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

Manufacture, installation and repair of electrical machinery and apparatus, electronic and telecommunications equipment

Field of activity No. 16 under the Trade Licensing Act.

Is this trade licence right for me?

What you need: Apprenticeship certificate, a relevant diploma or work experience (also possible via a responsible representative).

  • Řemeslná živnost
  • Field No. 16
  • See conditions below
  • 8 activity examples
Trade licence type Řemeslná živnost
What you need Apprenticeship certificate, a relevant diploma or work experience (also possible via a responsible representative).
Field under the law No. 16
How to start By notification at the trade licensing office

A craft trade (Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act) covering the manufacture, assembly, installation, maintenance and repair of electrical machinery and apparatus, electronic and telecommunications equipment. To notify it you must demonstrate a professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act.

Conditions for operating
General conditions under Sections 6 to 8 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record (Sections 6 and 7); no obstacle to operating the trade under Section 8 must exist. Medical fitness is not required.

Professional qualification under Section 21 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll. – it is enough to meet one of the variants:
1) secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field + 1 year of experience in the field;
2) secondary education with a maturita examination in the relevant field + 1 year of experience in the field;
3) higher vocational education in the relevant field + 1 year of experience in the field;
4) university education in the relevant area;
5) proof of recognition of professional qualification + 1 year of experience in the field;
6) verification or recognition of an attained full professional qualification for the relevant field under Act No. 179/2006 Coll. + 6 years of experience in the field.

Alternative means under Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act: education in a related field + 1 year of experience; retraining + 1 year of experience; or 6 years of experience in the field without proof of education.

The qualification may also be demonstrated through a responsible representative under Section 11; one person may perform this role for no more than four entrepreneurs. Note: for designated electrical equipment a professional qualification under Act No. 250/2021 Coll. (formerly Decree No. 50/1978 Coll.) is additionally required.

Examples of activities

  • Manufacture of electric motors, generators and transformers
  • Assembly and installation of switchboards and electrical machinery
  • Repair and maintenance of electronic equipment and measuring technology
  • Installation and servicing of telecommunications and antenna equipment
  • Manufacture and repair of household electrical appliances
  • Assembly and repair of electronic security systems (EZS)
  • Servicing of computers, servers and data networks (HW)
  • Installation of structured cabling and low-voltage wiring

What the trade is and what it is for

The trade Manufacture, installation and repair of electrical machinery and apparatus, electronic and telecommunications equipment is a craft trade listed in Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act. It entitles you to manufacture, assemble, install, maintain and repair electrical and electronic equipment – from electric motors and switchboards, through consumer electronics, to telecommunications technology.

It is one of the broadest technical trades. It covers both high-voltage and low-voltage technology and finds use in manufacturing, in servicing and in assembly firms. Because it is an activity with a higher risk (electrical equipment), the law requires proof of a professional qualification for it.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The trade typically covers:

  • manufacture of electrical machinery (motors, generators, transformers) and apparatus,
  • manufacture and assembly of switchboards, electronic components and boards,
  • installation, maintenance and repair of electronic and telecommunications equipment,
  • servicing of computing technology (hardware), data networks and structured cabling,
  • assembly and repair of security and antenna systems.

Boundaries with neighbouring trades:

  • Assembly, repair, inspection and testing of electrical equipment (a separate craft trade, also Annex 1) – focuses on electrical installations, designated electrical equipment and their inspection. This trade, by contrast, targets the manufacture and servicing of machinery, apparatus and equipment.
  • Manufacture, trade and services not listed in Annexes 1 to 3 (an unqualified (free) trade) – this covers, for example, wholesale or retail of electronics on its own, without its manufacture and repair.
  • Carrying out inspections of designated electrical equipment requires a separate licence (a certificate under Act No. 250/2021 Coll.) and is not covered by this trade alone.

If you are unsure how a specific activity should be classified, verify the scope with the Trade Licensing Office.

Statutory conditions for obtaining the trade

You must meet the general conditions under Sections 6 to 8 of the Trade Licensing Act – full legal capacity and a clean criminal record (Sections 6 and 7) and, at the same time, no obstacle to operating the trade under Section 8 must apply. Neither medical fitness nor liability insurance is required for this trade.

You must further demonstrate a professional qualification under Section 21, by one of the variants:

  1. secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field + 1 year of experience in the field,
  2. secondary education with a maturita examination in the relevant field + 1 year of experience in the field,
  3. higher vocational education in the relevant field + 1 year of experience in the field,
  4. university education in the relevant area,
  5. proof of recognition of professional qualification + 1 year of experience in the field,
  6. a full professional qualification for the relevant field under Act No. 179/2006 Coll. + 6 years of experience in the field.

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

If you do not meet the qualification yourself, you may demonstrate it through a responsible representative under Section 11 – a person who meets the conditions and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

  1. Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF) to notify the trade.
  2. Submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or through the Czech POINT contact point.
  3. Provide the documents – proof of professional qualification (apprenticeship certificate, maturita certificate, diploma, proof of experience), and where applicable documents relating to the responsible representative.
  4. Pay the administrative fee – CZK 1,000 on notification, or CZK 800 for the first electronic notification via rzp.gov.cz.
  5. Wait for registration – the office enters the trade in the Trade Register, as a rule within 5 working days of the notification.

The trade licence comes into existence on the very day of notification. You will find the detailed procedure in the guide How to set up a trade.

Documents and fees

  • Proof of identity (identity card or passport).
  • Proof of professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 (education and/or experience).
  • Documents relating to the responsible representative – if you appoint one.
  • Consent to the placement of the registered office, if you are not the owner of the property.
  • Administrative fee of CZK 1,000 (on paper) / CZK 800 (electronically via rzp.gov.cz).

Frequently asked questions

Is this trade a craft trade or a regulated trade?

It is a craft trade listed in Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act. You demonstrate the professional qualification under Section 21, or alternatively under Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act.

Can I do business without an apprenticeship certificate?

Yes. If you have neither an apprenticeship certificate nor other education in the field, you can use Section 22 – for example 6 years of experience in the field without proof of education, or retraining with one year of experience. Another option is a responsible representative under Section 11.

Do I need another licence to work on electrical equipment?

For work on designated electrical equipment, a professional qualification under Act No. 250/2021 Coll. (formerly Decree No. 50/1978 Coll.) is required over and above the trade. Inspections of designated equipment require a separate certificate.

How long does processing take?

The office enters the trade in the Trade Register within 5 working days of the notification. The licence, however, comes into existence on the very day of notification, so you can trade practically immediately.

How much will I pay?

The administrative fee is CZK 1,000 for a notification at the office, or CZK 800 for the first electronic notification via the rzp.gov.cz portal.

Sources

Want to register this field?
You can find the trade licence notification procedure, required documents and fees in the guide How to set up a trade licence step by step.