When traveling to the Czech Republic, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require a work permit. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.

What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?

As a business visitor to the Czech Republic, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:

• » Attend business meetings
• » Buy goods for sale outside the country
• » Tour a company facility
• » Attend a trade show or seminar convention
• » Provide classroom or meeting room training

If I qualify as a business visitor, do I need a visa for the Czech Republic?

Nationals of the European Union, United States, and many other select countries are eligible for a visa waiver and are not required to obtain a visa in order to enter and conduct business activities in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic is a member of the Schengen Area, a free-travel zone comprised of 26 European countries. If your nationality is not eligible for a visa waiver in the Schengen Area, you will be required to obtain a Schengen Short-Term Business Visa prior to travel. Visa-waivered nationals, as well as those who are required to obtain a visa, are authorized to travel to the Czech Republic and throughout the Schengen Area. Please note that travelers may not spend more than 90 days within any 180-day period inside the Schengen Area.

What types of activities require a work permit?

The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Czech law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in the Czech Republic, even if conducted for a short duration.

• » Hands-on technical work
• » Auditing
• » Consulting
• » Market rollout

In limited circumstances, foreign nationals may engage in specialized professional and technical activities without obtaining a work permit, though an after-sales agreement and additional eligibility criteria may apply. An individual assessment is required before deciding whether a work authorization exemption is appropriate.

If I am traveling to the Czech Republic for work, what type of work permit do I need?

The requirements for a work permit depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work, and on whether your employer has an entity in the Czech Republic. The most common Czech work permits are:

• » Schengen Short-Term Work Visa and Work Permit (short-term work authorization)
• » Dual Purpose Employee Card (direct-hire work permit)
• » Single Purpose Employee Card (assignee work permit)
• » EU Blue Card (high-skilled work permit)
• » Intra-Corporate Transfer Card (ICT work permit)

Is it possible to be exempted from work permit requirements?

Nationals from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland are not required to obtain a work permit in order to work in the Czech Republic. However, registrations or other formalities may be required prior to working or residing in the Czech Republic.

Additional work permit exemptions are available in the Czech Republic for qualifying groups, including graduates of Czech universities, family members of certain residence permit holders, and foreign assignees sent from companies headquartered in the European Union. In these cases, a legal assessment to determine the possibilities for work permit exemptions should be obtained prior to traveling.

Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.

Copyright © 2019 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Government immigration agencies often change their policies and practices without notice; please consult an immigration professional for up-to-date information. This document does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. BAL maintains comprehensive immigration information and processing specifics for our clients.