Applying for work in the Czech Republic: The process and requirements

The recruitment process varies from country to country as well as the documents required by the employer or, if applicable, those you should have available before you sign the contract. But what do you require when applying for work in the Czech Republic?

The Czech Republic issues work permits and relevant passes or employee cards depending on the applicant’s specific situation, job classification, length of stay and country of origin.

Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens have the same status as Czech citizens with regards to employment. When signing a contract with the employer, they usually only require an identity card or passport, as well as bank account information.

A family member of an EU citizen from a third country has free access to the labor market, therefore only requiring ‘a residence card for a family member of an EU citizen.’

For more information, see: ‘Czech Republic: Types of stays for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members.’

Third-country nationals

The requirements of third-country nationals closely relates to specific employment opportunities. For more information see: ‘Czech Republic: Visas and stays for third-country nationals.’

Getting work in the Czech Republic

A job application is usually submitted electronically either through a job site or via email, as the majority of employers advertise their job vacancies online. When sending your CV to a potential employer, it should be accompanied with a cover letter / letter of motivation (e-mail). Be sure to send an up-to-date CV, and cover letter specific to the role in question. If you receive an auto-reply, or haven’t received any feedback for a number of weeks, try to call the employer. In many circumstances the employer will have likely”hired a suitable candidate” for the advertised position without informing you. Some adverts will specifically note that ‘no response to your application means you have not been selected for the role.’

The interview

However, if the company, to which you have applied, likes your CV, they will likely invite you to an interview. The interview process often differs from place to place, taking the form of a face-to-face meeting, videoconference or phone call, with a single interview or multiple rounds. Usually, all that is required is your presence, however some employers may ask for a presentation to be prepared. It is good practice to take a printed copy of your CV with you, for reference, as well as knowledge of any industry relevant information or current industry news. Most important of all is to try and build rapport with the interviewee.

The contract

Once you have received a job offer and accepted it, you will be required to confirm your future cooperation by signing a contract of employment.

To complete the contract, you will need an identity card or passport (name, surname, place of residence, birth number, ID number, etc.) as well as bank account information (usually a Czech bank account is required) in order to be paid your salary.

It is common practice to sign the contract in advance, possibly even on the first day of your employment. If your contract is sent via post, you will usually be sent two copies: one to keep for your records and one to return to the employer.
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Author: Míša Benešovská

I’m a freelance journalist and copywriter, mainly covering IT industry. I’ve been fascinated by it for nearly a quarter of a century (or since I dismantled my first computer). I worked for Seznam.cz, Unicorn Systems or Mafra publisher. In my spare time, I love game consoles and keep perfecting a recipe for the best pumpkin risotto in the world.