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.

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.

Let us know and get your residence permit as soon as possible to be safe in the future in case the pandemic indeed returns in full force. Having a residence permit is the best way of making sure you’ll be able to return to the Czech Republic even if the borders are closed again.

If you don’t want to miss out on any important news, subscribe to our special autumn newsletter mapping not only the current coronavirus situation, and don’t forget to check this blog.

Source of the image: Pexels.com