#ImmiUpdatesCzechia Are you a non-EU resident looking for long-term employment in the Czech Republic? There are several visa options you could choose from. But, the Employee Card might be the most appealing to you. How do you apply for one? What conditions need to be met? Discover all of it in this article!
The Employee Card can be obtained for all kinds of employment.
What Is the Employee Card?
The Employee Card serves as a type of long-term residence permit that enables one to stay and work legally in the Czech Republic for a period longer than 3 months. It is designated for workers outside the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland.
The card can be obtained for all kinds of employment regardless of the required education and qualification. It relates to the specific job for which it was issued or, if applicable, to a job for which the Department for Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of the Interior granted its consent in connection with changing employer or job.
Note: Some representative offices of the Czech Republic abroad have yearly quotas for applying for an Employee Card, while others have zero quotas. The only possibility to apply for an Employee Card is through government programs (e.g. India, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Ghana, Tunisia, Pakistan…)
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for an Employee Card, you must:
- Be a third-country citizen
- Fulfill the purpose of your stay for the whole duration of your residence permit
- Full-time employment contract or agreement on work activity “DPČ” (Note that agreement on work performance “DPP” is not accepted)
- Contract for at least 15/hours per week
- Salary higher than the basic rate of the monthly minimum wage (regardless of the type of employment!)
Validity Period
The Employee Card is issued for a period of the employer-employee contract but with a maximum duration of 2 years.
The validity can be restricted on the grounds of:
- the duration of the employment
- validity of the work permit
- the period of time established in the decision on a work or vocational training permit issued by a recognition authority
Specimen of an Employee Card
Benefits
With a valid residence permit, you can:
- Leave and re-enter the Czech Republic repeatedly
- Travel within the Schengen Area without a visa
- Stay and work legally in the Czech Republic for the duration of your residence permit
Extension of Validity
You can extend your employee card’s validity repeatedly for the period of your work contract or agreement on performing work. But always for a maximum of 2 years.
You can submit your application 120 days before the expiration of your current residence permit up to the last day of its validity. During this processing period (60 days), you are staying in the Czech Republic legally, even if your current residence permit has expired.
Are you applying for an extension for the same work position? Then you’re allowed to keep working legally during this period.
Change of Employer
Do you want to change your employer, work position or do you wish to start another work position with the same or another employer? Find out more about how to do it!
For professionally demanding roles requiring high qualifications, you can apply for the so-called Blue card. Check it out here!
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Sources: FRS
Image source: Unsplashed, Employee Card
