The Czech government plans to scrap work permits as well as blue or employment cards for nationals from Taiwan, enabling them to have easier access to employment starting next year.

The Czech Labour Ministry pushed for this measure to enter into force in the middle of 2024 when work permit requirements were lifted for nationals of nine countries, including here Japan, the US, Australia and South Korea, Schengen.News reports.

However, since the Czech government did not officially recognise Taiwan as an independent state, it was not possible to allow Taiwanese nationals to work in Czechia without work permits. This prompted the Employment Act to be changed, and successfully, lawmakers approved the amendments proposal to acknowledge Taiwan’s status as an independent jurisdiction.

By waiving the requirement for a work permit for foreign job seekers from Taiwan, the administrative burden on their employers will be reduced, and these foreigners will enter the labour market more quickly. 


Czech Labour Ministry

Bill to Scrap Work Permits for Taiwanese Nationals in Czechia Likely to Be Passed

Despite approving changes to the Employment Act, the bill to lift work permits for Taiwanese has been sent for comment and remains under review.

The Ministry is positive that the proposal will be approved by the cabinet and will not face any obstacles to being passed.

This is because, during the discussion of the original regulation, there was a consensus that Taiwan should be included in the list of countries whose citizens do not need to have a work permit. 


Labour Ministry

Taiwan would become the tenth country, and the nationals of the country would have the right to work in Czechia without work permits, joining the nationals of Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Israel, and the United Kingdom.

Over 800,000 Foreign Workers Were Registered in Czechia Throughout 2023

The number of foreign employees in Czechia reached nearly 824,000 last year, growing by 30,700 in 2023 alone. That shows an increase of 2.5 times over one decade, with the comparison year being 2015.

As per the origin of foreign workers, Ukrainians dominate the Czech labour market, representing more than one-third of foreign workers in the country, as Expats CZ reports.

The Czech Republic is ageing. The number of seniors is rising while the number and share of people of working age will decrease. Economists point out that labour shortages are a major obstacle to economic growth in the country, and the Czech Republic cannot do without migrant workers. 


Marian Jurečka, Czech Labor Minister

Czechia is one of the most hit-down countries in terms of the unemployment rate in the European Union, which prompted authorities, including the Labour Minister, to increase relevant quotas. The government remains open to raising quotas even higher if the unemployment issue persists in 2025.