Cosmetic Services
Field of activity No. 40 under the Trade Licensing Act.
What you need: Apprenticeship certificate, a relevant diploma or work experience (also possible via a responsible representative).
- Řemeslná živnost
- Field No. 40
- See conditions below
- 8 activity examples
Cosmetic services is a craft trade (field No. 40) covering skin care, facial treatments, make-up and other beautifying procedures. To obtain the trade licence you must prove your professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act and meet the general conditions under Section 6.
Professional qualification – it is sufficient to meet ONE of the following routes under Section 21:
- secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field of education (beautician / cosmetic services);
- secondary education with a school-leaving examination in the relevant field of education with vocational subjects;
- higher vocational education in the relevant field of education;
- university education in the relevant area;
- recognition of professional qualification under Section 7(5) (for documents obtained in another EU Member State, Directive 2005/36/EC);
- verification or recognition of an attained full professional qualification for the field (beautician) under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.
Alternative proof under Section 22, if you do not have education directly in the field:
- education in a related field + 1 year of experience in the field;
- retraining for the given field (an accredited institution) + 1 year of experience in the field;
- or 6 years of experience in the field (without a certificate of education).
Note: for procedures that breach the integrity of human skin (permanent make-up, tattooing, piercing), Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act lays down special (stricter) ways of proving the professional qualification – usually a certificate of education or professional qualification supplemented by a retraining certificate and corresponding experience. These activities likewise fall under the Cosmetic Services trade.
You do not have to meet the professional qualification in person – you can appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who proves the qualification on your behalf (one person may act as a responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs).
Medical fitness: not required. Liability insurance: not required. No other special requirements under the Trade Licensing Act.
Examples of activities
- Cosmetic treatment and cleansing of the skin of the face, neck and décolletage
- Make-up (daytime, evening, bridal) and advice on decorative cosmetics
- Shaping and tinting of eyebrows and eyelashes, lash extensions and lash lifting
- Depilation and epilation (removal of unwanted hair with wax, sugar paste, etc.)
- Cosmetic massage of the face, neck and décolletage area
- Application of facial masks, peels and device-based cosmetics (without breaching the skin's integrity)
- Skin diagnostics, surface cleansing, steaming and bloodless removal of comedones
- Advice on skin care and recommendation of suitable cosmetics
What this trade is and what it is for
Cosmetic services is a craft trade listed in Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act under field No. 40. It entitles you to provide customers with care of their appearance and skin – in particular facial treatments and cleansing, make-up, shaping of eyebrows and eyelashes, depilation, and cosmetic massage of the face, neck and décolletage, along with related beautifying procedures. It is a classic activity carried out in cosmetic salons and beauty studios, and as part of wellness and spa operations.
The aim of the trade is to beautify and regenerate the client's skin and overall appearance. Unlike medical procedures, it does not involve any interventions in living tissue or therapeutic procedures – it operates on the surface of the skin and in the area of aesthetic care.
What falls under this trade (and what does not)
According to the content description (Government Regulation No. 278/2008 Coll.), cosmetic services include, for example:
- cleansing, treatment and regeneration of the skin of the face, neck and décolletage,
- application of masks, peels, serums and device-based cosmetics acting on the surface of the skin,
- make-up and advice in decorative cosmetics,
- shaping, tinting and extension of eyebrows and eyelashes,
- depilation and epilation with wax or sugar paste,
- skin diagnostics, surface cleansing, steaming and bloodless removal of comedones,
- cosmetic massage of the face, neck and décolletage area.
Where the boundaries with other trades lie. Hairdressing procedures fall under the separate craft trade "Barber and Hairdressing Services". Manicure and pedicure are expressly excluded from the content of cosmetic services and form the separate craft trade "Pedicure, Manicure" – if you wish to perform them, notify that field. Likewise, body massage services (other than the face, neck and décolletage) fall under a different trade. Permanent tattooing, permanent make-up and piercing fall under this trade (Cosmetic Services), but require a special professional qualification for activities that breach the integrity of human skin. By contrast, invasive and therapeutic procedures (e.g. application of hyaluronic acid or botulinum toxin, dermal fillers, manipulation of moles, treatment of mucous membranes, medical aesthetic procedures) are not a trade but a health service under special regulations and are excluded from cosmetic services.
Conditions for obtaining the licence under the law
You must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act – full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. A clean criminal record is proven by an extract from the Criminal Records Register, which the office requests itself.
You must also prove your professional qualification. Under Section 21, one of the following routes is sufficient:
- secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field,
- secondary education with a school-leaving examination in the relevant field with vocational subjects,
- higher vocational education in the relevant field,
- university education in the relevant area,
- recognition of professional qualification under Section 7(5),
- verification or recognition of a full professional qualification (beautician) under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.
If you do not have education directly in the field, the qualification can be proven alternatively under Section 22: by education in a related field and 1 year of experience, retraining and 1 year of experience, or 6 years of experience in the field.
For procedures breaching the integrity of the skin (permanent make-up, tattooing, piercing), Annex 1 to the Act additionally requires special documents on qualification and experience.
You do not have to hold the qualification in person – you can appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the qualification on your behalf. One person may act as a responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.
How to notify the trade step by step
- Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF).
- Submit it at any Trade Licensing Office (municipal trade licensing office), electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or through Czech POINT.
- Provide proof of professional qualification (or the appointment of a responsible representative) and pay the administrative fee.
- The trade licence arises on the date of notification; the office makes the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days.
You will find the detailed procedure in the guide How to start a trade.
Documents and fees
- a completed URF,
- proof of identity,
- proof of professional qualification (apprenticeship certificate, school-leaving certificate, diploma, professional qualification certificate, proof of experience, etc.),
- for a responsible representative, their consent and documents on qualification,
- an administrative fee of CZK 1,000 for notification of the trade, or CZK 800 for electronic submission.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a beautician's apprenticeship certificate?
You do not. The apprenticeship certificate is only one of the routes. The qualification can also be proven by a school-leaving exam or diploma in the field, a professional qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll., or alternatively by experience (e.g. retraining + 1 year of experience, or 6 years of experience in the field).
Can I do business without my own qualification?
Yes, if you appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the professional qualification. The responsible representative is responsible for the proper operation of the trade and may perform this role for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.
Is a health certificate or insurance required?
Under the Trade Licensing Act, neither medical fitness nor liability insurance is required. Hygiene and operational obligations may, however, arise from other regulations – check them with the regional public health authority.
How soon can I start doing business?
The licence arises as early as the date of notification. The office usually makes the entry in the register and issues the extract within 5 working days.