Czechia extends special work visas for foreign workers until 2028

The Czech government has approved an extension of its special work visa program for foreign workers until Dec. 31, 2028, allowing employers in key industries to continue recruiting workers from five non-EU countries.

The decision, approved on Oct. 19, will maintain an annual quota of up to 2,500 visa applications, including 1,500 for Ukrainian nationals and a combined 1,000 for workers from Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and North Macedonia.

According to Around Prague, the extension was proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture to address persistent labor shortages in farming, food processing, and forestry.

The visa scheme has operated since 2019 and was scheduled to expire at the end of 2026. It was later expanded to include additional countries as employers faced difficulties recruiting workers.

Czech agriculture employs approximately 90,000 people but faces a shortage of around 5,000 workers, according to figures cited by the Agrarian Chamber of the Czech Republic.

The extension allows employers to continue filling vacancies through a dedicated migration program rather than relying solely on the domestic labor market.

The program applies to specific jobs in agriculture, food production, and forestry. Participating employers must be enrolled in the relevant government program, and employment agencies cannot act as employers under the scheme.

According to the Czech Ministry of Agriculture, the special visas are valid for a maximum of one year and cannot be extended, although workers may apply again.

The decision preserves an existing route into the Czech labor market for eligible foreign nationals while giving agricultural employers greater certainty about recruitment through 2028.