The Czech Republic has recently unveiled a remote work visa designed for proficient remote workers from eight countries, enabling them to apply for this opportunity in Europe.
Launched in July 2023, the digital nomad visa targets remote employees and freelancers with high skills, granting them the chance to work within the country’s borders for a duration of one year.
This initiative, with a focus on attracting skilled IT experts, is open to nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, the UK, and the USA.
With the aim of tackling the shortage of extensively skilled IT professionals and stimulating economic growth, the initiative seeks to address these challenges.
Prospective candidates have the option to be affiliated with a foreign company permitting remote work or to operate independently as freelance workers.
For freelancers, securing a Czech business license is a requisite step, granting them the authority to engage in contractual service provisions to Czech Republic-based companies.
Priced at CZK 2,500 (€104), the visa holds a one-year validity upon initial issuance, following which applicants are required to seek a residence permit that extends for an additional two years, accompanied by participation in an adaptation-integration course.
The visa application process itself takes up to 45 days for processing. Should your stay within the country exceed 183 days within a year, you will attain the status of a Czech tax resident.
This tax status interacts with the existing tax residency in your home country, with the precise amount paid contingent on the specific double taxation regulations enforced by your home nation.
Who Can Apply?
The newly introduced digital nomad visa in the Czech Republic extends its eligibility to eight nationalities: Australians, Canadians, Japanese, New Zealanders, South Koreans, Taiwanese, British, and Americans.
Eligible candidates must hold a university degree or higher in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, or alternatively possess a minimum of three years’ experience within the IT industry.
For remote workers employed by foreign enterprises, meeting the CZK 60,530 (€2,507) monthly income benchmark is mandatory, representing 1.5 times the average gross salary in the Czech Republic; their employing companies must also comprise a workforce of at least 50 individuals.
Furthermore, the provision extends to spouses, registered partners, and minor or dependent children of any nationality, who are eligible for a residence permit when applying alongside a qualifying digital nomad visa applicant.