Want to move to Czech Republic? A new digital nomad visa hopes to attract skilled workers

The Czech Republic has just introduced a digital nomad visa aimed at highly skilled remote workers.

The new visa, which launched in July 2023, allows freelancers and remote employees to work from the country for one year.

It is hoping to attract skilled IT professionals and is available to nationals of eight countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, the UK and the USA.

Here’s how it works and who can apply.

The Czech Republic’s new digital nomad visa offers an accelerated route to a long-term stay.

It hopes to address the country’s lack of highly qualified IT professionals and boost the economy.

Applicants can either be employed by a foreign company that allows them to work remotely or they can be self-employed as a freelancer.

Freelancers must apply for a Czech business licence that allows them to provide services to companies in the Czech Republic on a contract basis.

The visa costs CZK 2,500 (€104) and initially lasts for one year. After this you must apply for a residence permit granting a further two years and complete an adaptation-integration course. Visa applications are processed within 45 days.

If you stay in the country for more than 183 days in a one-year period, you will be considered a Czech tax resident. If you are also a tax resident in your home country, the amount you pay will depend on your country’s double taxation rules.

Before the digital nomad visa launched, the one-year ‘zivno’ business visa was the best route for self-employed foreigners in the Czech Republic. However, it requires applicants to obtain a trade licence and have 124,500 CZK (€5,160) in their bank account.

The Czech Republic’s new digital nomad visa is available to eight nationalities: Australian, Canadian,