What is a Green card ?

The Green card simplifies the entry to the job market for foreigners from selected countries who have qualifications for which the Czech Republic has a job opening. Jobs available for Green cards are primarily those that have not been successfully filled by workers from the Czech Republic or the EU.

Therefore, the Green card is a long-term residence permit for employment purposes in the Czech Republic issued under special circumstances. The Green card is a combination of a residence permit and a work permit in one document. A foreigner who has a Green card issued for a specific job is entitled to: (i) reside in the Czech Republic and (ii) work in a job for which the green card was issued. The Green card is issued for a maximum period of 2 years. Green cards A and B may further be extended.

As the Green card is issued for a specific person and a specific position, it is not possible to change the employer within its validity. During the first year of stay on the Czech territory the foreigner has to apply for a new Green card at the Czech embassy abroad. After the first year of stay the foreigner, who was issued with a Green card, is entitled to apply in CR for a long-term residence permit for other purpose.

There are three types of Green cards:

type A: for skilled personnel who attained higher education and key personnel

type B: for workers occupying jobs for which an apprenticeship certificate is required as the minimum

type C: for other workers

The citizens of the Philippines are entitled to apply for the type A of the Green card only

More information about Green Cards (including the register of vacancies and application forms) can be found on the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

Other related information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Interior.

Requirements for the application for Green card

1. Application Form for Green Card. To download form http://portal.mpsv.cz/sz/zahr_zam/zelka/form

2. Travel document / Passport. Passport should be valid for at least 90 days after the intended departure from the Czech Republic.

3. Two (2) recent photographs:

Photo size should be 3.5 x 4.5 cm, with a light-colored background.

Both photographs should be signed on the back. 

4. Documents on education or qualifications - these documents must be nostrificated.

5. An excerpt from the Penal Register (or other similar document) issued by the state of your nationality/citizenship – for Filipino nationals, the NBI Clearance;

The NBI Clearance must not be older than six (6) months at the time of application.

The NBI Clearance must be authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila (DFA) and superlegalized by the Czech Embassy in Manila.

The document must be translated into the Czech language and the translation must be verified. Corresponding fees apply. The translation and verification may be done either through an official translator (to view list of official translators), or by the Czech Embassy in Manila.

6. Criminal Record Clearance from other states. In case the applicant has stayed in another state for an uninterrupted period of at least six (6) months within the past three (3) years.

The document must be authenticated, superlegalized (unless stipulated otherwise by an international treaty that is binding for the Czech Republic) and translated into Czech in the respective country.

9. Medical report certifying that the applicant does not suffer from a serious disease (if requested by the Embassy of the Czech Republic);

* Upon confirmation of visa issuance, the following documents must be submitted for the actual issuance of the visa:

Insurance Coverage– submitted only for the period from the arrival in the territory of the Czech Republic  until the start of the employment, more information can be found here