visa for a digital nomad in Czech Republic to the following countries: Australia, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom (UK), New Zealand, the United States of America and Taiwan. |
| Can the applicant relocate with family members? (yes/no) |
Yes |
| Family members eligible for the program |
The wife/husband of the applicant, the registered partner, the children with an age below 26 years old. |
| Types of digital nomads accepted in the program |
Employees of foreign companies relocating here, freelancers and their close family members. |
| Minimum education/experience of an employee of a foreign company |
He/she must have a STEM education and/or IT experience of minimum 3 years. He/she must be the employee of a foreign company that allows him/her to work remotely. |
| Minimum conditions imposed to freelancers |
STEM education (university degree) and/or 3 years of experience in the field of IT. |
| Law regulating the digital nomad program | The Act No. 326/1996, the Government Resolution No. 475 of 28 June 2023 |
| Institution in charge with the issuance of the trade license |
The Ministry of Industry and Trade |
| Obligations for those who will extend their visa |
To maintain the conditions of the visa for a digital nomad in Czech Republic and to participate in adaptation-integration courses. |
| Salary requirements for the employees of foreign companies |
Minimum CZK 60,530 per month |
| Right to appeal a visa rejection |
No, applicants who were rejected can’t appeal the decision. |
| How to submit the application | The application can be submitted online only. |
A digital nomad is a person who can qualify as a remote worker, who doesn’t need to carry his or her work activities by going everyday to a physical place of work. With the development of technology and after the social events created during the pandemic, more and more persons started working as remote employees and the creation of visas for such persons became a necessity.
Table of Contents
What is the digital nomad visa in Czech Republic?
If you are considering to immigrate to Czech Republic for the purpose of being a digital nomad, which implies that you can work and travel while being in this country, you can apply for various types of visas.
Please mind that if you are a citizen of the European Union (EU), you will not be required to apply for a visa, as all EU citizens benefit from the right of free movement of persons in the EU space.
Persons from outside the EU are the ones who have to make the necessary legal arrangements for obtaining a visa, as per the Czech immigration laws. The need to apply for a visa as a third country national can differ based on the duration of stay.
Thus, one can arrive here for a short period of time, of maximum 90 days, in which case visa exemptions can apply, based on the nationality of the foreigner.
For most of third country nationals, the visa for short-term stays is required, but there are certain exemptions for few nationalities and you can request more details on such exemptions from our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic. For long-term stays, all third country nationals must apply for a visa.
For short-term stays, a tourist visa can be used as a Czech digital nomad visa, but for those who want to stay here for a longer period of time, the Zivno visa, or the Trade License visa, it the most suitable option.
This visa is especially created for persons who qualify as remote workers and for persons who work as freelancers, who, from a legal point of view, are registered as self-employed persons.
What are the steps involved in the issuance of the freelance visa in Czech Republic?
The issuance of this visa is similar with the procedures applicable when applying for other types of visas. To make it clearer, in this section our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic has prepared a detailed presentation on the steps the applicant must follow.
The 1st step of the procedure is to apply for a freelance visa in Czech Republic at the Czech embassy or consulate operating in the country where the foreigner lives.
The 2nd step is to prepare all the documentation that is required for the issuance of this visa type – here, we highly advise foreigners to have their file checked by an immigration specialist, who can observe any small issues that do not comply with the Czech rules.
A 3rd step refers to the immigration interview. The applicant is required to participate in an interview with a representative of the embassy/consulate, in which he or she will be asked about relevant matters, such as:
- the purpose of stay;
- the work experience relevant to the current work activities of the applicant;
- the educational background;
- the applicant’s ability to understand the social system in Czech Republic, regarding taxation, healthcare, citizen’s rights and obligations and others.
After the interview is held, a 4th step will take place, meaning the submission of application for the Czech freelance visa. The 5th step refers to the process in which the application is analyzed by the Czech authorities.
Here, one has to know that in some cases the Czech Republic freelance visa file can be reviewed in a very short period of time, such as 2 weeks, but in general, applicants can expect to wait for an answer for approximately 90-120 days.
In some cases, a 6th step will take place – the Czech authorities may want to request additional documentation from the applicant, outside of the basic list of documents prescribed by the Czech immigration law.
For successful applications, a 7th will arise – the issuance of the visa. The applicant must personally go to the embassy and collect the document.
How can a foreigner obtain the Zivno visa in Czech Republic?
Persons who want to use the Zivno visa as a Czech Republic remote work visa must start the application process at the embassy or consulate of Czech Republic working in their home country. The procedure has to be done in person by the applicant at the respective consulate.
There are some exemptions from the above mentioned rule and some applicants can address to any Czech consulate – the current list of exemptions can be verified with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
Please mind that the process to immigrate to Czech Republic can be longer, as the application will be reviewed in a longer period of time, compared to the tourist visa. You can find out below some important matters of this visa:
- the application for the Czech digital nomad visa can take 90-120 days;
- this visa grants the right to stay in Czech Republic for a period of up to 1 year;
- the applicant must make the proof of having sufficient financial funds – a minimum of CZK 156,500 is required;
- applicants are also required to pay an application fee of CZK 5,000;
- the holders of the digital nomad visa in Czech Republic can visit the 26 Schengen states during the validity of the document.
What should visa holders do after the document is approved?
After the Czech authorities issue the visa, it means that the foreigners have received the right to immigrate to Czech Republic and live here for the entire validity of the visa.
From the moment when the visa is issued, the foreigner can come to live here. After the arrival in the country, the visa holder has the obligation to address to the Foreign Police and provide information regarding the address where the person lives.
This procedure has to be completed in a period of 3 days after the arrival in Czech Republic. The police will issue a stamp, that will be used in the relation with another Czech institution.
The holder of the Czech freelance visa must address to the Trade License Office, institution in charge with the issuance of the official trade license that grants the right to carry out business activities in accordance to the specialization of the foreign, who will work as a freelancer in Czech Republic.
Initially, the institution will issue a temporary license. The official document will be issued in a period of 3-5 working days, after which the person will be entitled to carry out their respective business activities. We invite you to watch a short video on the Czech digital nomad visa:
Are there any extensions for the Czech Republic freelance visa?
Yes. As said above, the initial validity of the Czech freelance visa is of only 1 year. However, foreigners have the right to apply for an extension if they still want to stay in this country.
The extension can be issued for a period of 24 months (or 2 years). Please mind that this procedure is not completed through the Czech embassies, as it is the case when applying for the initial visa.
Given that this visa that that can be used by digital nomads has a validity of 1 year, successful applicants will also have to complete the required formalities for the issuance of a residence permit in Czech Republic.
If you decide to remain here, you can apply for permanent residency (under other visa types). The cost of a permanent residency card is of CZK 2,500.
When one wants an extension of the visa, the Czech immigration law states that the visa holder has to address to the Ministry of Interior.
All applicants must have, of course, a valid passport; the application must contain documents regarding the purpose of stay, as well as a proof of accommodation in Czech Republic.
It is also necessary to submit police clearance documents, from the country of origin, which are translated into the Czech language, as per the rules of Czech immigration law.
Another condition imposed to those who want the Czech Republic remote work visa is to have a valid health insurance. This document must be valid for the entire stay in Czech Republic.
If you need further assistance on the issuance of the Czech Republic nomad visa, please contact our immigration lawyers, who can help you prepare the application file.
