Machining

Machining is a craft trade (field No. 13 of Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act) covering machine and hand machining of metals and other materials, for example turning, milling, grinding or drilling. To obtain it you must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act and demonstrate a professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 of the same Act.

Conditions for operating

GENERAL CONDITIONS (Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act):
- full legal capacity (which may be replaced by a court's approval of a legal representative's consent to a minor's independent operation of a business activity),
- a clean criminal record – a person validly convicted of an intentional criminal offence committed in connection with business or with the subject of business for which they apply or which they notify is not regarded as having a clean record (unless they are deemed not to have been convicted).
For Czech citizens, the Trade Licensing Office obtains the extract from the Criminal Records Register itself. Neither medical fitness nor liability insurance is required for this trade.

OBSTACLES TO OPERATING THE TRADE (Section 8 of the Trade Licensing Act):
- the trade may not be operated by a person in respect of whom any of the obstacles under Section 8 persists (in particular for the duration of a ban on activity relating to the given field imposed by a court or administrative body, or in cases connected with bankruptcy or an earlier cancellation of the trade licence).

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION (Section 21 of the Trade Licensing Act) – one of the variants suffices:
- secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field of education,
- secondary education with a school-leaving (maturita) examination in the relevant field of education,
- higher vocational education in the relevant field of education,
- university education in the relevant area of study programmes and fields of study,
- proof of recognition of professional qualification issued by a recognition authority,
- verification or recognition of an attained professional qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll. for the relevant work activity.

ALTERNATIVE PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION (Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act) – one of the variants suffices:
- secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in a related field of education + 1 year of experience in the field,
- secondary education with a maturita examination in a related field of education + 1 year of experience in the field,
- higher vocational education in a related field of education + 1 year of experience in the field,
- university education in a related area of study programmes and fields of study + 1 year of experience in the field,
- proof of retraining for the relevant work activity issued by an accredited establishment + 1 year of experience in the field,
- 6 years of experience in the field without proof of education.

RESPONSIBLE REPRESENTATIVE (Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act):
- If you do not meet the professional qualification yourself, you may demonstrate it through a responsible representative who holds the professional qualification and meets the general conditions. The responsible representative is responsible for the proper operation of the trade and compliance with trade-licensing regulations; one person may perform this role for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

Examples of activities

Turning of metal parts on centre and CNC lathes
Milling of shaped surfaces and grooves on milling machines
Surface, centre and centreless grinding to achieve precise dimensions
Drilling, boring, reaming and thread cutting
Planing, shaping and broaching
Programming and operation of CNC machine tools and machining centres
Machining of plastics, composites and other non-metallic materials
Manufacture of individual parts, prototypes and series orders according to drawing documentation

What the trade is and what it is for

Machining is a craft trade listed in Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act under field No. 13. It entitles you to do business in the area of material machining, that is, the chip-forming and non-chip-forming processing of metals, plastics and other materials on machine tools and by hand. The aim of the activity is to manufacture components and parts of precise dimensions and shapes according to technical documentation or customer requirements.

This trade covers both work on classic (conventional) machines and the operation of modern numerically controlled (CNC) machines and machining centres. You will use the trade in custom production, repairs, manufacture of spare parts and series industrial production.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The trade covers in particular:

turning, milling, grinding, drilling, boring and reaming,
planing, shaping, broaching and thread cutting,
programming and operation of CNC machine tools,
machining of metals, plastics, composites and other materials,
manufacture of prototypes, individual pieces and series according to drawings.

Mind the boundaries with neighbouring trades. The manufacture of tools and instruments, metal machining combined with the assembly of complete machines, or locksmithing and toolmaking on their own may fall under a different craft trade (e.g. "Locksmithing, toolmaking"). Welding, smithing, foundry work or surface treatment of metals are also separate trades. If you are unsure how a specific activity should be classified, we recommend contacting the Trade Licensing Office, which will assess the subject of business.

Statutory conditions for obtaining the trade

You must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. A person validly convicted of an intentional criminal offence committed in connection with business or with the subject of business they notify is not regarded as having a clean record. Neither medical fitness nor liability insurance is required. At the same time, none of the obstacles to operating the trade under Section 8 must apply (e.g. an ongoing ban on activity for the given field).

You must further demonstrate a professional qualification under Section 21, by one of these variants: an apprenticeship certificate, maturita, higher vocational or university education in the relevant field, proof of recognition of professional qualification, or verification of qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

If you do not have education directly in the field, you use the alternative qualification under Section 22: education in a related field plus 1 year of experience in the field, retraining plus 1 year of experience, or 6 years of experience in the field without proof of education.

You may also demonstrate the qualification through a responsible representative under Section 11, who holds the qualification and meets the general conditions. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF) to notify the craft trade.
Submit it at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT branch.
Provide proof of professional qualification and pay the administrative fee.
The trade licence comes into existence on the day of notification; the office enters the trade in the Trade Register, as a rule within 5 working days.

You will find the detailed procedure in the guide /jak-zalozit-zivnost.

Documents and fees

a completed URF (notification of the trade),
proof of identity,
proof of professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 (or a contract with a responsible representative under Section 11),
for experience, documents proving its length,
an administrative fee of CZK 1,000 on notification, or CZK 800 for an electronic submission.

Frequently asked questions

Is an apprenticeship certificate from a related field enough for me?

Yes, an apprenticeship certificate in a related field is sufficient, provided you also document 1 year of experience in the field under Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act.

Can I obtain the trade without any education?

Yes. Under Section 22, the professional qualification can be replaced by 6 years of experience in the field, even without proof of education.

Do I need a special licence for CNC machining?

No. The operation and programming of CNC machines fall under this craft trade and do not require a separate licence.

When can I start trading?

The trade licence comes into existence on the very day of notification, so you can trade immediately once the conditions are met and the notification is submitted.

What if I do not have the qualification, but my employee does?

You may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11, who meets the professional qualification and demonstrates it on your behalf. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.