Czechia to Prioritise Skilled Foreign Workers with New Work Visa Reforms

Czechia is preparing to overhaul parts of its immigration system to better attract highly qualified foreign professionals and tackle persistent labour shortages across key industries.

As reported by Expats.cz, the government aims to draw in IT specialists, scientists, and other skilled talent, while scaling back opportunities for lower-skilled applicants.

India, China, and Thailand Among the Key Beneficiaries

Under the new changes, nationals from countries such as India, China, and Thailand stand to gain greater access to Czech work and residence opportunities.

• India: The Czech Embassy in India will soon begin offering 24 additional spots for IT specialists under the Digital Nomad Visa, which allows self-employed professionals to live and work in Czechia. These applications will be processed within 45 days.

• China: The annual work visa quota for Chinese nationals will increase to 1,170, with most of these slots reserved for skilled professionals, reflecting rising demand from Chinese workers seeking employment in Czechia.

• Thailand: The Embassy of Czechia in Bangkok will raise its work visa quota from 300 to 460 per year.

Quotas to Be Reduced for Low-Skilled Applicants from Select African Countries

In line with its strategy to attract highly qualified workers, Czechia will lower its work visa quota for low-skilled applicants from Egypt, Ethiopia, and Zambia. However, quotas for highly qualified applicants from these countries will remain unchanged.

Work Permit Waiver Introduced for Taiwanese Nationals

Earlier this year, the Czech government also announced it would exempt Taiwanese nationals from the work permit requirement. Once implemented, Taiwanese professionals will be able to take up employment in Czechia without needing a work permit or employment card.

According to the Ministry of Labour, 185 Taiwanese nationals — 80 men and 105 women — were working in Czechia last year.