Types of trade licence
Types of trade licence: unqualified, craft, regulated and permit (concession)
The Trade Licensing Act (Act No. 455/1991 Coll.) divides trades into four types according to what qualification you must demonstrate. For the unqualified trade (živnost volná), none — it is enough to have legal capacity and good standing (no criminal record). For the craft, regulated and permit (concession) trades you additionally need a professional qualification.
Four types of trade licence by qualification
The difference between the types of trade lies mainly in what professional qualification you must document and when the authorisation arises. The unqualified, craft and regulated trades belong among the notifiable trades (the authorisation usually arises on the day of notification), while the permit (concession) trade requires a concession — a permit from the authority. Choose a type and look at the specific fields in the catalogue:
- Unqualified trade (živnost volná) (Annex No. 4) — no professional qualification; a single trade "Manufacturing, trade and services not listed in Annexes 1 to 3" with more than 80 fields.
- Craft trade (Annex No. 1) — apprenticeship certificate, school-leaving exam (maturita), diploma or experience in the field (§ 21 and § 22). This includes, for example, the catering trade, hairdressing, bricklaying or vehicle repairs.
- Regulated trade (Annex No. 2) — precisely defined qualification for each trade separately. For example, accounting consultancy, design services in construction or real estate brokerage.
- Permit (concession) trade (Annex No. 3) — qualification and the consent of the relevant authority plus a decision on the concession. For example, road transport, taxi services, a travel agency or a funeral service.
Notifiable trade or permit (concession) trade?
Notifiable trade
unqualified · craft · regulated
You need: for craft and regulated trades, a professional qualification; for the unqualified trade, only legal capacity and good standing (no criminal record). The trade authorisation usually arises on the day of notification, and the authority issues the extract within 5 working days.
How to notify a tradePermit (concession) trade
Annex No. 3 · authority permit
You need: a professional qualification and the consent of the relevant state administration body. The authorisation arises only on the day the decision on the concession becomes final — the authority usually decides within 30 days.
Regulated and permit (concession) tradesDifferences between the types of trade licence
| Type of trade | Annex to the TLA | Professional qualification | When the authorisation arises |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unqualified | No. 4 | Not required | On the day of notification |
| Craft | No. 1 | Apprenticeship certificate, education or practical experience (§ 21, § 22) | On the day of notification |
| Regulated | No. 2 | Precisely defined for each trade separately | On the day of notification |
| Permit (concession) | No. 3 | Qualification and the consent of the authority | On the day the concession becomes final |
The unqualified, craft and regulated trades are notifiable trades — the authority registers you and issues the extract within 5 working days. A concession is decided by the authority in administrative proceedings, usually within 30 days (source: Act No. 455/1991 Coll., verified 2026).
Time limit and fee by type of trade
| Notifiable (unqualified / craft / regulated) | Permit (concession) | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification | None for the unqualified trade; professional qualification for the craft/regulated trade | Professional qualification and the consent of the authority |
| Authority's time limit | 5 working days (registration and extract) | 30 days (decision on the concession) |
| When the authorisation arises | Usually on the day of notification | On the day the decision on the concession becomes final |
| Administrative fee | 1 000 Kč (electronically 800 Kč) | 1 000 Kč for the first (electronically 800 Kč) |
The first notification of a trade and the receipt of the first application for a concession on entering business each cost 1 000 Kč (20% less electronically, i.e. 800 Kč); each further notification or application costs 500 Kč. If you notify several trades at once, you pay the fee only once. Source: Act No. 634/2004 Coll., item 24, verified 2026.
Go through the types of trade licence in detail
Professional qualification and the 2026 concession amendment
For the craft trade you document your professional qualification with an apprenticeship certificate, school-leaving exam (maturita), diploma or experience in the field, or with substitute documents — for example education in a related field with one year of practical experience, or six years of experience in the field (§ 21 and § 22 of the Trade Licensing Act). If you do not have the qualification yourself, appoint a responsible representative (§ 11) — one person may hold this function for at most 4 entrepreneurs, and you must notify the trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad) of their appointment within 15 days. New in 2026: with effect from 1 January 2026, the Trade Licensing Act was amended by Act No. 220/2025 Coll. in connection with the new regulation of weapons and ammunition — this is reflected in the permit (concession) trades in the area of weapons and munitions (verified 2026).
Frequently asked questions about types of trade licence
How many fields does the unqualified trade have?
What is a concession and how does it differ from a notification?
What is the difference between a craft and a regulated trade?
When must I have a responsible representative?
Do I need any education for the unqualified trade?
How many trades are there in total and where will I find them?
Not sure which trade you need?
Most start-up entrepreneurs (programmers, graphic designers, e-commerce businesses, consultants) get by with a few fields of the unqualified trade — without documenting any education. You will find the notification procedure in the guide How to set up a trade, and the legal framework in the overview Trade Licensing Act.
Looking for a specific field?
Browse the catalogue of 177 trades — unqualified, craft, regulated and permit (concession) — and find out what conditions and qualification are required for yours.