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

Documents

Documents for a trade licence for foreigners

What to prepare when filing for a trade licence, depending on your situation.

Documents by origin

EU / EEA / Switzerland

Proof of identity + criminal record extract from your home country.

Third countries

Valid Czech residence permit + criminal record extract with an official translation + passport.

Temporary protection

Proof of temporary protection + passport + proof of good standing (no criminal record).

Documents common to all applicants

  • a completed Single Registration Form (JRF),
  • proof of professional qualification for craft, regulated and permit (concession) trades (recognised in the Czech Republic),
  • proof of business address (sídlo), if different from your place of residence,
  • proof of payment of the administrative fee.

Documents issued outside the Czech Republic must be authenticated and accompanied by an official translation into Czech — for countries that are party to the Hague Convention, an apostille is enough; for other countries you need super-legalisation via the Czech embassy or consulate in the country of origin. Your home country's criminal record extract must not be older than 3 months on the date of the notification.

Where to file the JRF, and who can do it for you

You can file the Single Registration Form (JRF) in person at any municipal trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad), electronically via the Trade Licensing Portal, or at a Czech POINT contact point. Someone can also file it on your behalf with a notarised power of attorney — an accountant, a lawyer, or an acquaintance who already runs a trade in the Czech Republic.

The longest item on the timeline is usually obtaining the criminal record extract from your home country — for some countries this can take several weeks. Start it early, before you tackle the rest of the form.

Foreign qualifications

For a craft, regulated, or permit (concession) trade, a foreign diploma or vocational certificate must be recognised in the Czech Republic — either automatically under an international treaty, or through a recognition procedure (nostrification, or under Act No. 18/2004 Coll. for EU qualifications). An unqualified trade (živnost volná) does not require this.

Frequently asked questions about documents

Do the documents need to be translated?
Documents in a foreign language (especially those from third countries) must be submitted with an official translation into Czech. For documents from EU countries, the trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad) does not always require a translation.
Where do I obtain a criminal record extract from my home country?
From the competent authority of your home country, or via a diplomatic mission. Some countries allow electronic extracts.
What is an apostille and super-legalisation?
An apostille is a simplified authentication of a public document under the 1961 Hague Convention — used for documents from countries that signed the convention. For other countries, super-legalisation via the Czech embassy or consulate in the country of origin replaces it.
How old can a criminal record extract be?
The trade licensing office accepts it if it is not older than 3 months on the date of the trade notification.
What if my home country doesn't issue criminal record extracts?
You replace it with a statutory declaration made before a notary or the competent authority of your home country, or before the Czech embassy or consulate.
Does a foreign diploma have to go through nostrification?
For craft, regulated, or permit (concession) trades, yes — unless the qualification is recognised directly under an international treaty or a special act on the recognition of qualifications. An unqualified trade (živnost volná) does not require proof of professional qualification.