Work in the Czech Republic is available to citizens from post-Soviet countries on the basis of an issued national visa and labor card. Persons with only a biometric passport cannot officially work in the country. The largest number of vacancies on the Czech labor market is noted in the fields of logistics, construction, and production. Foreigners can find stable work here, but it will not be as highly paid and promising as those with an EU passport – EU citizens have unlimited employment opportunities in any industry.
Is it possible to find a job in the Czech Republic?
The state is considered one of the most popular destinations for those planning to find a job in Europe, especially for immigrants from the CIS countries. They are attracted by the prospects of finding a job in the Czech Republic, which pays well, as well as the similarity of mentality and language. low unemployment (3.7%) and one of the best employment rates in Europe (75.7%). The average salary is around EUR 1,690, which is not too different from more developed countries such as France (EUR 2,005) or Spain (EUR 2,087).
The Czech Republic attracts a huge number of foreign companies, such as Hyundai Motor, MND, HSBC Bank, etc., which open their branches here due to affordable prices, a stable economic situation and good infrastructure. The industrial sector is constantly developing, the number of companies is growing, which entails the emergence of new Czech vacancies, and many companies hire immigrants who need work in the EU .
Most popular vacancies
According to data from the National Labor Observatory, Czech employers have been in greatest need of the following specialists in recent years:
- waiter;
- welder;
- shop assistant;
- cook;
- cleaner;
- truck driver;
- operator-setter;
- mason;
- representative of a trading company.
Also, recruiting companies prioritize areas directly related to production and factories. The vacancies offered in these industries are suitable for Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians; they do not require work experience or a thorough knowledge of Czech.
Recently, the demand for programmers and bank employees has increased in this country. For example, the increase in vacancies for IT specialists is 47%. Therefore, foreigners who can confirm their qualifications with a diploma are guaranteed to find work here on favorable terms and with a decent level of pay.
Czechs have a neutral attitude towards ignorance of the national language, especially when it comes to immigrants from Russia, Ukraine or Belarus. A group of these Slavic languages have common roots, so employer and employee can understand each other. But there are vacancies where you can’t do without knowledge of Czech:
- doctors;
- teachers;
- lawyers;
- financiers;
- realtors;
- waiters;
- taxi drivers and others.
For example, you can get a job as a doctor in a Czech clinic or hospital, but to do this you need to learn the national language, have your diploma nostrified if your medical education was obtained in a country that is not a member of the European Union, and also pass an approbation exam.
If we talk about the gender division of professions, then in this country there are vacancies that are suitable for men and women at the same time. For example, harvesters, enterprise workers involved in packaging and sorting of goods. There are even offers for married couples, where husband and wife can work together. Purely female vacancies are concentrated around the tourism sector, men are more in demand in heavy industry and construction.
General requirements for applicants
Basic requirements for permanent official work in the Czech Republic:
- Knowledge of the language.
For prestigious vacancies, it is mandatory to know the Czech language. For working professions, the requirement is desirable, but not mandatory; a minimum knowledge of the national language is sufficient. However, ignorance of Czech should not be a barrier for those who want to find a decent job in this European country. Knowledge of English increases the chances of getting a job if a foreign resident is applying for a highly paid position. - Education.
Certified specialists find work in this state faster, because employers give preference to them when assessing the skills of applicants in a certain field. The diploma is subject to mandatory nostrification. This is a procedure that involves comparing curricula, as a result of which a decision is made on whether the education received abroad corresponds to the Czech one. Without confirmation of equivalency of knowledge, the diploma may be declared invalid.
Other requirements for work visa applicants:
- availability of a work permit;
- no criminal record;
- clean visa history;
- confirmation of residential address;
- proof of professional suitability to perform the required work (if this condition is provided for in the vacancy).
How to find work in the Czech Republic
You can start your job search in the traditional ways: study offers in the Czech media, look for vacancies on social networks and make an advertisement on LinkedIn. For a more efficient search, it is worth using other methods. For example, on the website of the Czech Ministry of Social Affairs, fill out an applicant’s application, study vacancies and see in which areas there are the most offers for foreign workers.
Through the Internet
To search for work via the Internet, it is recommended to create a structured resume, which must be saved in the database of one or more portals with advertisements. You can also subscribe to the vacancy newsletter by e-mail by selecting the appropriate category. The most popular sites for searching for work in the Czech Republic via the Internet, where it is convenient to select advertisements based on the following criteria:
- jobs.cz – the largest portal with vacancies and useful information on employment;
- uradprace.cz – website of the Ministry of Labor, where there are offers for immigrants;
- pracevpraze.cz – here it is convenient to look for work in a specific region of the country;
- eurobota.com is a resource that contains many job offers without special knowledge.
To find a vacancy without intermediaries, you can start studying offers on social networks: Czech employers often advertise in the following groups:
- Facebook – Work in the Czech Republic Free Vacancies;
- VKontakte – Fuska in Prague| Work in Prague and the Czech Republic.
Citizens of countries that are not members of the European Union can search for offers in the official vacancy database, which uses information from all employment offices.
Through a recruitment agency
When planning a job search through intermediaries, you need to make sure that the selected organization is included in the list of accredited agencies.
Advantages of using the help of recruiting agencies:
- specialists are aware of the trends in the Czech labor market and have information about clients;
- applicants are given the opportunity to receive individual advice about their chances of employment;
- the recruiter, having complete information about the experience and personal qualities of a potential employee, selects interesting vacancies that are suitable for a particular person;
- Personnel search services are paid for by the employer.
Despite the significant advantages, interaction with recruitment agencies also has a disadvantage. Cooperation with such an organization does not guarantee employment.
Through the labor exchange
Not only Czechs, but also foreigners who have EU citizenship, a work permit with a valid residence permit or forced migrant status can look for work through the exchange.
Officially registered persons have access to job vacancies, and the state provides them with health insurance while they are looking for a suitable job. The applicant is required to come on time to meetings, which are agreed upon in advance with the employer, and not to refuse offers without good reason, otherwise the candidate will be excluded from the registration lists.
How to officially get a job
When a suitable vacancy has been selected and the interview with the employer has been successful, thorough preparation for official employment begins:
- Signing of an employment contract by the employer, after which it is sent to the applicant.
- Registration of a long-term stay permit for the purpose of employment in the state.
- Moving to the Czech Republic and obtaining a residence permit, and after 5 years of continuous residence in the country – obtaining permanent residence.
Applying for a work visa
If a foreigner intends to stay in the country for more than 3 months for the purpose of official work, he is required to apply for a work visa. The permit is issued for all types of employment; to obtain it, you must prepare the following documents:
- application – submitted in person at the Czech Embassy in the country of which the applicant is a citizen;
- valid international passport;
- 2 identical photographs;
- proof of residence in the Czech Republic;
- an employment contract or an agreement on a future contract;
- extract from the criminal records register;
- other documents upon request.
The decision to issue a work visa is made within 60 days.
Obtaining a work permit
There are different documents that allow you to work in the Czech Republic:
- employee card;
- blue card;
- work permit.
The listed documents are issued for a specific workplace with a specific employer. From an employment regime point of view, they are equivalent. Each of these permits is provided under the conditions established by law. Features of documents:
- Employee card.
There are no restrictions on qualification requirements for the selected position. Issued on the condition that the weekly workload will be at least 15 hours and the salary will meet or be higher than the minimum. Validity period is a maximum of 2 years, after which it is subject to renewal for the same period of time. - Blue card.
Issued if the applicant has a higher education, but provided that the course of study lasted at least 3 years. The salary must exceed at least 1.5 times the average salary in the country. The card is valid for 2 years, but can be extended for another 2 years. - Work permit.
It has no restrictions on qualification requirements; in itself it does not give a foreigner the right to work – in addition to it, it is necessary to have a residence permit. The validity period is a maximum of 2 years, after which it can be extended for the same period of time.
An application for a work permit is submitted to the Czech Embassy less than 3 months before the planned arrival at the place of work, it contains the following information:
- identification data of the foreigner;
- permanent residence address;
- information about the future employer;
- type of work, place and period of employment;
- other data if necessary.
The following are attached to the application:
- photocopy of a foreign passport or other travel document;
- an employment contract or an agreement on a future contract;
- documents certifying professional suitability (certificate, diploma, etc.), which must be nostrified.
A request for a work permit is considered within 2–3 months.
Registration of residence permit and permanent residence
A foreign worker who is in the Czech Republic on a work visa has the right to apply to the embassy for a long-term residence permit on the basis of an official invitation to work. The application contains all the necessary data, as well as the original passport, registration documents and confirmation of the purpose of stay.
After 5 years of continuous stay in the Czech Republic, a foreigner has the right to apply for permanent residence . Required documents:
- valid international passport;
- 2 photos;
- proof of purpose of stay;
- proof of residence in the Czech Republic;
- statement of no criminal record;
- language certificate confirming knowledge of Czech.
Salary in the Czech Republic
Most of the high-paying vacancies for foreigners are concentrated in Prague; new companies are constantly opening here in need of employees. The highest wages are in this city: salaries are up to 40% higher when compared with other regions of the country. If we talk about the general situation, the minimum wage in the Czech Republic has increased from January 2023 to 720 EUR per month or to 4.32 EUR per hour, and the average wage is 1,660 EUR.
Approximate salary levels by industry (EUR):
- engineer – 2243;
- general practitioner – 2,282;
- nurse – 2,005;
- teacher – 1,628;
- IT specialist – 3,532;
- builder – 1,625;
- cook or pastry chef – 1,538;
- waiter – 866;
- cashier – 1,126;
- welder – 1,538;
- product assembler at a factory – 1295;
- driver – 1,215.
If a foreigner works in this country on a work visa or residence permit, then his rights are limited, which Czech employers take advantage of by offering a lower salary for the same amount of work performed by EU citizens. EU passport holders, unlike working immigrants from post-Soviet countries, are protected by legislation. They can, as a matter of priority, apply for any position, choosing a convenient work schedule and an appropriate level of pay. EU citizens do not need to obtain work permits, visas or collect any additional documents.