Artistic and craft processing of metals

An unqualified (free) trade (field No. 26) covering the artistic and craft processing of metals. It does not require professional qualification; it is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act.

Conditions for operating

Full legal capacity (Section 6(1) of the Trade Licensing Act).
Clean criminal record (Section 6(1) and Section 6(2) of the Trade Licensing Act) - proved by an extract from the Criminal Records Register, which the office obtains itself.
Professional qualification is not required - this is an unqualified (free) trade (Annex No. 4 to the TLA).
Absence of obstacles to operating the trade under Section 8 of the TLA (e.g. a court-imposed ban on activity or the statutory consequences of insolvency).
The option to appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 of the TLA, which, however, is not mandatory for the free trade.

Examples of activities

artistic blacksmithing
manufacture of metal sculptures and statues
artistic locksmithing (grilles, gates, railings)
hand engraving and chasing of metals
brass-working and manufacture of decorative metal objects
bell founding and manufacture of bells
medal making (medals and plaques)
embossing and forging of decorative objects of a historicising character

What the trade is and what it is for

The trade Artistic and craft processing of metals is field No. 26 within the single unqualified (free) trade "Production, trade and services not listed in Annexes 1 to 3 of the Trade Licensing Act". It encompasses artistic and craft-based creation from metals - that is, activities in which the artistic, decorative or historicising value of the product prevails over ordinary series production.

The content of the field is the processing of metals using traditional, special, predominantly manual technologies (metal casting, metal embossing, artistic blacksmithing and locksmithing, chasing, bell founding, brass-working, armour-making, medal making and metal engraving, pewter-working) to create individual metal objects - for example bells, sculptures, liturgical objects, helmets, shields, rectorial chains, medals and badges, candlesticks and jugs of a historicising character. It serves craftspeople and artists who create artistic objects, decorative elements and replicas of historical artefacts.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

Field No. 26 covers in particular:

artistic blacksmithing and metal embossing (chasing of metals),
metal casting and the manufacture of metal sculptures, statues and reliefs,
artistic locksmithing (decorative grilles, gates, railings, ironwork),
brass-working, armour-making, chasing and hand engraving of metals,
bell founding (manufacture of bells) and pewter-working,
medal making - manufacture of medals, plaques and badges,
manufacture of other artistic and historicising metal objects (candlesticks, jugs, liturgical objects, replicas).

Boundaries with neighbouring trades: The content of field No. 26 does not include the manufacture of jewellery, ornaments and hand-embossed products from precious metals, or from combinations thereof with base metals - this activity belongs to the craft trade "Goldsmithing and jewellery making" (Annex 1 to the TLA) and is also governed by the Hallmarking Act (registration with the Assay Office). The manufacture of costume jewellery from base metals falls under a different field of the unqualified (free) trade, specifically field No. 41 "Manufacture of school and office supplies, except paper products, manufacture of costume jewellery, brushware and ready-made goods, umbrellas, souvenirs". Ordinary (non-artistic) craft processing of metals is covered by the separate craft trades "Locksmithing, toolmaking" and "Blacksmithing, farriery" (Annex 1 to the TLA), which require professional qualification. Ordinary machine manufacture of metal structures and metalwork products is covered by field No. 25, and surface treatment and welding of metals by field No. 27. In case of doubt about the classification of a specific activity, contact the Trade Licensing Office.

Statutory conditions for obtaining the licence

This is an unqualified (free) trade (Annex No. 4 to the TLA), so professional qualification is not required - you do not have to prove any education or experience. It is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act:

full legal capacity (Section 6(1)) - which may be replaced by a court's consent to the legal representative's authorisation for a minor,
a clean criminal record (Section 6(1) and Section 6(2)) - assessed on the basis of an extract from the Criminal Records Register.

Furthermore, there must be no obstacle to operating the trade under Section 8 of the TLA (e.g. a ban on activity in the field imposed by a court or administrative authority, or the statutory consequences of insolvency for a period of 3 years).

Responsible representative (Section 11 of the TLA): You may, but need not, appoint a responsible representative. For the free trade this is not mandatory; you will use one, for example, if you yourself do not meet some condition or if the trade is operated by a legal entity. One person may act as a responsible representative for no more than four entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

The free trade is notified and the licence arises on the day of notification (Section 10(1)(a) of the TLA), provided the statutory conditions are met.

Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF) - a single form by which you also report the data to the tax office, the Czech Social Security Administration and the health insurance company.
Submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office (central registration point), electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT branch.
Prove your identity and state which fields of the unqualified (free) trade you wish to operate (you may notify several fields at once for a single fee). The office obtains the extract from the Criminal Records Register itself.
Pay the administrative fee (see below).

Time limits: Where the conditions are met, the office makes the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days of the day of notification and issues an extract. For the detailed procedure, use the guide Jak založit živnost.

Documents and fees

Completed URF (notification of the trade).
Proof of identity (identity card; for foreigners a travel document).
Clean criminal record - the office obtains the extract from the Criminal Records Register itself.
Administrative fee for notification: CZK 1,000 (in person), or CZK 800 for electronic submission.
Adding a further field of the free trade later: CZK 0 (free of charge).
You do not prove professional qualification.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to be a trained blacksmith or artist?

No. This is an unqualified (free) trade, so qualification is not proved. The general conditions under Section 6 of the TLA suffice. Practical skills are, however, essential for the quality of the work.

Can I notify several fields of the free trade at once?

Yes. There is only one free trade with 80 fields and you may notify several of them simultaneously for a single administrative fee of CZK 1,000 (CZK 800 electronically). A later addition of a further field is free of charge (CZK 0).

When can I start doing business?

The licence arises on the very day of notification (Section 10(1) of the TLA). The office makes the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days.

Can I manufacture jewellery from gold or silver within this field?

No. Field No. 26 expressly does not include the manufacture of jewellery, ornaments and hand-embossed products from precious metals or from combinations thereof with base metals. This activity belongs to the craft trade "Goldsmithing and jewellery making" and is governed by the Hallmarking Act (registration with the Assay Office). The manufacture of costume jewellery from base metals then falls under field No. 41 of the free trade.

Does artistic processing of metals differ from craft locksmithing?

Yes. Craft "Locksmithing, toolmaking" is a separate craft trade with a requirement for professional qualification (Sections 21 and 22 of the TLA), whereas the artistic and craft processing of metals falls under the free trade and qualification is not proved.