A practical guide to trade licences, self-employment and business in Czechia

EU / EEA / Switzerland

Trade Licence for EU, EEA and Swiss Citizens

The simplest regime applies to you — you are treated on a par with Czech citizens. The only material difference is in proving good standing (no criminal record).

like a Czech citizen no business permit required

What you need

  • Proof of identity (ID card or passport),
  • an extract from the criminal records of your home state (or a statutory declaration, if the state does not issue such an extract),
  • for a craft trade, regulated trade, or permit (concession) trade, documents proving professional qualification,
  • proof of business address (sídlo), if it differs from your place of residence.

A stay of more than 3 months in the Czech Republic is registered at an OAMP (Department for Asylum and Migration Policy) office (certificate of temporary residence); the trade notification itself is not, however, conditional upon this.

The legal basis is § 5 of the Trade Licensing Act — foreign nationals from the EU, EEA and Switzerland may generally do business in the Czech Republic under the same conditions and to the same extent as Czech citizens. Good standing (no criminal record) is proven by equivalent documents from the country of origin under § 6(3) in conjunction with § 46 of the Act.

Business address, health insurance and taxes

Your trade's business address (sídlo) does not have to be where you live — it can be anywhere in the Czech Republic, including a virtual business address, provided the owner of the premises gives you written consent. Once you start trading, you become liable for Czech public health insurance as a self-employed person (OSVČ) — a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or an S1 form does not replace this; those only cover treatment during a trip, not running a business in the Czech Republic long-term. For tax purposes you are a resident under the same rules as Czech citizens — what matters is mainly where your home and the centre of your vital interests are.

When you'll need more than just proof of identity

For a craft, regulated, or permit (concession) trade, your foreign education or experience must be recognised — for EU qualifications under Act No. 18/2004 Coll. and § 7(5) of the Trade Licensing Act (Directive 2005/36/EC). The recognition procedure can take longer than the trade notification itself, so plan for this.

Step-by-step procedure

  1. Prepare proof of identity and an extract from the criminal records of your home state
  2. Choose the type of trade and the field of activity → detail
  3. Fill in the Single Registration Form (JRF)
  4. Submit the notification online or at the trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad) → detail
  5. Pay the fee of 1 000 Kč (800 Kč online) → detail
  6. Collect the extract with your IČO (business ID) and arrange ČSSZ (Czech Social Security Administration) + health insurance → detail

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a residence permit as an EU citizen?
Not for the trade notification. A stay of more than 3 months is registered at OAMP (certificate of temporary residence), but it is not a condition of the trade authorisation.
How do I prove good standing (no criminal record)?
By an extract from the criminal records of your home state. If the state does not issue one, you replace it with a statutory declaration.
Do I need to have permanent residence in the Czech Republic?
No. It is enough to be a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland — permanent residence in the Czech Republic is not a condition for the trade notification, although you register a stay of more than 3 months with OAMP.
Where will my business address be?
Anywhere in the Czech Republic, even away from where you live — for example at a virtual business address, provided the owner gives you written consent.
Do I have to have my qualification from my home country recognised?
Only for craft, regulated, or permit (concession) trades — for EU qualifications, recognition proceeds under Act No. 18/2004 Coll. An unqualified trade (živnost volná) does not require this.