The Czech Republic’s central placement in Europe makes it an attractive location for foreign employees and international businesses. If you’re planning an expansion to the country, you can take advantage of good transportation and infrastructure links. However, you’ll also need to worry about meeting compliance laws related to Czech Republic work visas and permits.

Types of Work Visas in the Czech Republic

Foreigners not from the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) must apply for a Schengen visa before entering the Czech Republic. About 40 states also have agreements with the country that allow citizens to stay for up to 90 days as long as the visit isn’t related to employment or business.

The Czech Republic has two main visa categories — long-term and short-term Schengen visas. Your employees are eligible to apply for either one for employment purposes, but they’ll still need a work permit to stay compliant. The differences between the visas follow:

Short-term: A short-term visa allows holders to stay within the area for no more than 90 days over 180 days. This larger category is broken into further visa types depending on the reason for the holder’s visit, such as business, employment, study, or tourism.

Long-term: Anyone planning on staying in the Czech Republic for more than 90 days needs a long-term Schengen visa. The application process is lengthier and may include an interview at the Czech diplomatic mission where the individual applies.

In addition to these Czech Republic working visas, the country has two long-term permits that act as both residence and work permits — the EU Blue Card and the employee card. EU Blue Cards are only eligible for EU citizens labeled as highly qualified individuals. Nationals from non-European countries can apply for an employee card if they offer skills and qualifications the country needs.