Blue Card - Czech Republic

The Czech Blue Card: What You Need to Know About Validity, Changes, and Losing Your Job

The Blue Card is a crucial document for highly-skilled non-EU foreigners working in the Czech Republic. Understanding its rules—especially those around employment changes and job loss—is essential for maintaining your legal status.

Here is a breakdown of the key regulations governing your Blue Card:

1. Validity and Extension

Your Blue Card is issued for a specific period:

• It is valid for the duration of your signed employment contract or agreement on work activity, plus 3 months.

• The maximum validity period is 3 years.

Crucial Note on Expiry: If you do not apply to extend your Blue Card before it expires, your legal employment relationship and your right to reside based on the card automatically terminate. You should refer to the Ministry of the Interior (MoI) website section Blue Card - extension for detailed steps and deadlines.

2. Revocation of the Blue Card

The Ministry of the Interior (MoI) has the authority to cancel your Blue Card for reasons outlined in § 46f of the Act on the Residence of Foreigners.

If your card is revoked, the MoI's decision will include:

• A specific deadline for you to leave the territory of the Czech Republic.

• An exit order (výjezdní příkaz).

You are legally required to leave the country within the set deadline.

3. Changing Jobs While Holding a Blue Card

A Blue Card is tied to your employment, but you are permitted to make changes:

• You may change your job position or employer.

• You may be employed in an additional job position or with an additional employer.

For detailed procedures on how to manage these changes, consult the MoI website section Blue Card - change of employment.

4. What Happens If You Lose Your Job?

Losing your job does not mean you immediately lose your residence status, but you must act quickly:

⚠️ The 90-Day Grace Period

• You have 90 days from the termination of your employment to find a new job.

• WARNING: On the 90th day, the validity of your Blue Card expires, and you will be required to leave the territory of the Czech Republic.

Notifying the MoI of Employment Termination

• You have a legal obligation to report the termination of your employment to the MoI within 3 working days.

Finding and Notifying a New Employer

If you secure a new job within the 90-day grace period, you must notify the MoI of the change of employer. The procedure depends on how long you have been living in the Czech Republic:

• During the First 2 Years of Residence: You must notify the MoI of the change, and the MoI must grant approval (consent) to the change.

• After 2 Years of Residence: You only need to report the change to the MoI within 3 working days of beginning the new job; their prior approval is not required.

5. Registering with the Labour Office

If you lose your job, we strongly recommend you register with the Labour Office (Úřad práce) by applying to be included in the register of job seekers no later than three working days after your employment ends.

Why Register?

• It is the basic prerequisite for potentially receiving unemployment benefits.

• It ensures the continuity of your insured periods for pension and health insurance purposes.

What to Bring to the Labour Office:

1. Application for job mediation.

2. Application for unemployment benefits (if you are eligible).

3. Document on the termination of employment (e.g., notice of termination or agreement).

4. Certificate of Employment (zápočtový list) from your last employer.

5. Employer's confirmation for assessing unemployment benefit entitlement.

6. Severance Pay Confirmation (if applicable): If you received severance pay, you must provide a confirmation of the amount. Unemployment benefits will only start after the period covered by your severance pay has passed.

Staying proactive and informed about these deadlines and procedures is the best way to ensure a seamless transition between jobs and maintain your legal residency status in the Czech Republic.