Regulated and Licensed (Concession) Trades (Sections 23–27)

Regulated and licensed (concession) trades are the more "demanding" categories of the Trade Licensing Act (Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). In both cases you have to prove something, but they differ in how your trade licence arises and how much the state is involved. In this article we will guide you through Sections 23 to 27 – that is, regulated trades and Annex 2, licensed (concession) trades and Annex 3, the conditions for granting a concession, and the opinion of the state administration authority.

What the Act Says

The Act defines regulated trades (Section 23) in a single sentence: they are "the trades listed in Annex 2 to this Act". They belong to notifiable trades, so once you meet the conditions you may carry them out on the basis of a notification.

The key provision is Section 24 ("Professional Qualification"). According to subsection 1, the professional qualification for regulated trades is "laid down by Annex 2 to this Act or is governed by the special legal regulations listed in that Annex". This is a fundamental difference compared with craft trades: for regulated trades there is no single uniform rule – the qualification is defined separately for each trade. Subsection 2 also allows citizens of the Czech Republic and of other EU member states to prove their qualification "by a document on the recognition of professional qualification".

Licensed (concession) trades (Section 26) are similarly "the trades listed in Annex 3 to this Act". They form a separate chapter of the Act, because they are not notified – they may be carried out only on the basis of a concession.

Section 27 ("Professional Qualification and Conditions for Carrying Out the Trade") sets out three levels for a concession. Subsection 1: the professional qualification is "laid down by Annex 3 to this Act or is governed by special legal regulations". Subsection 2: again it allows the recognition of qualifications for citizens of the Czech Republic and the EU. And subsection 3, which is typical of concessions: "The Trade Licensing Office sets or changes the conditions for carrying out the trade for the entrepreneur on the basis of this Act or on the basis of special legal regulations."

The concession proceedings follow on from Sections 26 and 27. According to Section 52 ("Handling of the Application"), if, under Annex 3 or special regulations, an "authorisation or consent or permit or opinion of a state administration authority" is required, the Trade Licensing Office submits the application to that authority; the authority "is obliged to take a position within 30 days of delivery of the application" and "the Trade Licensing Office is bound by its position". Under Section 53(2), the office rejects the application "if the state administration authority competent under Annex 3 does not agree with the granting of the concession".

Interpretation and Explanation

In practice this is about gradation according to the degree of risk. A regulated trade is riskier than an unqualified (free) trade (which is why a qualification is required for it), but the state does not intervene in its creation by a decision – it is enough that you provide the required qualification upon notification.

Why is the qualification "tailor-made" for regulated trades? Because these are diverse activities whose regulation often stems from other laws. Annex 2 has three columns – the subject of business, the required professional qualification, and a note – and for each trade you will find a different requirement. For one it is a certificate issued by a ministry, for another a combination of education and practice. The practical impact: never assume "what is usually the case". Always look up your specific trade in Annex 2 and the special regulation it refers to.

A licensed (concession) trade is the strictest category. It is not enough to notify it – the state decides whether to grant you the concession. Annex 3 therefore has five columns: the subject of business, professional and other special qualification under Section 27(1) and (2), conditions under Section 27(3), the state administration authority that issues an opinion on the concession application, and a note. That fourth column is the reason concessions take longer: the office must request an opinion (for example from a ministry or the Police of the Czech Republic) and is bound by it. Be aware also of when the trade licence arises – for a concession it arises only on the day the decision to grant the concession becomes final and legally effective, not on the day the application is submitted.

Practical Impacts and Examples

• Accounting consultancy, design activities in construction, optometry, or operating a driving school belong among regulated trades. For each of them, Annex 2 specifies a different document – in some cases education and practice, in others an authorisation or a certificate under a special act. Once you meet the conditions, however, you notify them and can start practically immediately.
• The production and treatment of fermentation spirit, consumption spirit, spirits, and other alcoholic beverages is a licensed (concession) trade. Annex 3 here requires vocational education together with practice. Note the recent change: the opinion on the concession application used to be issued by the departmentally competent authority, but Annex 3 was amended by Act No. 218/2025 Coll., and as of 1 July 2025 the opinion on the application is issued by the administrator of the excise duty on spirit (the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic). Without a favourable opinion, the office will not grant the concession.
• Road motor transport, protection of property and persons, taxi services, or operating a travel agency are further typical concessions. With these, expect that, in addition to the professional qualification, the state will also assess a clean criminal record / integrity (Section 6) and special conditions (Section 7), and will request the opinion of the competent authority (Section 52).
• Prepare your documents in advance. Under Section 50, you must attach to the concession application not only documents proving your professional qualification, but also the data that are "necessary for the competent state administration authority to take a position". A missing supporting document will delay the proceedings.

Related Topics

Regulated and licensed (concession) trades are just two of the four categories. A broader overview of the classification (unqualified/free, craft, regulated, licensed/concession) and its connection to Annexes 1 to 4 can be found in the article Types of Trades under the Trade Licensing Act. You can then click through the specific list of fields and requirements in the trade catalogue.

Before you go to the office, also review the general conditions under Section 6 (legal capacity, clean criminal record / integrity) and the special conditions under Section 7 (professional or other qualification) – they apply to both categories. The practical procedure for notification and for the concession application, the necessary forms, and the deadlines are described in the guide How to Start a Trade.