Czechia to Expand Work Visa Quotas for Skilled Foreign Talent

Czechia will significantly increase its annual work visa quota for highly qualified foreign workers, focusing on IT specialists and researchers, while reducing visas for low-skilled applicants from selected regions.

Skills Over Numbers: A Strategic Migration Shift

To address long-standing labor shortages, the Czech government has unveiled a targeted immigration overhaul. The country will raise work visa caps for nationals from countries with strong talent pools in high-demand sectors.

Among the key beneficiaries are professionals from India, China, and Thailand, with visa approvals fast-tracked for tech experts and academics.

The Czech embassy in India will introduce 24 new slots for IT professionals under a special digital nomad visa program. These visas will be processed within 45 days, providing a swift entry for remote and self-employed tech workers.

Increased Quotas for China and Thailand

China: The new annual work visa cap will reach 1,170, with a focus on skilled applicants.

Thailand: Quota raised from 300 to 460 visas per year.

These adjustments reflect growing demand from Asian countries and the Czech Republic’s efforts to attract qualified international talent.

Reduction of Low-Skilled Worker Visas

The Ministry of Interior confirmed plans to cut work visa quotas for low-skilled applicants from countries including Egypt, Ethiopia, and Zambia.

Highly qualified applicants from these regions will not be affected by the cuts, as the government aims to restructure migration policy around skill-based criteria.

Taiwan: No Work Permit Needed Anymore
As part of its new pro-mobility approach, Czechia announced that citizens of Taiwan will no longer need a work permit or employment card to work in the country.

The policy comes into effect in 2025 and is expected to double the number of Taiwanese professionals working in Czechia, which stood at 185 in 2024.