Czechia approves new foreign worker quotas: Who stands to benefit?

Starting in July 2025, the Czech Republic will overhaul how many foreign workers it admits through its visa quotas—a move that could significantly impact job markets, employers, and prospective workers.

There are currently 858,550 foreigners working and paying taxes in the Czech Republic—people without Czech citizenship. Nearly half of them, around 425,970, live and work in Prague and its surrounding areas. Their jobs vary by region, reflecting diverse contributions to the economy.

On Wednesday, the government approved an Interior Ministry regulation that raises quotas for skilled workers while reducing access for unskilled or low-skilled labor.

This policy shift reflects the government’s effort to balance labor shortages in high-demand sectors with tighter immigration controls.

For skilled workers, scientists, and digital nomads—especially from countries like India, China, Thailand, and other parts of Asia—the changes could open new opportunities to live and work in Czechia.

The Czech Republic plans to admit 24 IT specialists from India and 650 highly qualified workers from China.

A new digital nomad program will offer 24 visa spots for IT professionals, allowing them to work in Czechia as self-employed individuals, with expedited processing in just 45 days.

The new quotas will reduce visas for low-skilled workers from African countries.

With one of the lowest unemployment rates in the EU (2.6 percent) but 66 percent of employers struggling to fill roles, Czechia is focusing on attracting highly qualified foreign talent.

The goal is to address labor gaps and bolster innovation, where the country ranks 31st globally—respectable, but behind global superpowers. This shift aims to ease pressure on employers, support economic growth, and reduce the oversaturation of low-skilled jobs.

The new quotas apply to long-term visas (over 90 days) under Czechia’s labor migration programs, targeting skilled professionals, scientists, and digital nomads.

While this move is seen as a step toward a more innovation-driven workforce, Czechia still faces structural hurdles—including labor market rigidity, slow bureaucracy, and a lagging employee experience. Further reforms in talent development, digital readiness, and workplace modernization will be critical to compete with the world's top economies.