Frequently asked questions

Last update:

April 4, 2019

Questions frequently asked by applicants for employee cards

Can I apply for an employee card and then look for a job in the CR?

No. A concluded employment contract, contract for work or a letter of intent stipulating the parties' commitment to conclude an employment contract or a contract for work within the specified date is enclosed with an employee card application.

I am an EU citizen. Do I need an employee card?

No. As an EU citizen, you enjoy the same conditions on the labour market of the Czech Republic as do the citizens of the Czech Republic.

For what kind of jobs can an employee card be issued?

Eligible job vacancies can be found in the central records of job vacancies available for employee cards. The foreigner worker's monthly wage, salary or remuneration must not be lower than the basic rate of the monthly minimum wage regardless of the extent of work and the weekly working hours must be at least 15 hours. Only if you already hold an employee's card can you be given job approval for another job that does not have to meet the above conditions.

Can I select more than one vacancy at one time?

An application can only be submitted for a single specific job for which you have concluded an employment contract. You can communicate with several potential employers about the possibilities of employment.

Can I have two employee cards at once?

No. When a new employee card is issued, the previous employee card expires. Only if you already hold an employee's card can you be given job approval for another job (see the answer to the question For what kind of jobs can an employee card be issued?).

Will someone arrange accommodation for me?

You must arrange your own accommodation, or you can resolve the matter of accommodation with your employer in the Czech Republic. You must have your accommodation secured when you submit your employee card application.

Where can I find vacancies available for employee cards?

In the central records of vacancies available for employee cards, which are accessible on the Internet.

Do I need the consent of my future employer for the employee card to be issued?

Yes. A concluded employment contract, contract for work or a letter of intent stipulating the parties' commitment to conclude an employment contract or a contract for work within the specified date is enclosed with an employee card application.

What happens if the employer terminates my employment after some time?

You are obliged to inform the Ministry of the Interior of the termination of your employment or change of job position.

If your employment was terminated for any of the reasons listed in Section 52 a) to e) of the Labour Code, or by agreement for the same reasons, or with immediate termination pursuant to Section 56 of the Labour Code during the validity of your employee card, you can look for a new job in the central records of vacancies available for employee cards and apply for an approval of a change in employer or job position. This application is submitted to an office of the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior.

Important notice:

An employee card’s validity expires after the 60th day from the day you became unemployed unless in the meantime you have provided the Ministry of the Interior with a notification of change of employer, that is you have notified the Ministry that you have a new employer.

If you notify a change of employer in these 60 days, the employee card expires only if the legal requirements for such a change are not met or if the employee card’s validity has expired.

The employee card will not expire if you have duly notified a change of employer or a change of work position and the legal requirements for such a change have been met, or if in line with the legal requirements you have applied for a change of the purpose of residence.

If you have applied for an extension of the employee card’s validity and you have ended your employment, the fiction of residence based on which you are legally staying in the Czech Republic will cease to exist, unless you notify a change of employer or you apply for a change of the purpose of residence within 60 days from the termination of the employment.

If your employee card’s validity has expired, you must leave the Czech Republic. The Ministry of the Interior will issue you with a departure order for this purpose

A work permit is required in specific cases stipulated in Sections 89, 95, 96 and 97 of the Employment Act. A work permit only allows the holder to work in the Czech Republic but not no live here. You must have a valid residence permit in the Czech Republic to stay there.

In contrast, an employee card is both a work permit and a residence permit for the Czech Republic. The issuing procedure is simpler.

Additional major differences are listed in the comparison table.

More detailed information: Termination and Revocation of a Residence Permit of Third Country Nationals - frs.gov.cz

What is the difference between the employee card and a blue card?

The issuance of an employee card is conditional on foreigner's monthly wage, salary or remuneration not being lower than the basic rate of the monthly minimum wage regardless of the extent of work. The weekly working hours must be at least 15 hours.

In contrast to an employee card, a blue card can only be issued for jobs that require a high level of qualification (completed university education or higher professional education where the studies took at least 3 years). In the case of a blue card, the agreed gross monthly or annual salary must correspond to at least a 1.5 multiple of the gross annual salary in the Czech Republic announced by a Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs communication.

Additional major differences are listed in the comparison table.

For how long is the employee card valid? What will I do then?

The employee card is issued for a period equal to the duration of the relevant employment contract, but no longer than 2 years.

You can apply for an employee card extension no earlier than 120 days and no later than the last day of validity of your employee card. The card may be extended for the term of your employment stipulated in our employment contract, but no more than 2 years.

What should I do if I have an employee card and I want to change jobs?

If you are working in the Czech Republic on an employee card and you get a better job offer, you may apply for an approval of a change in an employer or a job position, if the job is listed in the central records of vacancies available for employee cards. This application is filed at an office of the Department of Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior.

What is the relationship between the employee card and the green card?

The option of applying for a green card or applying for a green card extension has not been available since 23. 6. 2014. However, all previously issued green cards remain valid for the period of validity specified in the relevant cards and are deemed to be employee cards (the same rules apply for these cards).