Qualified non-EU foreigners can apply for employment in the Czech Republic again

The Czech Foreign Ministry has resumed the acceptance of applications for work visas under its Qualified Worker Program, the office announced on Monday.

The main aim of the program is to provide support to employers operating in the Czech Republic who wish to employ qualified foreign workers in the Czech Republic.

Starting this week, foreigners can apply for the program at Czech diplomatic offices in Ukraine, Serbia, Moldova, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan.

The Foreign Ministry discontinued the acceptance of applications for employment cards as part of restrictive measures adopted against the spread of the coronavirus.

As the epidemiological situation has improved and lockdown rules were loosened by the Health Ministry, the Foreign Ministry resumed the acceptance of applications as of June 15.

“The restart of the Czech economy after the crisis is also connected with the resumption of the possibility to employ foreign employees in successful programs such as that for skilled workers,” Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek has said.

As a part of the Qualified Worker Program, Czech companies can offer openings to bidders from selected foreign countries.

The foreigners interested in working in the Czech Republic are registered at the Czech diplomatic offices and if they are included in the program, they are granted work visas.

Due to the pandemic, the Czech Republic stopped the acceptance of visa applications in March. Since mid-May, it has been gradually relaxing the acceptance, depending on the situation in the individual countries.

Entry to the Czech Republic can be sought by seasonal workers, in the health and social services as well as critical infrastructure and the highly skilled staff.