Background information

The Ministry of Industry and Trade, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, has been implementing economic migration programmes approved by the government since 2019 in order to achieve economic benefits for the Czech Republic in accordance with Act No. 326/1999 Coll., on the residence of foreigners in the territory of the Czech Republic. These are: - the Key and Scientific Personnel Programme, - the Highly Qualified Employee Programme, - the Qualified Employee Programme.

Since 2023, it has been implementing the Digital Nomad Programme and since 2024 the Labour Migration Programme from Indonesia.

Content of measure

Key and Scientific Personnel Program The goal of the Program is to provide support to Czech and foreign investors, research organizations, technology companies that need to bring foreigners to the Czech Republic in the position of statutory bodies, managers or specialists. The program is not territorially limited.

Highly Qualified Employee Program The goal of the Program is to provide support to direct employers who need to bring highly qualified foreign workers to the Czech Republic. The program is not territorially limited.

Qualified Employee Program The goal of the Program is to provide support to direct employers who need to bring qualified foreign workers to the Czech Republic. The program applies to employees from Ukraine, Mongolia, Serbia, the Philippines, India, Belarus, Moldova, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia and North Macedonia.

Digital Nomad Program The program is aimed at a group of highly qualified and top-notch IT workers – so-called digital nomads. The goal of the program is to facilitate the stay of so-called freelancers in the Czech Republic. The program applies to citizens of Australia, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America or Taiwan.

Labour Migration Program from Indonesia The project aims to utilize the skills of Indonesian citizens with polytechnic education, primarily in the automotive industry, foundry industry, steel industry, rubber industry, chemical industry, and transportation.

Use of measure

The programmes have not yet been evaluated.

Number of applications for an employee card in individual economic migration programs 2023 2022 2021 2020

Qualified Employee Program 4 653 11 213 31 506 20 594 Highly Qualified Employee Program 224 287 369 324 Key and Scientific Personnel Program 459 803 737 395 Digital Nomad Program 5

The number of foreigners undergoing economic migration programs and therefore the number of applications for an employee card was affected by the war in Ukraine in 2022 and 2023.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Particular professions Other groups of workers Migrants or refugees in employment	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Employers' organisations Company / Companies	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

The law proposal was discussed with the social partners at a meeting of the Council of the Economic and Social Agreement - National Tripartite. The social partners had the opportunity to comment on the proposed law during the comment procedure.

Views and reactions

The draft legislative measures have been consulted with social partners

Sectors and occupations

This case is not sector-specific.

Sources

• 26 August 2019: Government Resolution No. 581 of 26. 08. 2019 (odok.gov.cz)
• 28 June 2023: Government Resolution No. 576/23 of 28.6. 2023 (odok.gov.cz)
• 19 June 2024: Government Resolution No. 405/24 of 19.6.2024 (odok.gov.cz)
• 16 June 2025: Report on the situation in the area of ​​migration and integration of foreigners in the Czech Republi 2020 (mv.gov.cz)
• 16 June 2025: Report on the situation in the area of ​​migration and integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic 202 (mv.gov.cz)
• 16 June 2025: Report on the situation in the area of ​​migration and integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic 202 (mv.gov.cz)
• 16 June 2025: Report on the situation in the area of ​​migration and integration of foreigners in the Czech Republic 202 (mv.gov.cz)