Am I eligible to apply for a Blue Card?
To apply for a Blue Card, the applicant must:
- have a valid work contract or binding job offer for highly qualified employment with a duration of at least 1 year;
- meet the minimum salary threshold in the Member State concerned (see below);
- for regulated professions: present documents proving that the national legal requirements are met;
- for unregulated professions: present documents proving that the relevant higher professional qualifications are met (for more information about higher professional qualifications, see the FAQ section);
- present a valid travel document, an application for a visa or a visa (if necessary), and a valid residence permit or a national long-term visa (if appropriate);
- present a proof of sickness insurance (or a proof of having applied for it).
In addition, the applicant must not pose a threat to public policy in the view of the Member State. S/he may also be required to provide his/her address in that Member State.
How much do I have to earn to qualify for a Blue Card?
The gross annual salary resulting from the monthly or annual salary specified in the work contract or binding job offer must be equal to or higher than the relevant salary threshold defined by the Member State (at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary in the Member State concerned).
Based on the Announcement of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the average gross salary is equal to CZK 409 500 for a period from May 1st, 2020 to April 30th, 2021. Thus, the gross monthly salary of a third-country national has to be at least CZK 51 188 at this period.
Are there exceptions to the minimum salary requirement?
No, there are not.
Will EU citizens' applications be prioritised over mine?
Some Member States apply a Labour Market Test (LMT). This is a mechanism that aims to ensure that migrant workers are only admitted after employers have unsuccessfully searched for national workers, EU citizens (in EU Member states this also means EEA workers) or legally residing third-country nationals with access to the labour market according to national legislation (for more information see the FAQ section).
The Czech Republic applies a labour market test.
How long will my EU Blue Card be valid?
The standard period of validity in the Czech Republic is: Two years.
Specific rules: In the Czech Republic, the EU Blue Card is issued for the duration of the employment contract plus three months, but this duration must be less than two years.
How much will it cost?
Initial Blue Card fee: 2 500 CZK (92 EUR).
Renewal: 2 500 CZK (92 EUR). Replacement: CZK 4 000 (148 EUR).
Fee for express issuance: N/A.
How long will it take to get my Blue Card?
National law foresees that the maximum processing time for issuing a Blue Card in the Czech Republic is 90 days.
You can find more information here.