Finding a Job
Ostrava and the related region, known as Moravian-Silesian region, keeps looking for professionals and talents from all parts of the world. Research, hi-tech and innovative team members, leaders and managers can find interesting opportunities. Prominent fields are especially IT, engineering and manufacturing. You can also find a job in global services outsourcing provided to clients from all around the world in many different languages. Two different languages other than Czech are often especially sought after. Yes, from Ostrava you can service US clients for example!
As an EU citizen or EU citizens’ family relative, you don’t have to obtain a work permit to start working in the Czech Republic. It feels good: your employer will be obliged to apply the same rules to you as to any other Czech citizen.
Opportunities crop up all the time and the number of international companies keeps growing steadily, also due to the automotive industry operating in the wider region. New research and talents incubator centres established by the major universities in Ostrava call for researchers and scientists in a number of areas. Start-ups and innovative entrepreneurial initiatives are supported and subsidised by the Regional Government.
There is still a limited number of international cuisine restaurants and Ostrava is always “hungry” for new options and inspirations in the culinary field. Local communities want to enjoy food and merchandise from all over the world, and the newly established shipment, wholesale and retail businesses are still far from covering the demand.
And, of course, qualified language teachers of English, as well as of other languages, such as French, Spanish, German, or Russian, are needed at the city’s numerous schools and language schools. Several bilingual and international schools and a number of state schools employ native speakers as teachers.
NO. If you are a family relative of an EU citizen, you will first need to apply for Temporary Residence. This permission will grant you free access to the labor market.
Before jumping into an employment search, you might find useful to learn about types of Employment contracts (in a special section).
All legal documentation and information about Employment can be found at the official website of the Labour Office of the Czech Republic:
- Foreign employment matters,
- Employment of EU citizens,
- EURES and more.
Another source on employment regulations can be found at the website of the State Labour Inspection Office. Information about living and working conditions in the Czech Republic are available through EURES websites.
Third country foreign national? – No need to worry. You can find a job, but you will need to do some paperwork first. Below we clarify a few points to start you off with getting the paperwork done. More detailed information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Interior. Answers to particular questions, advice and free of charge help can be got in person or via e-mail at CPIC Ostrava.
Opportunities crop up all the time and the number of international companies keeps growing steadily, also due to the automotive industry operating in the wider region. New research and talents incubator centres established by the major universities in Ostrava call for researchers and scientists in a number of areas. Start-ups and innovative entrepreneurial initiatives are supported and subsidised by the Regional Government.
There is still a limited number of international cuisine restaurants and Ostrava is always “hungry” for new options and inspirations in the culinary field. Local communities want to enjoy food and merchandise from all over the world, and the newly established shipment, wholesale and retail businesses are still far from covering the demand.
And, of course, qualified language teachers of English, as well as of other languages, such as French, Spanish, German, or Russian, are needed at the city’s numerous schools and language schools. Several bilingual and international schools and a number of state schools employ native speakers as teachers.
YES. For working in the Czech Republic as an employee obtaining an ‘Employee card’ (=“zaměstnanecká karta”) is a must. If you want to work here as an independent entrepreneur (=trade licence holder) the procedure is different. The Municipality Point of Single Contact will give you more information about becoming a self-employed entrepreneur.
That depends on the type of residence permit. If you already have a long-term residence permit for a different purpose (eg. business, …) and you want to start working, then you need to apply only for a work permit (at the Labor office).
There are a few exceptions where you are not required to obtain a work permit (however you still need a residence permit); for example when you are a permanent residence holder, student or a graduate from a Czech high school or university, or if you hold a long-term residence permit for the purpose of family reunification (code 95). This exception does not apply to long-term visa holders with the purpose of “family”.
There are a few new conditions, for specific information please contact CPIC.
It is a residence permit and work permit in one. It may be valid for up to 2 years and may be extended. An employee card is always valid only for a particular position with a particular employer; it does not allow you to work with any other employer. Most of larger employers will support you in obtaining your employee card as a part of the hiring process. If you have to do it yourself, contact the Center for Support of Integration of Foreigners, aka CPIC. Tel.: +420 596 112 626, e-mail: icostrava@suz.cz.
Only non-EU country citizens with a guaranteed job offers in the Czech Republic may apply. You can apply at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in your country of citizenship or long-term residence. Only foreigners with other types of long-term residence in the Czech Republic may apply in the Czech Republic (e.g. family visa holders, students).
Your application has to specify several things: the potential employer, the job position (vacancy number), the place of work, and the duration of the job (work contract or agreement on futures contract); proof of accommodation, passport, photo, application fee, proof of qualification/diploma (if required) and clear criminal records from the country of citizenship and all countries where you stayed for 6 months or longer in the past 3 years.
The original secondary or university degree diploma has to have an apostille or superlegalisation – a stamp proving its authenticity from the local authority in the country where the diploma was issued (done in the country of origin or via embassies). You also need a certified translation into Czech, i.e. translation by a court authorised language service with an ‘official stamp’ (soudní překladatel).
Prior to employing you, your employer has to announce the open position for a foreigner to the Labour Office and you have to wait 30 days for the position to become available (labour market test). This means that the Labour Office first has to try to fill the position by offering it to other job applicants who have already registered with it. Only when this is unsuccessful, the job can be offered to you and the work permit for non-EU citizens can be issued. In the meantime, you need to make an appointment at the embassy to submit your application with the vacancy number of the announced position. Once you submit the application with complete documentation, your application shall be processed in 60 days.
Before jumping into an employment search, you might find useful to learn about types of Employment contracts (in a special section).
All legal documentation and information about Employment can be found at the official website of the Labour Office of the Czech Republic:
- Foreign employment matters,
- Employee cards,
- EURES and more.
Another source on employment regulations can be found at the website of the State Labour Inspection Office. Information about living and working conditions in the Czech Republic are available through EURES websites.