Are you an EU or non-EU citizen?
- What documents do I need?
Currently, the labour office only accepts digital submission to apply for the Registration at the Employment Office. You are expected to apply online via JENDA app, available to the people who have Bank ID or NIA ID.
If you have access to JENDA via either Bank ID or NIA ID, fill up the digital form and submit your application online using the necessary documents listed below in digital format as well.
If you do not have access to JENDA via either Bank ID or NIA ID, you can use the service of an assisted submission at the labour office, during which the officer fills up the digital form with you and scans the necessary documents for you. Remember, you either need your national ID document and a passport or a Registration certificate for an EU citizen. Also, this process is lengthy and officers do not always speak English, even though they will try to find you one. That is why we recommend opting for the digital submission through JENDA app.
- form Žádost o zprostředkování zaměstnání. The online form is in Czech, but the Labour Office has published a video explaining how to fill up the form with English subtitles. It is available here.
- proof of your identity in the CR. EU nationals are required to deliver their national ID and passport or Registration Certificate for an EU citizen (either bring it physically to the assisted submission or attach a copy of it to the JENDA application)
- What's the procedure?
Currently, the labour office only accepts digital submission to apply for the Registration at the Employment Office. You are expected to apply online via JENDA app, available to the people who have Bank ID or NIA ID.
If you have access to JENDA via either Bank ID or NIA ID, fill up the digital form and submit your application online using the necessary documents listed below in digital format as well.
If you do not have access to JENDA via either Bank ID or NIA ID, you can use the service of an assisted submission at the labour office, during which the officer fills up the digital form with you and scans the necessary documents for you. However, you need a Czech residence permit (National ID or registration certificate for EU citizens) to prove your identity. Also, this process is lengthy and officers do not always speak English, even though they will try to find you one. That is why we recommend opting for the digital submission through JENDA app.
After entering the building, you should first go to the information desk. It is better to be with someone who speaks Czech as not all of the employees speak English. You hand in the documents and after they check their validity, you will be assigned an official (usually an English-speaking one) who will then create your personal file and register you in the system. If you decided to use the service of an assisted submission at the labour office, this official will also fill up the digital form with you.
The employment office issues a document stating that you are registered and automatically sends it to your health insurance office. A hard copy of this registration document can be issued for you on request right at the Employment office. If your life situation allows you to have your health insurance covered by the government (scroll down to ‘General information‘ to read more), you should inquire when your health insurance office receives the registration document or ask for its hard copy and take it to your public health insurance in order to do the necessary arrangements.
- What are my obligations after the registration?
Once registered with an employment office, you will be asked to arrange a meeting with your official after approximately 2 – 3 months, following your first visit. Another obligation of yours will be expected to actively look for a job.
If you manage to find a job, you are obliged to announce this fact to both the employment office and the public health insurance office (for more information about that, read our guide Applying for unemployment benefit). Once you do not wish to be registered anymore, you can announce it in person or via letter mail (not an email).
- What documents do I need?
Currently, the labour office only accepts digital submission to apply for the Registration at the Employment Office. You are expected to apply online via JENDA app, available to the people who have Bank ID or NIA ID.
If you have access to JENDA via either Bank ID or NIA ID, fill up the digital form and submit your application online using the necessary documents listed below in digital format as well.
If you do not have access to JENDA via either Bank ID or NIA ID, you can use the service of an assisted submission at the labour office, during which the officer fills up the digital form with you and scans the necessary documents for you. However, you need a Czech residence permit to prove your identity. Also, this process is lengthy and officers do not always speak English, even though they will try to find you one. That is why we recommend opting for the digital submission through JENDA app.
- form Žádost o zprostředkování zaměstnání. This form is only available in a digital format. Move to JENDA app or follow the orders of the clerk at the labour office to fill it up. The online form is in Czech, but the Labour Office has published a video explaining how to fill up the form with English subtitles. It is available here.
- valid ID or passport
- proof of your residence in the CR. Nationals from third countries should bring their valid residence cards
- What's the procedure?
Currently, the labour office only accepts digital submission to apply for the Registration at the Employment Office. You are expected to apply online via JENDA app, available to the people who have Bank ID or NIA ID.
If you have access to JENDA via either Bank ID or NIA ID, fill up the digital form and submit your application online using the necessary documents listed below in digital format as well.
If you do not have access to JENDA via either Bank ID or NIA ID, you can use the service of an assisted submission at the labour office, during which the officer fills up the digital form with you and scans the necessary documents for you. However, you need a Czech residence permit (National ID or registration certificate for EU citizens) to prove your identity. Also, this process is lengthy and officers do not always speak English, even though they will try to find you one. That is why we recommend opting for the digital submission through JENDA app.
After entering the building, you should first go to the information desk. It is better to be with someone who speaks Czech as not all of the employees speak English. You hand in the documents and after they check their validity, you will be assigned an official (usually an English-speaking one) who will then create your personal file and register you in the system. If you decided to use the service of an assisted submission at the labour office, this official will also fill up the digital form with you.
The employment office issues a document stating that you are registered and automatically sends it to your health insurance office. A hard copy of this registration document can be issued for you on request right at the Employment office. If your life situation allows you to have your health insurance covered by the government (scroll down to ‘General information‘ to read more), you should inquire when your health insurance office receives the registration document or ask for its hard copy and take it to your public health insurance in order to do the necessary arrangements.
- What are my obligations after the registration?
Once registered with an employment office, you will be asked to arrange a meeting with your official after approximately 2 – 3 months, following your first visit. Another obligation of yours will be expected to actively look for a job.
If you manage to find a job, you are obliged to announce this fact to both the employment office and the public health insurance office (for more information about that, read our guide Applying for unemployment benefit). Once you do not wish to be registered anymore, you can announce it in person or via letter mail (not an email).
General info
Employment offices in the Czech Republic are a part of the country’s social security system. Their main role is to keep records of and provide information about available job vacancies, advise on employment-related problems, and assist those applying for an unemployment benefit. Unemployment benefit is a state subvention guaranteed to both Czech and foreign nationals who were employed or self-employed in the Czech Republic for a required period of time and meet the criteria listed below.
In Brno, the main Employment office is located at Polní 1011/37 (tram stop Vojtova) which is also the biggest employment office in the whole country. It is open daily but Fridays are only available to new applicants or those who have made an appointment in advance. You can submit your requests, forms and documents to podatelna.bm@uradprace.cz, but expect to answer an invitation for a personal meeting where originals of documents need to be submitted too.
When unemployed, registration at an employment office is not obligatory unless you want to apply for unemployment benefit. Also, not everybody can register as an employment candidate. This possibility is only granted to EU citizens and their family relatives as well as nonEU citizens with permanent residency, blue card holders and long-term residency permit holders with the purpose of stay employment (Employee card) and family reunification.
While unemployed, social security payments can be interrupted. It is, however, mandatory to continue paying your health insurance1. In certain situations2 , the health insurance of those that are not / no longer eligible for the unemployment benefit but are registered at the employment office can be covered by the government.
Although your former employer is legally obliged to inform both the social security and health insurance offices within an officially determined period of time, it is highly recommended to contact your health insurance office and go there in person immediately after finishing your job in order to discuss the further procedures. If you were self-employed and decided to interrupt or cancel your trade licence, you need to contact both offices within 5 workdays.
1. Third-country nationals should also bear in mind the fact that in case employment is the official purpose of their stay in the Czech Republic, their status in the Czech Republic might change. Those with long-term residency only have 60 days after the termination of their work contract to find a new job and inform the Immigration office. During this period, they are also obliged to arrange a commercial health insurance as they fall out of the public health system. They are also allowed to register at an employment office in order to look for a job, but they are not entitled to unemployment benefits.
2. Such situations are: a/ foreign citizens with permanent residency (trvalý pobyt); b/ unemployed EU citizens who are eligible for the employment benefit. Their health insurance is covered as long as the unemployment benefit lasts, then they have to prove their factual residence (faktické bydliště in order to be able to continue having their health insurance covered while unemployed; c/ unemployed EU citizens who are not eligible for the employment benefit but can prove their factual residence (faktické bydliště) in Brno to their public health insurance office. The type and number of documents needed varies based on the length of the stay and life-situation of the applicant; d/ unemployed nonEU spouses of economically active EU citizens. For further details check our infoguide on health insurance or contact the BEC team.