The Czech government has expanded the list of non-EU countries whose citizens can work in the country without a permit.

Starting in March, people from Taiwan will no longer need a work permit or employment card to be legally employed. The cabinet approved the change on Wednesday as part of an effort to attract more skilled foreign workers.

The measure aims to ease hiring for Czech businesses while making it simpler for professionals and managers from Taiwan to relocate. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, as of last June, 185 Taiwanese nationals—80 men and 105 women—were employed in Czechia.

The decision comes after an amendment to the Employment Act, which allows the government to designate certain non-EU countries as eligible for work without additional permits.

Since July 2023, this list has included Australia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Israel, and Singapore.

Taiwan was originally part of the proposal but was later removed because Czechia does not officially recognize it as an independent state. However, a separate legislative change now allows Taiwan to be treated as an independent jurisdiction, clearing the way for its inclusion.

Security concerns were also considered before making the decision. “The goal is to support the influx of highly skilled professionals, which is crucial for economic growth,” Augusta stated.

Czech Businesses Struggle With Worker Shortages

The change has been welcomed by Czech businesses, which have long struggled to find qualified employees. “With the current labor market conditions, any simplification of hiring foreign workers is beneficial. These are likely to be highly skilled employees, and our companies need them,” said Tomáš Zelený from the Czech Chamber of Commerce.

Non-EU workers typically need a work permit or an employment card, which some companies argue is a lengthy and bureaucratic process. This has made it difficult to bring in foreign specialists.

Nearly a Million Foreign Workers in Czechia

Foreign employment in Czechia has been rising steadily. According to Ministry of Labor statistics, by the end of June 2023, there were 827,619 foreign employees and another 124,502 self-employed foreigners in the country. The largest groups are from Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary.

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