Czech Republic Skilled Worker Visa
Having an ideal life dream and a prosperous career in the heart of Europe? Czechia (the Czech Republic) is one of the best destinations of skilled foreign workers (Third-Country Nationals). It might be a complicated task to navigate the immigration system of the country, which integrates the Long-Term Visas with the Residence Permits, but this detailed, updated guide will help you to learn all you need to know about getting your Skilled Worker Visa and relocating to the city of Prague, Brno, or any other city of the Czech Republic.
Application Requirements and Process Step-by-Step
Application Submission process is almost similar to both cards and is normally done at a Czech Embassy/Consulate in your home country.
Obtaining Job and Vacancy registration
Find a Job Offer: You will need to obtain a signed Employment Contract (or a future agreement) with a Czech employer.7 The contract should be at least a year and comply with the minimum wage/salary regulations.
- Registration of the Employer: Your Czech employer is to registered the particular job opening in the national Job Vacancy Database through the Labour Office / Public Employment Service.
- Labor Market Test (Employee Card Only): In the case of the Employee Card, the job has to be open to local and EU applicants of at least 30 days. This shows that there is a lack of a proper domestic worker.
Attaining Necessary Documentations
The documents should not exceed 180 days old (with exceptions of passport and diplomas) and the necessary documents submitted in the original language with a certified translation to the Czech language. Foreign public documents must be legalized / Apostilled.
Valid Passport (valid enough)
- Filled Application Form of a Long-Term Residence Permit (D- Visa).
- Preliminary agreement / Employment Contract.
- Support of Qualification/Education (Diploma, Certificate).
- Accommodation Proof (e.g. a lease agreement or a promise by the property owner).
- Evidence of a financial capability (typically compensated by the salary, but may ask to see a bank statement).
- Criminal Record Certificate in your home country and any other country that you have stayed more than half a year in the past three years.
- Travel Health Insurance (needed when collecting visa).
- Two passport-size photos.
Submission and Processing of Application
- Book an Appointment: Reserve a submission slot at the Czech Embassy or Consulate where your place of residence lies. It is possible that appointments are very competitive.
- Application: Submit Documents: This should be done in person. This will be the time your Biometric Data (fingerprints and photo) is taken.
- Wait to the Decision: It usually takes 60-90 days to process the decision since the time can take longer in complicated cases.
- Visa Collection: You will be issued with a Long-Term Visa (Type D visa) sticker in your passport on the approval of which you can enter the Czech Republic to receive your physical Residence Permit card.
Czechia Post-Arrival Obligations
Your duties do not cease when you get to Czechia.
- Registration: Within 3 days of arrival to the country, registration of your address must be done by the Foreign Police Department or the local office of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI).
- Card Collection: You are going to pick up your physical biometric Employee Card or EU Blue Card at the Ministry of the Interior.
- Change of Employer: Change of Employer or change of work position/salary are all significant and should be reported to the MOI. Missing the reporting of a change or losing a job may result in the cancelation of a residence permit.
FAQs
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Can I bring my family?
Yes, you may apply to Family Reunification. Blue Card holders are generally less liable to the process and their spouse may get an immediate Free Access to the Labor Market.
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What about those who are already in Czechia with a different visa?
In case you are a Third-Country National who is already in Czechia (on a long-term visa (Type D) or residence permit) and the reason is not employment, you can also find yourself able to submit your application at the Ministry of the Interior office in Prague or in any other regional center.
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What is the way of getting Permanent Residence (PR)?
The two cards result in Permanent Residence. The typical is following 5 years of unremitting legal status. Nevertheless, the holders of the EU Blue Card can obtain EU Long-Term Residence in 5 years of residence in the EU (including 2 years in Czechia) or even shorter in country programs.
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What is Intra-Company Transferee card?
It is an independent permit of managers, specialists, or trainee workers that are migrated out of the company located outside the EU to a Czech branch.
Final Thoughts
Czech Republic is also keen on attracting good Expatriates in its vibrant economy especially in such cities as Prague and Brno. Although the visa procedure is very tedious in terms of document preparation and tolerance of the Processing Time, the Residence Permit obtained will provide you with a clear, stable way of long-term working and living within a safe, culturally diverse, and centrally located European nation. The first step is to ensure you get that Job Offer and find out what fits you best The Employee Card or the EU Blue Card!
Disclosure
This paper is informational and informative. It is also recommended that the reader confirms all information, in particular the latest level of salaries and other documents, on the official websites of the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) or the Czech Embassy prior to taking an application-related decision.