Obtaining a residence permit in the Czech Republic (work in the Czech Republic)

Brief information

Schengen visa
Currently, Russians can visit the country with a valid Schengen visa. The country is part of the Schengen zone, so when visiting it you must obtain an entry permit.

For now, the question of visa-free entry into the country remains open. Nowadays, you can enter the country with a valid Schengen visa, which was issued by another European state.

The attractiveness of the Czech Republic in terms of labor immigration

Working in the Czech Republic is an excellent option for citizens of former USSR countries. This is due to the convenient geographical location of the country, because the Czech Republic is located in the central part of Europe, as well as the simple procedure for obtaining a work visa. No less important is that the cost is quite acceptable for an ordinary Russian and affordable for the majority. Also, citizens who work in the Czech Republic legally can take their family with them.

The Czech language is only important for workers in senior positions and those who work in the service sector, but it is not difficult to learn, especially if you immerse yourself in the language environment. On average, learning the Czech language takes about six months. The older generation speaks Russian, but there may also be a bias towards Russians.

The Czech Republic is part of the Schengen zone, so you can freely travel around the countries participating in this agreement and expand your horizons. The country is also a member of the European Union, so wages are constantly growing and amount to 1,000 euros.

Tourism

Consulate of the Czech Republic in Moscow
If your plans include a holiday in the Czech Republic, you must apply for a tourist visa. You can do this yourself or with the help of an agency.

Options for obtaining a Czech visa yourself:

• General Consulates;
• consular section of the Czech Embassy;
• visa centers;
• Czech Embassy in Moscow

Via the Internet, you can fill out an application online and send documents electronically for consideration to the visa department of the embassy.

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that at the consulate you need to stand in line and sign up. Then apply for a visa at a certain time.

The list of documents required to obtain a Czech visa is approximately the same, regardless of the service chosen.

The process of obtaining a visa through a tour operator will be delayed. In this case, travel agency employees:

• will take responsibility for filling out official forms;
• They will give detailed instructions and directions, and help with collecting certain papers;
• will be checked for compliance with certain requirements;
• will make adjustments to them (if necessary).

Purchasing a tour confirms that tourists have sufficient financial resources.

Applying for a work visa to the Czech Republic

You can legally work in the Czech Republic for a certain period of time with a work visa. Citizens without this document will not be able to get a well-paid job, so it is worth studying the specifics of obtaining a labor card so as not to be refused. A work visa, compared to a tourist visa, has a more complex application procedure and will also require additional documents.

Please note that after 5 years of work in the Czech Republic, each holder of a stamp in a foreign passport can apply for permanent residence in the Czech Republic.

There are three types of work visas:

• labor plastic carat for 2 years;
• Schengen work visa - stamp in passport also for 2 years;
• EU “blue” card, which is issued only to professional specialists and also for 2 years.

Each of these documents has its own characteristics and is issued under strictly limited conditions by law.

You can apply for an employment plastic card immediately after signing an employment contract with an employer in the Czech Republic, or there must be other guarantees of the availability of a place of work. The labor card is also a residence permit.

Registration cost

Cost of registration
Obtaining a visa through a travel agency entails certain disadvantages. First of all, there is a significant increase in the cost of a visa. The consular fee of the Czech Embassy is 35 euros, in case of urgent consideration of the application - 70 euros. Children under six years of age receive a permit to enter the Czech Republic free of charge.

The cost of obtaining a Czech visa through a travel agency increases significantly:

• for children over six years of age and adults - the cost of a visa is 80 euros;
• for children under 6 years old, the procedure for receiving is 40 euros;
• urgent visa - 140 euros.

If an entry permit to the Czech Republic is issued through a travel agency, the applicant will be required to provide the following documents:

• a foreign passport (a copy of the first page of the document, the validity of this document should not be less than three months after the end of the trip) with a blank sheet (two pages);
• two photographs 45 by 35 mm (you can submit a black and white or color photo), without stamps, frames, ovals on a white background;
• copy of civil passport (copy of sheet with information about the applicant, registration);
• two copies of the application form (usually the application is written by hand in Czech or English).

The applicant and the travel agency representative sign the application. It specifies the rights and obligations of the applicant and the travel agency.

The application contains information about the payment for the tour by the applicant, as well as about accommodation on Czech territory (additional costs for air travel and meals are noted), which will be covered by the travel company.

Financial documents

Certificates from the place of work and the status of the bank account for obtaining a visa
To obtain permission to visit the Czech Republic, you will need documents confirming the tourist’s solvency. Among them, the following papers are acceptable:

• proof of payment of living expenses during the trip (an agreement with a tour operator or a hotel reservation can be provided as proof);
• certificate of employment (it must indicate the position and salary, at least 28,000 rubles)
• pension certificate (or an extract from the sponsor's place of work, an official letter on behalf of the sponsor).

If such conditions are not met, the visa may be refused.

An excellent alternative or addition to the salary certificate can be considered a bank account statement. The document must be certified by the bank's seal. It indicates the amount of funds in the account, information about the account owner, and its number.

Tourists, according to the Czech Embassy, ​​must have sufficient funds in their account to purchase an air ticket, pay for a hotel, and also for food during their stay in the country. The average amount for one day is 36 euros per person.

When applying for a visa at the Czech Republic visa center, the applicant fills out consent to the processing of personal data.

FAQ

Is it possible to independently obtain permission to visit the Czech Republic?

Yes, if you collect a package of documents and submit it to the country's Consulate.

Independent receipt of Schengen in the Czech Republic

Invitation form to work in the Czech Republic
If your plans include applying for a visa to the Czech Republic yourself, in addition to the previously specified documents, you will need additional papers. Among them:

• an invitation from an individual or a legal entity (approved and certified by the Czech police and legal services;
• reservation of a hotel room for the entire period of stay (in the absence of an official invitation), must be signed by the manager, stamped by the hotel;
• reservation of railway or air tickets in both directions, certified at the ticket office (or purchased tickets);
• confirmation of the applicant's solvency;
• medical insurance (its validity period must fully cover the period of stay in the Czech Republic and other Schengen countries, if you plan to travel to several European countries at once) in the amount of 30,000 euros.

Before submitting a package of documents for a Czech visa, we advise you to get a free consultation with the structure where the package of documents will be submitted.

Some visa centers do not allow advance registration, so we advise you to call in advance and clarify all the details of the work schedule.

Work permit in the Czech Republic

Obtaining a work permit that will allow a foreigner to work legally in the Czech Republic is not so simple. First of all, the employer opens a vacancy on the employment exchange, for which Czechs can apply.

After a period of 30 days to 3 months has passed (this is due to the high level of unemployment in the Czech Republic), the employer submits an application to the Ministry of Labor stating that the local population for some reason is not suitable for this vacancy.

After this, the Ministry of Labor issues a work permit.

This is what a Schengen work visa to the Czech Republic looks like

There are other ways to work in the Czech Republic - Labor and Blue Cards of the European Union. However, all three documents (including the work permit) have some differences.

1. The work permit, which is issued in conjunction with a work visa, does not have any requirements for the qualifications of the applicant. This means that you can even get a job as a low-skilled employee.
2. Employee registration. Having a work permit does not automatically give visitors the opportunity to do work without a work visa.
3. The employer submits a preliminary application to the Ministry of Labor stating that he is ready to hire a citizen of another country.

A work permit is issued for a maximum period of 2 years.

National visa D

Studying in the Czech Republic
This permit, which gives the holder the right to enter the Czech Republic, is issued only to persons who will have to stay in the country for more than three months in six months. A type D visa is issued in the following cases:

• travel to sporting competitions (or for the purpose of long training or training camps);
• employment in the Czech Republic;
• obtaining higher education at an educational institution in the Czech Republic;
• trip for permanent residence (creating a family).

Let's look at each option for obtaining a national Czech visa.

Trip for permanent residence

To obtain permission to travel to the country (marriage, marriage), you must provide a certain package of documents to the diplomatic mission:

• foreign passport (two photocopies attached);
• application form filled out according to all requirements;
• two photos;
• a certificate confirming no criminal record;
• a document confirming the availability of an apartment (house) in the Czech Republic;
• a certificate confirming payment of a consular fee of CZK 2,500 (applicants applying for study visas are exempt from paying the fee).

The package of documents must be accompanied by an A5 envelope on which the address of actual residence is written.

Study visa

To obtain permission, the applicant must provide the consulate with:

• certificate of enrollment in a higher educational institution;
• a document that confirms the financial situation (at the rate of CZK 81,000 per year of stay in the country).

Question to the expert

What to pay attention to when collecting documents for a Czech visa?

It is necessary to provide reliable information.

Starting a family

To obtain a national visa for the purpose of marriage, you must provide the following documents:

• confirmation of relationship;
• a certificate proving financial solvency (bank statement on the account balance with a signature and seal).

Entrepreneurship

The applicant additionally provides a certificate of entrepreneurial activity or a letter of invitation from the host party.

Advantages of immigration to the Czech Republic

A residence permit in the Czech Republic provides many advantages:

• High salary
  . In 2021, the income of citizens of the Republic increased to 34,000 crowns, which is equivalent to 96,000 rubles or 1,330 euros.
• Diaspora
  . Today the country is home to a large Russian-speaking population. This is approximately 150,000 people, 70,000 of which are in Prague. It’s easy to adapt here without knowing the language.
• Schengen Area
  . Having citizenship, a person has the opportunity to move freely throughout European countries and visit France, Germany, and Italy.
• Education
  . Universities provide free education in any field of study. Classes are held in Czech.
• Permanent residence
  for a period of 10 years is granted after 5 years of residence. In the future, it is possible to obtain citizenship.
• Medical service
  . If you have an insurance policy, services for the prevention and treatment of diseases are provided free of charge.

Transit visa

Customs in the Czech Republic
A similar visa option is required for those travelers whose travel route will pass through the Czech Republic to another country that is not part of the Schengen zone.

• To obtain such a travel document, you must provide the Consulate (or visa center) with the same package of documents as for a short-term visa.
• Application and visa costs are the same as for the short-term option.

FAQ

Which visa option should guests who dream of exploring the country’s sights apply for?

Tourist visa.

Multiple visa to the Czech Republic

Schengen multiple visa
Thanks to this special type of travel document, visitors can stay in the Schengen visa area for 90 days every six months (90 days is the total number of trips for six months).

You can get a multiple visa for the Czech Republic for five years, but not all applicants are issued a permit for such a long period.

To obtain a multiple visa, you need to collect a package of documents similar to short-term and transit visas. But a multivisa is a document that gives the holder much more rights and opportunities, so visa department employees carry out a more thorough check (request for additional documents and certificates is possible).

You can count on receiving a multiple visa in the following cases:

• if you have previously issued Schengen visas from other countries;
• in the absence of visa violations;
• the presence of family or friendly relations of the applicant with a citizen of the Czech Republic or a permanent resident (the fact is confirmed by the invitation);
• the applicant has real estate in the Czech Republic;
• undergoing a course of treatment;
• participation in sports, cultural, scientific competitions, competitions and other events;
• conducting professional activities;
• presence of business partners in the country.

A multiple visa does not give the right to receive profit during the holder’s stay in the country. The permit is a travel document, and for employment you must obtain a work visa.

According to the new rules approved by the European Union, in order to obtain an annual permit to enter Schengen, you must have three single-entry visas obtained without violations (within the last two years). Only after using a one-year visa can you expect to receive a two-year and five-year visa.

If a tourist has issued and used visas from EU countries, Consulate employees make a decision based on these trips.

How much does a work visa to the Czech Republic cost?

Citizens who apply for a long-term work visa must pay a consular fee in the amount of CZK 2,500. In case of refusal, funds are not returned to the applicant.

You will also have to pay separately for the translation of documents into the official language of the Czech Republic (this is a mandatory item), if the applicant cannot do this on his own. On average, the cost of one page is 300 CZK. If you wish, you can use additional services offered by the visa center: SMS notification about the readiness of documents, delivery, copying, scanning and others.

Thus, the cost of obtaining a work visa increases to 25,000 CZK. There are other more expensive offers costing up to 3,500 euros, but this does not affect the possibility of receiving a negative answer, although the risks are much lower.

Visa for people of retirement age

Documents of a pensioner
A pensioner who plans to open a Schengen visa collects a standard package of documents. Additionally, the following documents are submitted to the Consulate (visa center):

• pensioner's ID;
• marriage certificate (if the applicant is officially married);
• photocopy of property rights (real and movable property)
• a document that confirms financial security (a certificate from the bank with a signature and seal, a certificate from the Pension Fund about the amount of pension payments for the last 6 months);
• travel documents.

When opening a guest visa, the pensioner provides a sponsorship letter and an invitation from the host party.

Work Visa

Work in the Czech Republic
Many foreigners consider the territory of the Czech Republic to be a promising place to work. Attracts citizens of other countries:

• high standard of living in the country;
• decent salary;
• great service;
• cleanliness on the streets;
• excellent infrastructure.

In order to work legally in the Czech Republic, you must first obtain a special work visa. The document gives the holder the right to long-term employment in the country. The purpose of residence is to make a profit.

• Currently, the average salary of a specialist with a higher education who speaks Czech is 2-3 euros per hour.
• The average salary in the Czech Republic ranges from 700-900 euros.
• In the absence of a higher specialized education, you can only count on a salary of 400-600 euros.

Most often, foreigners come to the country to work in the service sector.

To become a holder of a long-term visa, you must provide a standard package of documents to the Consulate (visa center). The applicant must also:

• attach confirmation that he will have a specific place of residence (hotel, rental housing, relatives);
• indicate in the questionnaire the scope of the proposed activity;
• prove your financial solvency (bank statement with signature and seal);
• provide a copy of health insurance (it must cover the entire duration of the requested period of residence in the Czech Republic).

The applicant’s chances of obtaining a long-term visa increase significantly if the Consulate receives an official invitation from the employer (knowledge of the Czech language is an excellent bonus).

In the absence of an official letter of invitation from the Czech side, it is important to have confirmation of the purpose of the planned trip; this can be obtained from the official Employment Office of the Czech Republic.

It must be taken into account that when obtaining a long-term visa, the applicant’s documents are examined by consular officers in more detail.

The reasons for issuing a work visa may be the following:

• no criminal record;
• property on the territory of the Russian Federation;
• having a family in the Russian Federation.

Such circumstances are confirmation for the Czech authorities that the citizen will return back to Russia and will not live in the Czech Republic under illegal conditions.

List of documents for obtaining a work visa

All Russian citizens must collect a complete package of documents to obtain a work visa (labor card), which includes:

• visa application form;
• a foreign passport valid for more than three months from the date of submission of the request for a labor card;
• 2 photos;
• document confirming the availability of housing for the period of stay in the Czech Republic
• an employment contract that confirms the availability of work in the Czech Republic, or a document that will record the intention to conclude an agreement between the employer and the applicant (there must be some guarantee that the applicant will work at least 15 hours weekly, and the salary will cover the minimum subsistence level minimum);
• diploma;
• a certificate confirming no criminal record;
• medical certificate.