Are you an ex-pat living a digital nomad’s lifestyle or thinking about becoming one? If yes, here’s some good news: you can now get a digital nomad visa to settle in a foreign country. If you’ve always wanted to travel to Europe, the Czech Republic is currently offering digital nomad visas.
The Czech Republic is a central European landlocked country and the first of the few countries to support digital nomads. So if you identify as a digital nomad, you can now apply for the Czech Republic Digital Nomad Visas.
The best part is that for digital nomad visas, you may not need conventional documentation as required for other immigration categories. The digital nomad visa is for people who prefer to work remotely. If you’re thinking about working from home or a remote location while fulfilling your dream to travel the world, a digital nomad visa is for you.
Defining a Digital Nomad
If you’re a remote worker who travels to different places, you’re a digital nomad. So if the nature of the job doesn’t require you to be physically present at the workplace every day, you can call yourself a remote employee and apply for a digital nomad visa.
The Czech Republic Digital Nomad Visa: An Overview
Whether you’re a remote worker looking for a country with serene and idyllic settings or have always wanted to visit the Czech Republic, the Czech Republic digital nomad visas are perfect for you. As a digital nomad, not only will you be able to travel across the country, but you’ll also be able to work during your stay.
However, the Czech Republic Digital Nomad visas are for citizens of non-EU countries. So if you’re a citizen of a country that requires a visa to visit the Czech Republic, you will have to apply for a digital nomad visa. Suppose you’re a citizen of a European Union (EU) country. In that case, you don’t require the Czech Republic Digital Nomad Visa, as citizens of all European Union countries enjoy the freedom to move from one country to another without a tourist visa.
For non-EU citizens, you get a digital nomad visa for a period of 3 months or 90 days. You can also look if there are any digital nomad visa exemption treaties your country has with the Czech Republic. Typically, all third-world countries require a short-term visa to visit and work as a digital nomad is one of the most scenic countries in Europe.
Zivno Visa for the Czech Republic
If you’re planning to visit the Czech Republic for a short period of time, you can apply for a tourist visa that’s valid for 90 days. You’ll be able to use your tourist visa as the Czech Republic Digital Nomad Visa. However, if you wish to stay in the country for more than 3 months, you can apply for a Trade License or Zivno Visa.
A Zivno visa is a special immigration tourist visa specifically for remote workers or those who work as freelancers. So, technically, if you’re self-employed and wish to travel and work from another destination, Zivno or Trade License visa can work in your favor.
A digital nomad visa is not available by the name of a digital nomad visa in the Czech Republic. However, remote workers can apply for a trade permit or several visa categories that allow them to work as remote employees during their stay as a visitor or a tourist.
The Application Process for Tourist Visa
The good part is that remote workers do not need a proxy or an immigration lawyer to apply for a digital nomad visa. That said, the application process is not as convenient and simple as when you apply to another country. Do your research on the process and follow it exactly to prepare a straightforward visa application.
Applying for a Zivno visa allows remote workers to stay in the Czech Republic for a month at most, and you don’t need a sponsor. If you’re a businessman, you can enjoy low tax rates if you run a business in the country.
To get a visa, you’ll have to physically submit your Zivno visa application and documentation and attend an in-person interview at your local Czech Republic embassy/consulate.
Who is Eligible for Digital Nomad Visas in the Czech Republic?
Apart from tourists and visitors planning to stay for 30 to 90 days in the country, digital nomads or remote workers can apply for various visa categories to stay and work in the Czech Republic. However, you have to ensure that your visa allows you to work during your stay, or you’ll be in violation of the country’s immigration laws. Additionally, overstaying your visa is also against the law.
Financial Requirement
To be eligible to apply for a Czech Republic digital nomad visa, you’ll have to prove that you have sufficient financial resources to support your stay. On top of this, you’ll have to show liquidity of at least 50 times Czech’s minimum cash amount for monthly survival in your personal account. When you submit your digital nomad visa application, the amount must be in your account.
Restrictions
The Zivno visa has no restriction on which countries’ citizens can and cannot apply. As long as you are not an EU citizen, you can apply for this visa category. However, you have to check with your local embassy if they have any specific requirements applicable to your home country. Most importantly, you must provide a criminal background check report/affidavit along with your medical report.
Criminal Background Check
If you have been living in the country of application for 6 months or more, you will have to provide a criminal background check report/affidavit. This applies to all, including citizens of the United States.
Medical Report
You must include a medical report with your digital nomad visa application. The report must include negative results for syphilis and TBC. This is a requirement for the following countries:
- Congo
- Kenya
- Mongolia
- Moldavia
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Vietnam
- Uzbekistan
Gathering Documents for Digital Nomad Visa in the Czech Republic
When gathering documentation to apply for a Czech Republic digital nomad visa, you must remember that all your documents except travel documents must be in Czech. If your documents are in English or any other language, you must submit copies translated into Czech, prepared and verified by a professional translator.
You will also need to submit copies of all translated documents. This means submitting 1 set of original documents or notarized copies along with another set of copies. These include your application and 2 information pages of your passport/travel document. Failing to submit all documentation will result in the denial of your digital nomad visa application.
How Long Does It Take to Get Your Digital Nomad Visa?
Your digital nomad visa application processing time is a lengthy one. Typically, the entire visa process can take 90 days. However, in exceptional cases with complications, this timeline can increase to 120 days or more.
Digital Nomad Visa for Businessmen/Entrepreneurs
If you’re a businessman or an entrepreneur thinking about adapting to the digital nomad lifestyle, you can apply for a trade license. This visa allows you to stay for longer than 90 days.
If you are applying from your home country or have been a resident of the country you are in for 6 months or more, you’ll have to submit a criminal background check report or equivalent document. The document must state that you have a clean criminal history and it must be notarized by a government authority.
If you’re applying for bound trades, concession trades, or technical trades, you must provide documented proof that you have professional qualifications in the field to get a trade license. You also need to submit a document demonstrating the following:
- You have paid an administration fee
- Address of your country of residence
- Original passport
- 2 of your recent passport size photos
- Proof of finances – this should be 111,000 Kč or $5,200 at the time of your application. You can submit a bank letter confirming that the funds are available in your bank account. You can also submit your personal bank statement. However, both documents (original or copies) must be notarized.
However, these requirements are subject to change at any time by the Czech Republic visa authorities. This applies to a trade license as well.
In addition to the above-mentioned documents, you must also submit a document stating the purpose of your stay.
Accommodating Confirmation Document
You can provide your host’s original statement or a copy of a lease contract showing your accommodation arrangement. If you have a property in your name in the Czech Republic, you can provide a copy of the ownership papers.
You also need medical health or travel insurance. The requirements may vary by country, so check the official Czech Republic Immigration website.
The cost of a Digital Nomad Visa for the Czech Republic
The digital nomad visa fee for the Czech Republic is around 1,000 Czech Koruna, equivalent to $43.57 approximately. However, you must not forget to include documentation, notarization, and immigration lawyer cost (if applicable).
It is definitely worth it because as a Czech Republic digital nomad visa holder, you will be able to visit the rest of the 26 Schengen countries across Europe.
Tips to Prepare and Apply for a Digital Nomad Visa in the Czech Republic
Here are nine tips that will help you prepare and apply for your temporary resident visa or digital nomad visa.
- Digital nomads must fulfill all minimum visa requirements for any category, including trade license and visitor visa applications.
- Digital nomads require documents including bank statements, insurance, medical reports, criminal records, and letter from a landlord or host in the Czech Republic. The bank account must be in your name.
- Get your documents translated by professional translators. Make sure you have all the necessary documentation. This is a mandatory visa requirement.
- Digital nomads applying for a trade license must apply for a long-stay business visa, or your trade license will be inactive.
- All digital nomads need to book an appointment with a local consulate or embassy to submit a long-stay visa application.
- Digital nomads must wait for a maximum of 4 months or 120 days for the application process to complete.
- Once visa approval comes through, digital nomads must collect the visa, book a flight, and travel to the Czech Republic.
- Once in the country, all digital nomads must report to foreign police and register themselves within 3 days of arrival.
- In order to activate the trade license, all digital nomads in this category must visit the trade licensing office as soon as possible. This is mandatory for a long-term business visa.
- Once you are in the Czech Republic, you may need a Czech interpreter to assist you when visiting government offices. This will help you communicate with local officials easily.
This is all you need to know about the digital nomad visa and long-term business visa for the Czech Republic and the famous Zivno visa. So what are you waiting for? Get started, and good luck with your journey to becoming a digital nomad living in the Czech Republic. You can also check Croatia digital nomad visa or Estonia digital nomad visa.
Why the Czech Republic as a Digital Nomad?
Living in the Czech Republic gives you the perfect opportunity to relocate and establish yourself as a digital nomad. The country comes with a promise of great value for money, and you can also travel across Europe because of its central location. Most importantly, you get the luxury of enjoying a vibrant social life – thanks to friendly locals.
Hotspots for Digital Nomads
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and is the perfect city if you wish to live as a digital nomad in Europe. It is an ideal spot for digital nomads because of the highly efficient transport infrastructure and super-fast internet/Wi-Fi.
Cost of Living for Digital Nomads in the Czech Republic
Let’s suppose you’re a United States citizen. In this case, 1 Czech Koruna is equal to 0.44 USD, or 1 USD is equal to 22.96 Czech Koruna (Kč). Compared to other EU countries, the Czech Republic is quite affordable. You can easily rent a studio apartment for $835 per month. A basic lunch will cost you just under $8.
A 24-hour transportation pass costs $4, or you can get a 3-day pass for $13. It will cost you $30 to get a 10-day pass.
