Do you want to move to the Czech Republic? The new digital nomad visa hopes to attract skilled workers

Skilled remote workers from eight countries can apply.

The Czech Republic just introduced a digital nomad visa for highly skilled remote workers.

The new visa, which was launched in July 2023, allows freelancers and remote employees to work from the country for one year.

It hopes to attract qualified and accessible IT professionals to citizens of eight countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Here’s how it works and who can apply.

What is the digital nomad visa for the Czech Republic?

The new digital nomad visa in the Czech Republic offers a fast track to long-term residence.

He hopes to address the shortage of highly skilled IT professionals in the country and boost the economy.

Candidates can either be employed by a foreign company that allows them to work remotely, or work on their own as freelancers.

Freelancers must apply for a Czech business license that allows them to provide services to companies in the Czech Republic on a contractual basis.

The visa costs CZK 2,500 (€104) and initially lasts one year. You must then apply for a residence permit that gives you a two-year extension and follow an adaptation and integration course. Visa applications are processed within 45 days.

If you stay in the country for more than 183 days within a one-year period, you will be considered a Czech tax resident. If you are also a tax resident in your country of origin, the amount you pay will depend on the double taxation rules in your country.

Prior to the launch of the Digital Nomad Visa, the one-year “zivno” business visa was the best route for independent foreigners in the Czech Republic. However, applicants must have a business license and have 124,500 CZK (€5,160) in their bank account.

Who can apply for a digital nomad visa for the Czech Republic?

The new digital nomad visa for the Czech Republic is available to eight nationalities: Australian, Canadian, Japanese, New Zealand, South Korean, Taiwanese, British and American.

Candidates must have a University degree or higher in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics or have three years of professional experience in the IT sector.

Remote workers employed by a foreign company must meet the minimum income requirement of CZK 60,530 (€2,507) per month. This is 1.5 times the average gross salary in the Czech Republic. Their company must also have at least 50 employees.

Spouses, registered partners, minor children and dependents of any nationality can also obtain a residence permit when applying for an eligible Digital Nomad visa applicant.

Is the Czech Republic a good place to become a digital nomad?

The Czech Republic is often in the top 10 places to become a digital nomad. Last year, it ranked ninth in the KAYAK travel search engine’s Work-from-Anywhere Index.

This is mainly due to the affordable cost of living, with long-term apartment rentals being only €389 per month on average, and a one-way train ticket costing less than €1.

Although the capital, Prague, is more expensive, it still offers a high standard of living at an affordable cost. Cheap beer, vibrant nightlife, and an abundance of museums, galleries, and parks are other perks of city life.

If you want to get away from it all, the impressive rock formations in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park are less than two hours away.

Prague is also well connected to the rest of the country and Europe by train, including the night train to Zurich via Frankfurt and Basel.