Overview
Run by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) with the Interior and Foreign Ministries, the Program covers two profiles: employees of a foreign company (at least 50 staff worldwide) who will keep working for it remotely from Czechia, and freelancers who hold or will obtain a Czech trade licence in IT or marketing. Both must show a STEM degree or at least three years of IT experience.
Admission to the Program is discretionary (“there is no legal entitlement to participation”), but once admitted you may lodge the long-term visa application at a Czech embassy with a 45-day processing guarantee.
Editor's note — The Program was widened in 2025: nationals of Brazil, India, Israel, Mexico and Singapore joined the original list, and marketing joined IT as a qualifying field.
Who is eligible
- Citizen of Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom or the United States.
- Highly qualified work in IT or marketing — as a remote employee of a foreign company with 50+ employees, or as a freelancer with a Czech trade licence.
- University or higher vocational STEM education, or at least three years of professional IT experience.
- Income of at least 1.5× the Czech average gross wage announced by the Ministry of Labour.
- No Czech long-term visa or permit held in the preceding year.
Income & financial requirements
The average gross wage published by MPSV.
per month: 1.5 × CZK 590,580 ÷ 12 (valid 1 May 2026–30 April 2027).
Employees worldwide, for the employee route.
In IT, or a STEM degree.
The Program document sets the bar at “at least 1.5 times the average gross annual wage” announced by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Communication No. 44/2026 Coll. puts the average gross annual wage at CZK 590,580 for 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2027, so the bar is CZK 885,870 a year — about CZK 73,823 a month. The figure moves every year with the ministry's announcement.
Employees prove it with their contract and payslips; freelancers with invoices and tax records from their existing business.
Costs & fees
- Long-term visa fee of CZK 2,500, paid at the embassy in local currency, EUR or USD.
- Freelancers pay the Czech trade-licence registration fee and, once in Czechia, social and health insurance contributions.
- Certified translations, apostilles and comprehensive Czech-compliant health insurance (travel insurance is not accepted).
Taxes
Remote employees of a foreign company who spend more than 183 days in Czechia generally become Czech tax residents on worldwide income (15% and 23% bands). Freelancers on a trade licence are taxed in Czechia from day one and can use the generous flat-expense (paušál) regimes.
Get advice on the employer side too: a Czech-resident remote employee can create payroll obligations for the foreign company.
How to apply
Apply to the Program
Send the MPO application form and supporting documents to digitalnomad@mpo.cz.
Get admitted
MPO decides on inclusion; family members can be included if they apply at the same time.
Lodge the visa
Book the guaranteed slot at the Czech embassy and file the long-term visa (over 90 days) application — “other” purpose for employees, business purpose for freelancers.
Decision within 45 days
Collect the visa, travel, and register with the Interior Ministry on arrival.
Duration & renewal
The long-term visa is issued for up to one year. Holders may then apply in Czechia for a long-term residence permit on the same basis; after five years of continuous legal residence, permanent residence becomes available under the general rules.
Bringing family
Spouses, registered partners and dependent children can be included in the Program and apply for family-purpose long-term visas at the same time, provided they are entitled to file at the same embassy.
Pros & cons
Advantages
- Guaranteed embassy slot and 45-day decision
- Prague's deep tech and start-up ecosystem
- Real path to long-term residence and eventually PR
- Low CZK 2,500 fee
Considerations
- Only thirteen nationalities qualify
- IT and marketing professionals only, with STEM or 3-year test
- Employee route needs a 50+ staff employer
- Discretionary admission — no legal entitlement