It will become easier for foreigners to do business in the Czech Republic
As Radio Prague notes, currently citizens of foreign states not belonging to the EU can stay in the Czech Republic on a work visa for 90 days. If they want to stay in the Czech Republic for a longer time, they need to apply for a visa extension.
Under the proposed changes, foreign specialists, managers and trainees in large corporations located outside the EU will be able to stay in the Czech Republic for up to six months. Such people will receive a so-called "intra-corporate transferee card". Those who came to the country for seasonal work will also be able to stay in the Czech Republic for up to six months. If business activity involves serious investments, the period may be extended up to two years.
"The main condition of this innovation is the need to prove the significance of the investment. The proposed amount is 20 million crowns (over 740 thousand euros) and the creation of at least ten jobs," explains Czech Interior Ministry spokesperson Martina Nemcova. "The next condition is that the intention to make a major investment must be credible and feasible. The significance of the investment, its usefulness and feasibility will be assessed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade."
The innovation is welcomed by the chairman of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Karel Havlicek: "Currently, the Czech Republic is experiencing a shortage of employees in almost all professions. We see nothing wrong with foreign citizens wanting to do business in the Czech Republic. Possible innovations will help them feel a bit freer, although six months is also not a fundamental change, but it is a definite step towards those who want to do business here, realize themselves, who are competitive, offer good products for which there is a demand. We should not create obstacles for such people."
However, Karel Havlicek emphasizes that the benefits planned for foreign entrepreneurs should not be to the detriment of Czech investors: "We should not support those who directly compete with Czech firms, so that they later have worse conditions or opportunities in exports because the supported foreign investors will compete with them on world markets. Sometimes this happens, but it should not happen within the framework of the planned innovations."
Changes to the wording of the law are necessary due to EU requirements that were approved back in 2014. In October 2016, Czech employers offered a record number of job vacancies on the labor exchange – 39,000. This is the highest since 2007, according to information from the Employment Office.
The upcoming changes will also discuss improving the delivery of documents to foreigners living abroad whose applications for residence permits are being processed by the Ministry of the Interior. First, the documents in electronic form will be sent to a representative office abroad, which will convert them into paper format and deliver them to the addressee by mail. The Ministry of the Interior plans to invest about 6.5 million crowns (over 240 thousand euros) in modernizing information systems, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – more than 2.7 million crowns (100 thousand euros).