Free Access to the Czech Labour Market for Citizens of Selected Countries

Citizens of certain selected countries have free access to the labour market in the Czech Republic.

To work in the Czech Republic, a foreign national generally needs not only a valid residence permit but also a work permit. However, there are exceptions specifically defined by law under which a work permit is not required.

What Does Free Access to the Czech Labour Market Mean?

In practice, free access to the labour market means that a foreign national does not need any approval or consent from immigration authorities when changing employers, changing job positions, or changing the place of work.

No approval is required even when taking on an additional job position, whether with the current employer or a different employer.

Citizens of Which Countries Do Not Need a Work Permit?

One of the exceptions is based on Government Regulation No. 154/2024 Coll., which establishes a list of selected countries whose citizens do not need a work permit to be employed in the Czech Republic.

These countries are:

• Australia
• Japan
• Canada
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Israel
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Taiwan
• New Zealand

Free Access to the Labour Market Does Not Automatically Mean the Right to Work Without a Visa

It is important to remember that although citizens of these countries do not need a work permit, they must still hold a valid residence authorization, such as a visa or residence permit.

Example: A Japanese Citizen

A Japanese citizen resides in the Czech Republic on the basis of a long-term visa for family reunification purposes. From an immigration perspective, she is joining her spouse, who works in the Czech Republic. This visa alone does not automatically authorize her to work freely in the Czech Republic.

However, because she is a citizen of Japan—a country whose nationals have free access to the Czech labour market—she is entitled to work in the Czech Republic without obtaining a work permit.

If, for example, she were an Indian citizen instead, she would need to obtain a work permit issued by the regional branch of the Czech Labour Office before taking up employment.

Can You Work in the Czech Republic During a Visa-Free Stay?

The above also means that a foreign national cannot travel to the Czech Republic under the visa-free regime (short-term stays of up to 90 days) and begin working simply because they have free access to the labour market.

Example: A U.S. Citizen

A U.S. citizen travels to the Czech Republic under the visa-free regime (which applies to short-term stays of up to 90 days). Although they have free access to the labour market, they must also hold a valid visa or another appropriate residence authorization in order to work legally in the Czech Republic.

In other words, free access to the labour market eliminates the need for a work permit, but it does not replace the requirement to obtain the appropriate visa or residence permit.

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