Foreigners can apply for an employee card in Czech Republic if they are interested in arriving here for employment purposes. The procedure must be initiated from outside the Czech Republic, but foreigners are allowed to apply from Czech Republic in certain conditions as well.
Our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic can help any person interested in obtaining this immigration document and can present the main requirements one has to comply with.
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Where can a foreigner initiate the procedure?
In order to arrive with an employee card in Czech Republic, a foreigner must usually initiate this immigration procedure from the home country, at an embassy of the Czech Republic operating in that said country.
According to the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, the application can start in the following locations:
- the country in which the person has his or her citizenship;
- the country that has issued the person permanent residency.
The 2nd option is available only as long as the applicant has obtained permanent residency for minimum 2 years. A foreigner can also apply for this document from Czech Republic only if the person has been living here for minimum 90 days.
In other words, the person will immigrate to Czech Republic through a temporary or long-term residence permit. Please mind that the permit must be issued for other purposes that employment.
What is the employee card in Czech Republic?
This immigration document represents a new type of card that is issued for 2 purposes. The employee card in Czech Republic (it has a dual nature – it’s a work permit and residency permit) was created for the purpose of replacing other immigration documents.
The document replaces the long-term residence permit for employment, the employment visa issued for a stay of more than 90 days and the Green Card. It provides the right to residency and employment in this country, for work activities which are approved by the Czech authorities.
The employee card in Czech Republic provides the advantage that the foreigner does not have to conclude 2 separate immigration steps, as it was and is generally the case for other types of employment documents for foreigners.
In other words, due to its dual nature, the foreigner will simply conclude one application, and then wait for a response. Our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic can offer more details on the application requirements.
What are the highlights of the employee card in Czech Republic?
A foreigner can move to Czech Republic for work and employment through this new immigration document. With regards to the employee card in Czech Republic, foreigners should be aware of the following:
- the document grants the right to immigration in Czech Republic for 2 years (renewals are available);
- the decision for the issuance of the document can be completed in approximately 60 days or maximum 90 days;
- applications processed through embassies cost CZK 5,000 (paid in the currency of the respective state);
- applications conducted directly through the Ministry of Interior cost CZK 2,500;
- the document can be issued only to those who have an employment contract that require at least 15 hours of work per week.
Who needs to apply for the employee card in Czech Republic?
The document allows the right to immigrate to Czech Republic only to those who arrive from third party countries. The document is not available for the citizens of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
The card can’t also be used by the family members of citizens from the above mentioned, even though they are nationals of third-party countries, in the case that they have already applied for a residence card that grants the right to residency in the 3 mentioned areas.
We invite you to contact our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic for more details on the employee card and on the documentation you must prepare for your application file.
