Guide to temporary entry into the Czechia (Czech Republic) under CETA
On this page
- Short-term business visitors
- Business visitors for investment purposes
- Investors
- Contractual service suppliers
- Independent professionals
- Intra-corporate transferees
This guide is for a Canadian business person temporarily travelling to the Czech Republic to do business. It provides general information about temporary entry and stay requirements for business people under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and under Czech law. This guide aims to facilitate the entry of Canadian business people into the Czech Republic for the purposes of exploring, entering and expanding operations in the Czech market. You will find relevant links and summaries of main steps for work permit and visa applications, including costs and lengths, for the categories of business people covered in CETA.
CETA entered into force provisionally in 2017, which means that the Czech Republic is bound by the Temporary Entry Chapter. However, there are still significant differences between CETA commitments and the national Czech laws regulating temporary entry. As such, some of the paths for entry identified in this guide do not fully overlap with the categories of business people covered in CETA.
For any questions regarding the Czech Republic’s temporary entry commitments under CETA, please contact: enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca
Before you travel:
This guide is for information only. It is not the official text of the CETA or Czech law. Always verify information using the text of the Agreement and official government sources of the country you wish to do business in. You may also seek advice from licensed or authorised individuals like an immigration lawyer or immigration consultant.
Familiarize yourself with the European Union Immigration Portal and Canada’s travel advisory for Czechia before your business travel.
Short-term business visitor
Do I qualify as a short-term business visitor under CETA?
Under CETA, a short-term business visitor is a Canadian traveling to the Czech Republic for one of the following activities:
- meetings and consultations
- research and design
- marketing research
- training seminars
- trade fairs and exhibitions
- sales (negotiations or taking orders, cannot deliver goods or services themselves)
- purchasing
- after-sales or after-lease service
- commercial transactions (management and supervisory or financial services personnel only)
- tourism/travel operations
- translation and interpretation
The detailed list of activities can be found under Annex 10-D of CETA.
A short-term business visitor cannot:
- sell a good or a service to the general public
- receive payment from a source located in the Czech Republic
- provide any other service to a consumer in the Czech Republic that is not listed under activities of a business visitor
Canadian short-term business visitors can stay in the Czech Republic for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
Do I need a work permit or a visa as a short-term business visitor under CETA?
Under CETA, an eligible short-term business visitor may need a visa but does not need a work permit for all the eligible short-term business visitor activities above, with 1 exception. A Canadian short-term business visitor preforming an after-sales or after-lease service will need a work permit for work beyond 7 days in a month or 30 days in a year.
Under Czech law, a Canadian short-term business visitor does not need a Schengen C visa to enter the Czech Republic. You are entitled to stay within any country of the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
Canadian companies can also send non-Canadian nationals locally hired in Canada for short-term business travel in the Czech Republic. In this case, a Schengen C visa may be required, if the short-term business visitor is not a national of Canada or another a visa exempt country. They must file their application for Schengen C visas with the relevant Czech Consulate/Embassy. The processing time is approximately 2 weeks.
Related links
Schengen area
Schengen calculator
Schengen C visa exempt countries
Under Czech law, a short-term business visitor does not need a work permit to engage in one of the following activities:
- attending business meetings or discussions
- attending seminars or "fact-finding" meetings
- exploring business opportunities.
A short-term business visitor cannot have their main place of residence in the Czech Republic.
No application process is required as these are work permit exempted activities. For more information, refer to the Czech Republic’s guide to short-term stays.
In addition, a short-term business visitor can engage in the following activities without a work permit, so long as they limit their stay to 7 consecutive days for a total 30 cumulative days per calendar year, and they do not receive payment from a Czech entity for the activities:
- receiving or undertaking training (in a business meeting setting)
- sales and marketing activities
- internal or external audits
- urgent maintenance or repair work
Alternatively, you may also qualify for the short-term work permit exemption. The following activities are short-term work permit exempt:
- supplying goods or services for up to 7 consecutive days for a total of 30 days per calendar year
- performing assembly work (under a commercial contract) or warranty and repair work for up to 7 consecutive days for a total of 30 days per calendar year
- as a member of a rescue team, providing assistance under an interstate agreement on mutual assistance in eliminating the consequences of accidents and natural disasters
- as a member of a rescue team in the event of humanitarian aid
There is no application process as these are work permit exempted activities. However, you may need to file a labour office notification.
If you have encountered problems entering the Czech Republic as a short-term business visitor, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.
Business visitor for investment purposes
Do I qualify as a business visitor for investment purposes under CETA?
Under CETA, a Canadian business visitor for investment purposes is a Canadian manager or specialist responsible for setting up an enterprise in the Czech Republic.
A Canadian business visitor for investment purposes cannot:
- be employed by a non-profit organization
- work directly with the general public in the Czech Republic
- receive compensation from a source located within the Czech Republic
Canadian business visitors for investment purposes can stay in the Czech Republic for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
Do I need a work permit or visa as a business visitor for investment purposes under CETA?
Under CETA, a Canadian business visitor for investment purposes does not need a work permit.
Under Czech law, there is no category for business visitors for investment purposes. However, you may be eligible as a short-term business visitor.
Investor
Do I qualify as an investor under CETA?
Under CETA, an investor is a Canadian supervisor or executive, responsible for establishing, developing, or operating an investment that they or their employing enterprise have committed, or are in the process of committing, a substantial amount of capital to.
Under CETA, Canadian investors can stay in the Czech Republic for up to 1 year, with possible extensions at the discretion of the Czech Republic’s officials.
Do I need a work permit or a visa as an investor under CETA?
Under CETA, a Canadian investor may need a work permit, subject to an economic needs test, (including, for example, if you are the employee of a Canadian firm) and a visa.
Under Czech law, you should apply for the long-term residence permit for investment purposes.
This residence permit is available for entrepreneurs who intend to stay in the Czech Republic longer than 90 days and to make a significant investment in the Czech Republic. A significant investment is considered an investment into the Czech economy of at least 75 million CZK and/or the creation of at least 20 new jobs. Investment of financial resources may be potentially replaced by investment in other assets.
The permit can be valid for up to 2 years and is renewable for as long as the investment is maintained.
How do I apply for a long-term residence permit for investment purposes?
Apply for a long-term residence for investment purposes at a Czech Consulate. The application must contain a business plan outlining your plan to implement a significant investment (including the separate stages of the plan) and the reasons for the significant investment.
For more information about the application process and eligibility conditions, refer to long-term residence for investment purposes.
Contractual services supplier
Do I qualify as a contractual service supplier under CETA?
Under CETA, a contractual services supplier is a Canadian service supplier employed by an enterprise in Canada with a contract to provide a service to a consumer in the Czech Republic in an eligible service sector. A list of eligible services sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.
A Canadian contractual service supplier must also:
- have provided services as an employee of the contracted Canadian enterprise for at least one year before the date of your application for entry into the Czech Republic
- have a university degree or an equivalent qualification
- have at least 3 years of professional experience since the age of 18 in the sector of the contracted activity
- have any professional qualifications required to practice the activity according to the laws or requirements in the Czech Republic
For engineering technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in engineering technology is considered equivalent to a university degree.
For scientific technologists seeking entry as a contractual service supplier, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, biology, chemistry, physics, forestry, geology, geophysics, mining, and energy is considered equivalent to a university degree.
A Canadian contractual service supplier cannot get paid for their services during their stay in the Czech Republic other than what is paid to them by their Canadian employers.
The Canadian enterprise that employs a Canadian contractual service supplier cannot have any establishment in the Czech Republic.
Fulfillment of the contract must require the temporary presence of the Canadian contractual service supplier in the Czech Republic.
Under CETA, a Canadian contractual services supplier can stay in the Czech Republic for up to 12 consecutive months, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less.
Do I need a work permit or a visa as a contractual service supplier under CETA?
Under CETA, a contractual service supplier may need a work permit and a visa, and for some occupations, an economic needs test may apply.
Under Czech law, a contractual service supplier will need a Work Permit and Employee Card.
The permit can be valid for up to 2 years and the immigration status renewable with no limitation.
How do I apply for a work permit and employee card?
Step 1: Validate your diploma. The process involves authentication by Global Affairs Canada, and subsequent authentication by the Czech embassy in Canada.
Step 2: The Czech client must apply for permission from the Public Employment Service to employ a foreign national.
Step 3: Apply for your Employee Card at the Czech embassy.
Step 4: Upon arrival in the Czech Republic, submit your biometric data.
Step 5: Complete your registration at the local labour office.
Step 6: Collect your Employee Card.
How much will it cost?
The application cost is 8,000 CZK (approximately 300 EUR).
Related links
Permissions from the Public Employment Service
Employee card: Basic information
Independent professional
Please note: the independent professionals category is covered in CETA but does not exist under Czech law. There are no specific work permit or visa options for a Canadian independent professional seeking temporary entry into the Czech Republic. If you have encountered problems entering the Czech Republic as an independent professional, please contact enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca.
Do I qualify as an independent professional under CETA?
Under CETA, an independent professional is a self-employed Canadian service supplier with a contract to supply a service to a consumer in the Czech Republic in an eligible sector. A list of eligible services sectors under CETA is found under CETA Annex 10-E, number 9.
A Canadian independent professional must also have:
- at least 6 years of professional experience in the sector of the contracted activity at the date of application of entry
- a university degree or equivalent qualification
- any professional qualifications required to practice the activity, according to the laws or requirements in the Czech Republic
For engineering technologists seeking entry as an independent professional, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in engineering technology is considered equivalent to a university degree.
For scientific technologists seeking entry as an independent professional, a 3-year post-secondary degree from an officially recognised institution in the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, biology, chemistry, physics, forestry, geology, geophysics, mining and energy is considered equivalent to a university degree.
Other requirements:
- a Canadian independent professional must not have established an enterprise in the Czech Republic
- fulfillment of the contract must require the temporary presence of the independent professional in the Czech Republic
Under CETA, a Canadian independent professional can stay in the Czech Republic for up to 12 consecutive months, or for the duration of the contract, whichever is less.
Do I need a work permit or a visa as an independent professional under CETA?
Under CETA, an independent professional may need a work permit and a visa, and for some occupations, an economic needs test may apply.
The independent professional category does not exist under Czech law. There are no specific work permit or visa options for a Canadian independent professional.
An independent professional may be eligible to enter the Czech Republic as a contractual services supplier or an investor.
Intra-corporate transferee
Do I qualify as an intra-corporate transferee under CETA?
Under CETA, Canadian intra-corporate transferees are senior personnel, specialists, or graduate trainees at a Canadian enterprise who are being temporarily transferred to a subsidiary, branch, or head company of the Canadian enterprise in the Czech Republic.
An intra-corporate transferee cannot be employed by a non-profit organization.
Senior personnel are Canadian business people in a senior position within an enterprise who:
- primarily direct the management of the enterprise or a department or sub-division of the enterprise
- make a wide range of decisions, including recruitment, promotions, and dismissals
- receive only general supervision or direction principally from higher-level executives, the board of directors, or stockholders of the business or their equivalent or supervise and control the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees and exercise discretionary authority over day-to-day operations
Specialists are Canadian business people who have:
- uncommon knowledge of the enterprise's products or services and its application in international markets, or
- an advanced level of expertise or knowledge of the enterprise's processes and procedures such as its production, research equipment, techniques, or management
In assessing such expertise or knowledge, Czech officials will consider abilities that are unusual and different from those generally found in a particular industry and that cannot be easily transferred to another business person in the short-term. These abilities would have been obtained through specific academic qualifications or extensive experience with the enterprise.
Graduate trainees are Canadian business people who:
- have a university degree
- are being temporarily transferred to an enterprise in the Czech Republic for career development purposes, or to obtain training in business techniques or methods
The training delivered to a graduate trainee must be linked to their university degree.
Under CETA, Canadian senior personnel and specialists can stay in the Czech Republic for whichever is shorter, 3 years or the length of the contract, with a possible extension of up to 18 months at the discretion of Czech officials.
Canadian graduate trainees can stay in the Czech Republic for whichever is shorter, 1 year or the length of the contract.
Do I need a work permit or a visa as an intra-corporate transferee under CETA?
Under CETA, you may need a work permit and a visa.
Canadian intra-corporate transferees should apply for an EU Intra-Corporate Transferees (ICT) permit. The main advantage of this permit is that it allows intra-corporate transferees to work in other EU countries (for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period per country) based on an ICT notification, without obtaining a work permit. This permit also grants intra-corporate transferees the right to work at a client site.
This permit can be valid for up to 3 years (for managers and specialists) and 1 year (for graduate trainees).
How do I apply for an EU Intra-Corporate Transferees permit?
Step 1: Apply for an EU ICT card at the Czech Consulate.
Step 2: Collect your single-entry D-visa.
Step 3: Upon arrival in the Czech Republic, submit your biometric data.
Step 4: Complete your registration at the labour office.
Step 5: Collect your employee card.
How much will it cost?
The application cost is 2,500 CZK (approximately 90 EUR).
What if I am a business person from a category that is not covered?
Entry into the Czech Republic for Canadian business people not belonging to any of the categories covered under the CETA is subject to the Czech Republic’s acts and regulations governing entry and stay.
To explore other paths for entry into the Czech Republic, please consult the Czech Republic’s official portal.
Disclaimer: The information contained herein is current as of July 2023 (national immigration legislations may change, sometimes at short notice). It is offered for informational purposes only and does not constitute general legal advice. The information: (i) must be regarded as a practical guide for general information and not a process guide for determining the specific immigration requirements of the countries covered, (ii) should not be a substitute for a more in-depth analysis of applicable facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, criminal or health-related circumstances) conducted by competent professionals, (iii) indicated processing times and fees herein are approximate, are subject to the specific case circumstances, and change. The information herein does not guarantee the outcome or approval of any particular immigration application.
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