How to Obtain an Employee Card for Ukrainians in the Czech Republic in Autumn 2025

The Czech Republic continues to be a magnet for Ukrainians seeking stable employment abroad: demand for staff is high in warehousing, manufacturing, and service sectors, and the key document – the Employee Card – is now easier to obtain considering the wartime realities. This is reported by Expert.

What is the Employee Card in the Czech Republic and WhoIs it Issued To

The Employee Card is issued based on a contract with a Czech employer, whose job vacancy is included in the Central Register of Available Positions. 

“It is not necessary to have a higher education or special qualifications, the main thing is that the vacancy is included in the Central Register of Vacancies available for Employee Card holders,” – say the specialists at Relocate. 

The card is predominantly "dual" – with automatic right to work, but a "non-dual" option with additional permission is possible.

How to Obtain an Employee Card

The process of obtaining has become more flexible for Ukrainians starting in 2025. From January 1, applications from visa holders due to the armed conflict are only accepted at the diplomatic missions in Lviv and Kyiv, with an option to waive personal presence. For participants in the Qualified Employee or Key Personnel programs, the employer contacts the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. Here are the main steps:

• Receive an official contract and check the vacancy in the register.

• Gather documents: passport, photo, certificate of no criminal record (from Ukraine and countries of residence), medical certificate, proof of financial capability.

• Submit an application in Czech or with translation, pay the fee (2500 crowns in the Czech Republic, 5000 – abroad).

• Wait for a decision for up to 60 days (often 90+ due to checks).

What to Do If the Employee Card Holder is Dismissed from Work

From October 1, 2025, for cards without free access to the labor market, the deadline for notifying about a new employer is extended to 90 days (previously 60), if the dismissal occurs after August 2. Changing position or company requires an application 30 days before the end of the contract. During the waiting period, there is a "fiction of residence" – legal stay if the visa expired on time. You can only start working after approval from the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic.

For Ukrainian refugees, temporary protection has been extended until March 2027, focusing on integration. Economists predict that with the rise in wages (average 40,000 crowns) and direct flights from Ukraine, the flow of migrants will increase by 15% in 2026. 

Previously, we wrote that Ukrainian refugees brought 15 billion crowns to the Czech Republic.