The visa · Czechia
Czechia
Czechia has no stand-alone remote-work visa; it runs a government Digital Nomad Programme that fast-tracks ordinary long-term visas for IT and marketing specialists from thirteen listed countries, while other nationalities use the long-term business visa built on a Czech trade licence. Working-holiday visas cover nine partner states, and every other visitor is limited to 90 days in any 180 on a stay the ministry describes as non-profit. The single thing to settle before applying is which stream fits: the programme demands a listed passport, a STEM or marketing background and income of 1.5 times the national average gross salary, and it grants no legal right to inclusion.
- Nomad visa · September 2026YesRoutes4Bases1
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Remote jobs open to Czechia
Listings whose hiring region includes this country, newest first · apply on the board's own page
- Sales JediEurope
- SaaS Product Support JediEurope, EMEA, UK, Germany, France, European timezones
- Senior React Full-stack DeveloperLATAM, Europe, USA, Canada, APAC
- Senior QA EngineerEurope
- Senior DevOps EngineerLATAM, Europe, USA, Canada, APAC
- Senior Golang DeveloperEurope, USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore
- Senior Data EngineerLATAM, Europe, USA, Canada, APAC
- Senior Independent AI Engineer / Architect$120 - $170 /hour
The routes
Researched 8 September 2026 · rules as of September 2026 · as published, not legal advice
Nomad visa
Digital Nomad Programme, employee stream (long-term visa for other purposes)
Program Digitální nomád / The Digital Nomad Program; visa: Vízum k pobytu nad 90 dnů za účelem ostatní / Visa for a stay of more than 90 days for other purposes
A remote employee of a non-Czech employer with at least 50 staff worldwide, working in IT or marketing, holding a passport from one of thirteen listed states.
- Income floor
- Salary of at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary announced by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, evidenced in the employment contract; the ministry publishes the multiplier, not a fixed sum, and relocation guides put the 2026 equivalent at roughly CZK 69,800 a month, a figure the official programme text does not state.
- Duration
- Long-term visa valid up to 1 year; inclusion in the programme is valid for a maximum of 1 year and must be extended before the visa expires, after which the holder applies in-country for a long-term residence permit for the same purpose; extension requires a Czech certificate of tax domicile.
- Cost
- CZK 2,500 for the long-term visa under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs fee schedule; no separate fee is published for inclusion in the programme.
- Processing
- The Ministry of the Interior undertakes to decide within 45 days of a complete application; the programme text sets no time limit for the Ministry of Industry and Trade inclusion decision.
- Eligibility
- Citizen of Australia, Brazil, India, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States or Taiwan; not a holder of a Czech long-term visa or long-term residence permit now or in the preceding year; employer with at least 50 employees worldwide; remote work enshrined in the contract or an employer's sworn statement; IT specialists need a STEM degree or higher professional education or 3 years of proven IT experience, marketing specialists a degree of at least 3 years in marketing, advertising or a related discipline; the standard long-term visa documents (criminal record, accommodation, funds, insurance) still apply at the embassy; the Delhi embassy takes only 24 applications a year in this stream; no legal right to inclusion.
- Work rights
- Remote work for the foreign employer only; the programme text states the holder remains employed abroad and does not enter an employment relationship under Czech law.
- Dependants
- Spouse, registered partner and minor or adult dependent children may be included if they apply together with the nomad; family members apply for a long-term visa for family purposes, adult dependent children for studies or other purposes; they later move to long-term residence for family reunification.
- Leads to
- Time on the long-term visa and the subsequent long-term residence permit counts towards permanent residence, which Czech law grants after five years of continuous residence; citizenship follows permanent residence under the separate Citizenship Act.
- Apply
- Inclusion request to the Ministry of Industry and Trade; then the long-term visa in person at the Czech embassy in the country of citizenship or long-term residence on a date the embassy assigns; residence permit extensions in-country at the Ministry of the Interior.
Documents Programme application form to the Ministry of Industry and Trade · Extract from the commercial register or equivalent proving the foreign employer exists · Employer affidavit that it employs at least 50 people worldwide · Employment contract in English with the salary, continued employment and remote-work clauses also in Czech · Proof of education or 3 years of IT experience showing job description, entity and dates · Confirmation of inclusion from the ministry, presented at the embassy as proof of purpose · Long-term visa application with passport, criminal-record extract, proof of accommodation, proof of funds and health insurance · All documents original or notarised copies no older than 180 days
Nomad visa
Digital Nomad Programme, freelancer stream (long-term visa for business)
Program Digitální nomád; visa: Vízum k pobytu nad 90 dnů za účelem podnikání / Visa for a stay of more than 90 days for the purpose of doing business (self-employed)
A self-employed IT or marketing specialist from one of the thirteen listed states who holds, or will register, a Czech free trade licence in IT or marketing services.
- Income floor
- A promised service contract or client affidavit showing remuneration of at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary announced by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, spread over the months of performance.
- Duration
- Long-term visa valid up to 1 year; inclusion of a freelancer in the programme has unlimited validity; before the visa expires the holder applies in-country for a long-term residence permit for the purpose of doing business.
- Cost
- CZK 5,000 for the long-term visa for entrepreneurship under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs fee schedule.
- Processing
- The Ministry of the Interior undertakes to decide within 45 days of a complete application; a personal interview at the embassy is mandatory for freelancers.
- Eligibility
- Same thirteen nationalities and one-year no-prior-Czech-permit rule as the employee stream; declaration of a free trade in IT or marketing at a Czech trade office; STEM degree or 3 years of IT experience, or a 3-year marketing-related degree; capacity limited by the per-embassy quotas for business visas set in Government Regulation No. 220/2019 Coll., with Delhi limited to 24 applications a year.
- Work rights
- Self-employment under the Czech trade licence for IT or marketing services; the programme describes clients in different parts of the world and Czech companies using nomad services, so clients abroad and in Czechia are both contemplated; local employment is not part of this route.
- Dependants
- Spouse, registered partner and dependent children may apply together on family-purpose visas, as in the employee stream.
- Leads to
- Counts towards permanent residence after five years of continuous residence; citizenship follows under the Citizenship Act.
- Apply
- Trade office to declare the trade, Ministry of Industry and Trade for inclusion, then the embassy abroad for the visa with an interview; later permits at the Ministry of the Interior in Czechia.
Documents Invitation from the trade office department confirming registration in the trade register · Promise to conclude a service contract, or a client affidavit, stating the IT or marketing project, its duration and remuneration at the 1.5-times threshold · Proof of education or 3 years of IT experience · Ministry confirmation of inclusion presented at the embassy · Standard long-term visa file: passport, criminal-record extract, accommodation, proof of funds, health insurance
Freelance / self-employed
Long-term visa for business (the Živno visa), outside the programme
Dlouhodobé vízum za účelem podnikání / Long-term visa for the purpose of business (self-employment), based on a živnostenské oprávnění (trade licence)
Any third-country freelancer, including nationalities and professions outside the Digital Nomad Programme, willing to register as a Czech sole trader.
- Income floor
- Proof of sufficient funds in a personal account is required at the visa stage; the Ministry of the Interior page setting the formula could not be opened for this report, so no figure is given here.
- Duration
- Long-term visa for up to 1 year; then a long-term residence permit for the purpose of business applied for in-country, which is renewable; relocation guides describe the permit as issued for up to 2 years at a time.
- Cost
- CZK 5,000 for the long-term visa for entrepreneurship on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs schedule; CZK 2,500 is listed for residence permit applications.
- Processing
- Relocation guides report around 90 days from filing, with complex cases up to 120 days; the Ministry of the Interior publishes statutory time limits on its Immigration Portal.
- Eligibility
- Third-country national; a Czech trade licence with a registered business address; comprehensive health insurance meeting the EUR 400,000 minimum for stays over 90 days; clean criminal record; embassy capacity quotas apply to business-purpose visas.
- Work rights
- Self-employed work under the trade licence for Czech or foreign clients; employment by a Czech employer would require a different permit.
- Dependants
- Family members apply separately for long-term visas or residence for family purposes; not included in the business visa itself.
- Leads to
- Counts towards permanent residence after five years of continuous residence.
- Apply
- In person at a Czech embassy or consulate abroad; applications cannot be lodged inside Czechia; subsequent residence permits at the Ministry of the Interior.
Documents Application form and passport · Trade licence or trade-office confirmation of registration · Proof of accommodation in Czechia · Proof of funds in a personal bank account · Criminal-record extract from the home country and countries of long residence · Comprehensive health insurance policy · Passport photographs
Working holiday
Working Holiday Visa
Vízum k pobytu nad 90 dnů za účelem pracovní dovolené / Visa for a stay longer than 90 days for the purpose of a working holiday
Young citizens of the nine partner states who want a year in Czechia with open labour-market access and incidental work.
- Income floor
- Proof of funds for the residence and a return ticket or funds to buy one; the Immigration Portal states no fixed sum.
- Duration
- 1 year, not extendable; Canadians may hold it at most twice if they qualify under different categories on separate applications.
- Cost
- CZK 2,500 for Chile, Peru, Israel, South Korea and New Zealand; CZK 3,000 for Canada; free for Japan; Australia is reported at CZK 2,500 by third-party guides.
- Processing
- Not stated on the Immigration Portal page; ordinary long-term visa time limits apply.
- Eligibility
- Citizens of Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea and Taiwan; ages 18 to 30 inclusive for Chile, Peru, Israel, Japan and South Korea, 18 to 35 inclusive for Canada and New Zealand; annual quotas of 200 for Chile, 100 for Peru, 200 for Israel, 300 for South Korea, 1,150 for Canada and 1,200 for New Zealand; no accompanying children.
- Work rights
- Free access to the labour market, but work must remain secondary to holiday or study; Israelis are limited to one employer for a maximum of 3 months; remote work for a foreign employer is not addressed.
- Dependants
- Not permitted for most partner states; Japan allows accompanying persons only if they hold their own valid visa.
- Leads to
- Cannot be extended; any later route requires a fresh application.
- Apply
- In person at the Czech diplomatic mission in the home country, or at the Dresden visa centre for applicants resident in the EU.
Documents Application form and valid travel document · Return ticket or proof of funds to buy one · Proof of funds for the stay · Comprehensive or travel medical insurance · Criminal-record declaration · Two photographs
Without a visa, by passport
The stay you get on arrival, and whether working remotely on it is tolerated
- EU / EEA / SwitzerlandFree movement; registration of stays over 90 days is voluntary in 2026 and becomes mandatory in 2027Remote work is lawful; only tax and social-security residence rules bite.
- United Kingdom90 days in any 180 across Schengen; EES biometric registration at the border; ETIAS expected from the last quarter of 2026The Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes visa-free entry as for short-term non-profit stays; it publishes no position on remote work for a foreign employer, so the status is grey rather than expressly permitted.
- United States90 days in any 180; EES applies; ETIAS expected from the last quarter of 2026Same grey status: non-profit short stay is the published purpose, remote work is neither authorised nor addressed.
- Canada90 days in any 180; EES applies; ETIAS expected from the last quarter of 2026Grey; a working-holiday visa exists for those aged 18 to 35.
- Australia90 days in any 180; EES applies; ETIAS expected from the last quarter of 2026Grey; the working-holiday agreement offers a lawful year with work rights.
- New Zealand90 days in any 180; EES applies; ETIAS expected from the last quarter of 2026Grey on a visa-free stay; working-holiday visa available to age 35.
- Japan90 days in any 180; EES applies; ETIAS expected from the last quarter of 2026Grey on a visa-free stay; working-holiday visa is free of charge.
- Brazil90 days in any 180; EES applies; ETIAS expected from the last quarter of 2026Grey on a visa-free stay; Brazilians have been eligible for the Digital Nomad Programme since February 2025.
- Mexico90 days in any 180; EES applies; ETIAS expected from the last quarter of 2026Grey on a visa-free stay; eligible for the Digital Nomad Programme since February 2025.
- IndiaSchengen visa required for any stayWorking remotely on a tourist visa is outside the stated purpose; Indian nationals can use the Digital Nomad Programme via Delhi within its 24-per-stream annual cap.
- South AfricaSchengen visa required for any stayRemote work on a visitor visa is outside the stated purpose; no programme eligibility, so the Živno route is the realistic option.
- TurkeySchengen visa required for any stayRemote work on a visitor visa is outside the stated purpose; no programme eligibility.
Tax
When the country starts counting you as its taxpayer
- Residency trigger
- Under the Income Tax Act an individual is resident with a permanent home in Czechia in circumstances suggesting an intention to stay there, or with presence of at least 183 days in a calendar year, counted including partial days; relocation and tax guides restate the 183-day test as the practical trigger, and a non-resident is taxed only on Czech-source income. Personal income tax is 15 per cent, rising to 23 per cent on income above CZK 1,762,812 a year in 2026.
- Special regime
- No special regime for newcomers or nomads. Self-employed traders with turnover up to CZK 2,000,000 may elect the flat-rate tax (paušální daň), one monthly payment covering income tax and both insurances, entry by 10 January; the 2026 second and third bands are CZK 16,745 and CZK 27,139 a month, while sources disagree on the first band after the 2026 rise, quoting CZK 9,984 (expat-tax.cz) and CZK 9,162 (pexpats). Outside the flat tax, sole traders can deduct lump-sum expenses of 60 per cent for free trades.
- Social security
- A resident sole trader owes monthly social and health insurance advances; the 2026 minimum health contribution is CZK 3,306, and the minimum social contribution is quoted as CZK 5,720 by foreigners.cz and DoMyTax and CZK 5,005 by pexpats, so the figure is disputed between sources; a reduced social minimum applies for the first three years of trading. An employee of an EU or EEA employer stays in the home scheme with an A1 certificate; employees of employers outside the EU depend on whether a bilateral social-security agreement with the home state provides a certificate of coverage, and the Czech Social Security Administration publishes the list.
- Treaties
- Czechia has a wide network of double-taxation treaties, and the Digital Nomad Programme itself expects employee-stream holders to obtain a Czech certificate of tax domicile before extension, which signals that the state regards them as Czech tax residents. Under the treaties' employment article, a remote employee resident in Czechia is generally taxable in Czechia on salary for work physically performed there, with the home state giving relief; the Ministry of Finance publishes the treaty list.
Practicalities
- Address registration
- Third-country nationals must report their place of residence to the Foreign Police within 3 working days of arrival unless the accommodation provider does it; failure to report later changes carries a fine of up to CZK 3,000.
- Health insurance
- Stays over 90 days require comprehensive health insurance for foreigners with a minimum limit of EUR 400,000 per insured event and no co-payment; the PVZP monopoly ended on 20 September 2023 and policies are sold by PVZP, Uniqa, Slavia, Maxima, SV pojišťovna and Inter Partner Assistance. Registered sole traders join public health insurance instead.
- Tax number and trade licence
- A sole trader registers the trade at a trade office with a registered business address, then registers with the tax office, which issues the taxpayer number (DIČ); from 2026 filings must be digital, paper returns having been abolished.
- Integration course
- Holders of long-term residence permits must complete the Adaptation and Integration Course; non-completion carries a fine of up to CZK 10,000 and compliance is checked at permit extension.
- Border systems
- The EU Entry/Exit System has recorded entries, exits and biometrics at Czech external borders since 12 October 2025, fully in force from 9 April 2026, so short-stay overstays are logged automatically; ETIAS pre-authorisation for visa-exempt travellers is expected from the last quarter of 2026 at a fee the Czech consular pages list as EUR 7, valid three years.
- Overstay and offences
- The Immigration Portal lists fines for residence-law offences (CZK 3,000 to CZK 10,000 for reporting and course failures); the specific penalty schedule for overstaying was not on the page opened, and from 2026 three finalised administrative offences within a year can lead to revocation of a residence permit.
- Visa fees
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs schedule: Schengen visa EUR 90; long-term visa CZK 2,500; long-term visa for entrepreneurship CZK 5,000; residence permit CZK 2,500; fees are payable in cash, by card or transfer and are recalculated monthly in local currency.
Czechia in September 2026: a niche nomad programme, the Živno route for everyone else, and Schengen limits for the rest
Where remote workers base themselves and which door they use
Prague remains the default base, with Brno the main alternative for people who want lower rents and a large university and technology cluster. Both have the co-working density and English-language services that make the trade-office and tax-office steps manageable, and both host the relocation agencies that most non-EU freelancers use to obtain the trade licence and business address the Živno route requires.
The Digital Nomad Programme is narrower than its name suggests. It is a government resolution rather than a visa category: an applicant who fits the profile, an IT or marketing specialist from one of thirteen states with income at 1.5 times the national average gross salary, is granted a ministry confirmation that serves as proof of purpose, then applies for an ordinary long-term visa with a promised 45-day decision. Employees of foreign firms get a one-year inclusion that must be renewed with a Czech tax-domicile certificate; freelancers get an inclusion of unlimited validity but must first register a Czech trade. Anyone outside the thirteen nationalities, or outside IT and marketing, falls back on the standard long-term visa for business, which uses the same trade licence but runs on ordinary timelines and per-embassy quotas.
What applicants report about the process
Relocation firms report that the standard business visa takes around 90 days from filing, and up to 120 in complex cases, and that it can only be lodged at an embassy abroad, never inside Czechia. Freelancer applicants face a mandatory interview, and missed embassy dates are forfeited without compensation under the programme's own rules, with only one alternative date offered when the applicant can justify the absence.
Documents drive most delays: everything must be an original or notarised copy no older than 180 days, the employment contract must be in English with the key clauses also in Czech, and criminal-record extracts must be legalised. The ministry text stresses there is no legal right to inclusion and that the programme can be suspended or ended at any time, and the Delhi embassy's cap of 24 applications a year per stream means Indian applicants compete for very few slots.
Money, insurance and the tax clock
A newcomer on any long-term route needs the comprehensive health insurance policy with a EUR 400,000 limit and no co-payment until they either register as a sole trader, which brings them into public health insurance with monthly advances, or leave. Sole traders with turnover under CZK 2,000,000 usually elect the flat-rate tax by 10 January, one monthly payment that settles income tax and both insurances, though the first band's 2026 amount is quoted differently by different advisers.
Tax residence follows either a permanent home or 183 days in the calendar year, and the programme's demand for a tax-domicile certificate at extension shows that the authorities expect nomads who stay a year to become Czech tax residents. Employees of EU employers keep home social insurance with an A1; employees of employers elsewhere depend on bilateral agreements, and where none exists the position is unresolved and worth checking with the Czech Social Security Administration.
What is changing
The programme has widened twice since launch, in February 2025 to four more nationalities and to marketing specialists, and in July 2025 to India under a tight cap, and the current programme text is dated July 2025. On the border, EES has been live since October 2025 and fully in force since April 2026, so the 90-in-180 count is now automatic, and ETIAS pre-authorisation for visa-exempt nationals is expected from the last quarter of 2026.
Domestically, the 2026 package raised the minimum wage and the sole-trader insurance floors, abolished paper tax filing, and introduced revocation of residence permits after three finalised offences within a year. EU citizens can register stays over 90 days voluntarily in 2026, with registration due to become mandatory in 2027.
Researched from mpo.gov.cz · ipc.gov.cz · ipc.gov.cz · ipc.gov.cz · mzv.gov.cz · mzv.gov.cz · mzv.gov.cz · mzv.gov.cz · mzv.gov.cz · blog.foreigners.cz · the authority