What is the green card?

The green card is a permit for long-term residence for employment purposes in the Czech Republic under special circumstances. A foreigner who has a green card issued for a specific job is entitled to:

• reside in the Czech Republic and
• work in a job for which the green card was issued.

Who is the green card for?

The green card is for foreigners, citizens of the countries listed, which are not members of the European Union:

Australia, Montenegro, Croatia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, United States of America, Serbia, Ukraine

How to get a green card

The Czech Republic is doing its best to simplify the procedure for issuing green cards. It is possible that in 60 days from today you will be starting a new job in the Czech Republic. You will still need to go through several stages.

Jobs available for green cards

You can search for jobs for which you can apply for a green card on the internet.

When does a foreigner need a permit?

If you want to employ a foreigner, it is only possible if:

• he/she has a valid work permit and a valid residence permit for the Czech Republic
• or has a green card. The green card is both a residence permit and a work permit.

Work permit or green card?

Both permits are issued for a specific job with a specific employer. In terms of employment arrangements they are equivalent to each other. The law does not state that for doing some jobs a work permit is necessary and for other jobs a green card. It depends only on what the employer decides.

How to offer a job for a green card

In order that a foreigner can submit an application for a green card for a specific job, this job must be on the register of jobs available for green cards.

Obligations to the labour office

The employer is obliged to declare:

• that the foreigner has started the job
• that the foreigner has not started the job
• if employing the foreigner ends before the green card expires