Blue Card holders: changes in 2023

Changes were made to the Czech immigration law in July (2023). Let’s take a quick look at them.

They concern Blue Card permits, and in many ways, they will make life easier for current and future holders of these cards:

1. The new minimum salary required to obtain this card is 60 530 CZK per month.
2. The longest possible validity was increased from 2 years to 3 years.
3. Previously, it was necessary to provide proof of qualification = a university degree, of at least 3 years of study. Newly, it will be possible to prove professional experience comparable to university studies. Exceptions to this rule are the regulated professions, e.g. doctors, lawyers.
4. Previously, you needed approval to change employers within the first 2 years after getting your card, and only after being granted this approval you could start working. This is no longer needed. You just have to report a new employer or position to the Ministry of Interior (MoI) within the first three days of starting work. The notification can be done in person or just sent by post.
5. When applying for a Blue Card, your employment contract had to be signed at least for a 1 year period. Now, a 6-month contract will be accepted as well.
6. You can apply with a standard contract of employment or with a contract of a future contract.
7. There is now no need to show proof of education if you have worked in an EU country.
8. If you had a Blue Card stay in another EU country for at least 12 months (previously 18 months), it now counts towards the 5 years of residence required to apply for permanent residence in the Czech Republic.
9. Now the deadline for processing an application for a blue card submitted in the Czech Republic by a Blue card holder in another EU country is 30 days (instead of the previous 90). It can be prolonged to a maximum of 60 days in particularly difficult cases.
10. You must now provide a criminal record from all countries you have lived in for a total of 6 months in the last 3 years.
11. Previously, the MoI cancelled the Blue Card if you were unemployed for more than 3 consecutive months. Now, the Blue Card will be cancelled if the duration of your unemployment exceeds 3 non-consecutive months if you had your Blue Card for less than 2 years. If you have been a Blue Card holder for 2 years and more, the Blue Card will be cancelled if you have been unemployed for more than 6 (not consecutive) months.

If you have further questions about the new rules regarding Blue cards, contact our consultants through here.