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.

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.