This article provides basic information about job searching in the Czech Republic.

The article is intended for foreigners from countries outside of EU, who have at least a long-term visa in the CR. 

How to Search for a Job in the CR?

Before you start looking for a job in the Czech Republic, find out whether you have free access to the labour market or not. Why? Because the process of job seeking will differ. Below we will explain how exactly. 

A) Foreigners with Free Access to the Labour Market

What does the free access to the labour market mean?

Foreigners with free access to the labour market don’t need a work permit. 

Who has free access to the labour market?

For example, the following groups of foreigners have free access to the labour market:

• Full-time university students
• Students of language schools with authorisation to give state language exams 
• University graduates, and graduates of schools with authorisation to give state language exams 
• Foreigners with permanent residence in the Czech territory and some of their family members 
• Foreigners holding temporary residence of a family member of an EU/EEA  or Swiss citizen 
• People granted international protection (asylum, subsidiary protection) 

How to search for a job with free access to labour market?

If you have free access to labour market, you can look for a job the same way as Czech citizens do. 

We especially recommend using the www.jobs.cz or www.prace.cz portals, where you will find a wide range of available job positions.

You can also use the central database of job positions managed by the labour department: https://www.uradprace.cz/web/cz/volna-mista-v-cr

B) Foreigners without Free Access to the Labour Market

What does it mean if I don’t have free access to the labour market?

Foreigners without free access to the labour market need a work permit. 

Who doesn’t have free access to the labour market?

• Students with a long-term visa for the purpose “other”, attending an unaccredited program or language courses.
• Dual employee card or blue card holders.
• Holders of a long-term residence permit for the purpose “business”.
• Holders of a long-term residence permit for the purpose “family”.
• Other foreigner groups. 

How can I look for a job as a foreigner without free access to the labour market?

If you don’t have free access to the labour market, you have to choose job positions only from the central database of job positions managed by the labour department: https://www.uradprace.cz/web/cz/volna-mista-v-cr.

NB: you need to filter job positions according to availability to foreigners. Select “Consent of the employment of foreigners” in the left pane and check the corresponding option. If you’re not an employee card , blue card or asylum holder, check the first option “For the foreigners“.

If you find an employer who is not in the database, the employer should notify the Labour department, which will then enter the job position into the database. As a person without free access to the labour market, you can apply  for the position only if it hasn’t been occupied by a person with free access to the labour market within the established period. 

How to get a Work Permit?

After you’ve been accepted for the job position of your choice, you will need to apply for a work permit. Work permits are issued by the Labour department’s local office: https://www.uradprace.cz/krajske-pobocky.

If you are a dual employee card or blue card holder, work permit is already a part of your residence permit. It means that you don’t need to arrange a work permit separately at the local office of the labour department. Employee card and blue card holders have their residence permit tied to a specific job position, to which the Ministry of Interior has granted them permission. In case such foreigners want to change their job positions, it is indispensable to submit a formal notification about these changes, and, in an absolute majority of cases, to wait for a positive decision from the Ministry of Interior. 

CV and Motivational Letter – How to?

If you’re interested in one of the advertised job positions, it is expected that you’ll send your CV and your motivational letter to the potential employer. And based on these, they will decide if they want to meet you. 

Above all, you should list your work experience, educational background and knowledge of foreign languages in your CV.  Of course, it should also include your name and contact info.

In case you have a university degree and are looking for a job in your field, or having a degree is required for the job position, it’s a good idea to have your diploma recognised. We will talk about diploma recognition in our next article. 

Apart from the CV, you also need to compose a motivational letter for each job position, explaining why you’re interested in it, and why you’re the best candidate for it. 

We recommend writing your CV and motivational letter in Czech. Foreign companies might be an exception, since they sometimes ask for a CV in English or another language. 

You’re not sure how to do all that? We can assist you with the CV and the motivational letter during a consultation! ☺ Just book and appointment at: +420 252 543 846.

Do You Have Further Questions?

Of course, every situation is individual, so we always recommend visiting our organization, where we can answer your questions in detail. Give us a call at  +420 252 543 846, and book an appointment for a consultation.

We would like to warn you that all the information is effective at the moment the article is issued. It is possible that it will change after some time. You can confirm whether the information is up-to-date at a personal meeting. 

We have also prepared a short video about this topic for you. Have a look! ☺