Performing embalming and preservation
Field of activity No. 20 under the Trade Licensing Act.
What you need: Expertise plus a state authorisation — a concession from the trade licensing office.
- Koncesovaná živnost
- Field No. 20
- See conditions below
- 7 activity examples
Performing embalming and preservation is a licensed (concession) trade focused on the professional preservation and embalming treatment of human remains. To obtain the concession you must hold the professional qualification under the Funeral Services Act and a favourable opinion from the regional public health authority. The trade authorisation arises only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final.
Professional qualification under Section 10(2) of Act No. 256/2001 Coll., on Funeral Services: successful completion of specialised professional training AND at the same time one of the following qualifications:
- university education in the field of general medicine,
- bachelor's degree education in healthcare fields,
- higher secondary education (registered general nurse, registered paediatric nurse, registered intensive care nurse or registered midwife),
- secondary vocational education (general nurse, paediatric nurse or midwife).
No experience is required.
Favourable opinion of the relevant state administration body – the regional public health authority (Section 27 of the Trade Licensing Act).
Granting of the concession in administrative proceedings under Section 27 of the Trade Licensing Act; the professional qualification may also be demonstrated through a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act (the same person may perform this function for no more than four entrepreneurs).
Examples of activities
- Embalming human remains with chemical preparations for long-term preservation
- Preservation of human remains slowing post-mortem decomposition processes
- Professional treatment of the body of the deceased before transport over long distances or abroad
- Treating remains before display at a farewell with an open coffin
- Preparing and applying preservation and embalming solutions
- Hygienic and aesthetic treatment of the body of the deceased combined with preservation
- Preservation of remains where a funeral or autopsy is postponed
What this trade is and what it is for
The trade Performing embalming and preservation comprises the professional treatment of human remains, aimed at slowing down or halting post-mortem decomposition processes. Preservation temporarily delays decomposition (for example where a funeral, transport or autopsy is postponed), while embalming is a more demanding procedure enabling long-term preservation of the body using special chemical preparations.
It is a licensed (concession) trade under Annex 3 to the Trade Licensing Act (Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). This is the strictest category of business – a notification is not sufficient; you need a concession, that is a permit on which the Trade Licensing Office decides in administrative proceedings under Section 27. Given the health and hygiene risks, a favourable opinion from the regional public health authority is a condition for granting the concession.
What falls under this trade (and what does not)
The trade covers in particular:
- embalming human remains with chemical preparations,
- preservation slowing decomposition processes,
- treating the body before transport over long distances or abroad,
- preparing remains for a farewell with an open coffin,
- preparing and applying preservation and embalming solutions.
Boundaries with neighbouring trades: This concession concerns only the embalming and preservation treatment itself. Operating a funeral service and operating a crematorium are separate licensed (concession) trades (also under Annex 3) and cannot be carried out on the basis of this concession. Ordinary hygienic treatment of the deceased without preservation or embalming is performed by a funeral service within its own concession.
Legal conditions for obtaining it
The applicant must meet the general conditions under Sections 6 to 8 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record, and at the same time none of the obstacles to operating a trade under Section 8 may apply. Medical fitness is not required for this trade.
In addition, the professional qualification under Section 10(2) of Act No. 256/2001 Coll., on Funeral Services is required. You demonstrate it by successfully completing specialised professional training together with one of the following qualifications:
- university education in the field of general medicine,
- bachelor's degree education in healthcare fields,
- higher secondary education (registered general nurse, paediatric nurse, intensive care nurse or midwife),
- secondary vocational education (general nurse, paediatric nurse or midwife).
No experience is required. If you do not hold the professional qualification yourself, you may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act who meets the conditions; the same person may perform the function of responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs. An integral part of the proceedings is the opinion of the regional public health authority as the relevant state administration body, which assesses in particular the suitability of the premises and equipment from the point of view of public health protection.
How to notify or obtain the trade step by step
For a licensed (concession) trade you do not submit a notification but an application for a concession:
- Complete the Unified Registration Form (JRF) intended for an application for a concession.
- Submit the application to any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at Czech POINT.
- Provide documents proving your professional qualification (specialised training and healthcare education) and other attachments.
- The Trade Licensing Office requests the opinion of the regional public health authority and decides in administrative proceedings under Section 27; the time limit for the decision is usually 30 days.
- The trade authorisation arises only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final – not upon submission of the application.
A detailed procedure can be found in the guide How to start a trade.
Documents and fees
- Application for a concession on the JRF form.
- A document proving the professional qualification under Section 10(2) of the Funeral Services Act (specialised training + healthcare education).
- Where applicable, documents on the appointment of a responsible representative (Section 11).
- Opinion of the regional public health authority (requested by the Trade Licensing Office during the proceedings).
- Administrative fee for the application for a concession: CZK 1,000 (first entry into business), or CZK 500 for a further concession.
Frequently asked questions
Can I perform embalming immediately after submitting the application?
No. Unlike notifiable trades, with a concession the authorisation arises only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final. Until then you may not carry out the activity.
Do I need healthcare education?
Yes. The Funeral Services Act requires a combination of specialised professional training and a healthcare qualification (doctor, nurse, midwife, etc.). If you do not have it, you may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11.
Why does the public health authority comment?
Embalming and preservation are associated with health and hygiene risks. The regional public health authority is therefore the relevant state administration body whose favourable opinion (in particular on the suitability of the premises and equipment) is a condition for granting the concession.
How long does processing take?
The Trade Licensing Office decides in administrative proceedings within a time limit of usually 30 days. The length may be affected by the time needed for the public health authority's opinion.
Does the concession also include operating a funeral service?
No. Operating a funeral service and operating a crematorium are separate licensed (concession) trades and require their own concession.