Being New Employee in Czech Republic During COVID-19 Pandemic

While some foreigners move to the Czech Republic to study at one of the numerous Czech universities, some arrive for work. The global coronavirus pandemic, however, complicates things for everyone. Sure, almost all Czech embassies have mostly resumed normal operation but that still (unfortunately) doesn’t mean that arriving in the country and starting a new job will be a piece of cake.

Before You Arrive

The first few tips are mostly intended for your employer. 

  • It is, for example, possible to apply for a Schengen visa via the Key and Scientific Staff Programme and Qualified Staff Programme. Companies don’t have to take part in these programmes in order to apply for the visa for their employees – they now only have to meet some specific conditions for the position (for example wages, it has to be a full-time job, produce a contract, etc.). 
  • It’s also good to know that from September 21 it is possible to apply for the Blue Card without partaking in these governmental programmes. Blue Card is a type of a residential status designed for a long-term stay for the purpose of performance of a highly skilled job. Up until September 21, it was possible to apply for the Blue card only via some of the government programmes for foreign employees.
  • As for the Qualified Staff Programme, this programme doesn’t have quotas for Employee Cards for specific professions, which is definitely a good news for everyone participating in this programme.
  • If you are not yet employed in the Czech Republic and you’re thinking about applying for some visa, it is important to remember that it is still not possible to apply for some types of visas at those embassies that have resumed operation only partially. This concerns, for example, the entrepreneurship visa.
Emplyees working
Being a new employee in the Czech Republic during the COVID-19 pandemic is not easy – even arriving in the country can be complicated.

Before Your Arrival

If none of the previous news concerns you, because you’re already about to arrive in the Czech Republic, there are different rules you need to know about. For example, all people who are travelling to the Czech Republic for work and stayed in one of high-risk countries for over 12 hours in the last 14 days can only arrive in the Czech Republic with a negative PCR test (less than 72 old). Besides that, they are obligated to fill out an online coronavirus form prior to their arrival in the Czech Republic.

Once You’re in the Czech Republic

Once you’re in the country you have to submit this form during a border control, undergo a test for COVID-19 within 5 days from your arrival in the country, immediately send the result to the Hygiene Office and wear a face mask for 10 days from your arrival (even if the test for COVID-19 is negative). For those 10 days you won’t be able to go anywhere you want as your freedom of movement will be limited to travelling from and to work, to doctors and to ensure basic living needs.

If you have to register at a MOI office and submit your biometric data to receive your biometric card, you can only arrive in the office with a negative test for COVID-19. You also cannot enter your workplace until you produce a negative test for COVID-19.

By the way, if you have a short term working visa and it expired during the original state of emergency, don’t worry about having to leave the Czech Republic: These visas have been extended until November 16 if your labor-law relationship was extended.

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Source of the image: Pexels.com

Anna Minjaríková

Hello, readers! My job is to provide you with some interesting tips and useful information about all the things Czech. ♫ I'll be there for you! ♫

4 thoughts on “Being New Employee in Czech Republic During COVID-19 Pandemic

  1. Hi Anna,

    My name is Ashesh Khanal, originally from Nepal, now living and working in CZ with long term resident permit. My wife and son(5 years) has D Visa, Long term Mulitiple Visa, which is going to expire on March 27, 2021.
    My wife want to work in Czech Republic to apply for visa extension. Is it possible to apply for visa extension in Czech Republic? Also, my son is Minor and also wants to stay with parents.
    Please let me know to solve with this deals.

    Many thanks,
    Ashesh Khanal

  2. Hi Team,

    I am Ritam Bhowmik and I graduated from a Czech university and have free access to the labour market.
    I am presently working and applied for Employee card (Zaměstnanecké karty) with the work contract with present employer (where I am working since last 10 months) on 2nd March 2022 and also I have an job offer from another company.
    Can I change my employer without any restrictions or do I have to work for 6 months atleast with the same employer.

    Kind regards,
    Ritam Bhowmik

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