Czech Republic · Skilled Worker Visa

Employee Card

Official name Employee Card (zaměstnanecká karta, §42g Act 326/1999)

By António Mira, Founder · Member, Arab-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCIAP) & Portuguese-Saudi Business Council (PSBC)
✓ Verified against the official government source · Last verified 2026-06-24 · Our methodology
7.3/10 diff
Difficult

Combined work + residence permit for third-country nationals employed in Czechia >3 months in a position registered in t…

Min income
Processing
90+ days
Path to PR
No
Job offer
Required
Direct answer

Combined work + residence permit for third-country nationals employed in Czechia >3 months in a position registered in the central register of vacancies designated for the employee card system. Salary must meet at least the minimum monthly wage. Labour-market test required unless employer is on the designated-employer list or position falls under the Qualified Employee Programme, Key & Scientific Personnel Programme, or Highly Qualified Programme. Card holder must NOTIFY MoI of any employer/position change within 3 working days.

At a Glance

Visa Duration
24 months
Processing Time
90+ days
Min Income
Path to PR
No
Difficulty
7/10 — Difficult

Eligibility Requirements

RequirementDetails
Age Range18–65
Job Offer RequiredYes
Sponsorship RequiredYes
Health Insurance RequiredYes

Family & Rights

RightDetails
Path to Permanent ResidencyNo

Related Pathways

Cost of Living

Prague
Single (monthly)€23,667
Family (monthly)€43,238
Rent 1BR (center)€12,000
Groceries€5,917
Transport pass€1,420
Brno
Single (monthly)€17,907
Family (monthly)€35,904
Rent 1BR (center)€8,160
Groceries€4,477
Transport pass€1,074
Ostrava
Single (monthly)€14,979
Family (monthly)€29,952
Rent 1BR (center)€6,240
Groceries€3,745
Transport pass€899

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Employee Card (zaměstnanecká karta, §42g Act 326/1999)?

Combined work + residence permit for third-country nationals employed in Czechia >3 months in a position registered in the central register of vacancies designated for the employee card system. Salary must meet at least the minimum monthly wage. Labour-market test required unless employer is on the designated-employer list or position falls under the Qualified Employee Programme, Key & Scientific Personnel Programme, or Highly Qualified Programme. Card holder must NOTIFY MoI of any employer/position change within 3 working days.

Can the Employee Card (zaměstnanecká karta, §42g Act 326/1999) lead to permanent residency?

No — this is a temporary pathway and does not itself lead to permanent residence. Holders often switch to a different route to pursue settlement.

Are there alternative pathways to Czech Republic?

Yes. Czech Republic offers 10 other immigration pathways. Compare all options on our Czech Republic country page.

What is the cost of living in Czech Republic?

Monthly costs for a single person in city center: Prague: €23,667/mo; Brno: €17,907/mo; Ostrava: €14,979/mo. These include rent, groceries, transport, and utilities.

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Official source

Requirements on this page are based on this official/primary source:

Data last verified: 2026-06-24 · See our methodology

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