Seasonal Employment
Long-term visa for the purpose of seasonal employment is required for citizens of the so-called third countries performing work dependent on change of seasons for longer than three months. Seasonal employment can last a maximum of six months.
KINDLY FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
1. FIND A CONSULATE WHERE YOU WILL LODGE YOUR APPLICATION.
2. SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.
Consulates schedule their own appointments, mostly by e-mail or phone – refer to consulates´ websites for guidance.
Applications are lodged in person. An interview is held and fingerprints are collected.
3. LODGE THE APPLICATION PRESENTING THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
● PASSPORT
● APPLICATION FORM – Application for long-stay visa (in no. 28. Purpose of Stay, check “Other” and specify “Seasonal Employment”)
● 2 PHOTOS
● BIOMETRIC DATA (FINGERPRINTS)
● SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ON
○ PURPOSE OF STAY – employment permit issued by the Labor Office of the Czech Republic in accordance with § 96 of Act No 435/2014 Coll., on Employment, or case number under which an application for an employment permit has been filed, as well as identification of the branch of the Labor Office of the Czech Republic where this application has been filed*
○ ACCOMMODATION – if the employer arranges for applicant´s accommodation, the document on accommodation must show that the accommodation complies with conditions set out in Article 100 d) of the Act on Residence of Foreign Nationals, mainly with respect to the room surface area and number of lodged persons, as well as information on rent or that the accommodation is provided free of charge; the rent must not be disproportionate to the earnings and to the accommodation standard
○ FINANCIAL MEANS – employer´s confirmation about earnings in case the employer arranges for applicant´s accommodation
● FEE
● TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE – only if visa approved, not when applying
*employment contract or work agreement for a fixed period or letter of intent, whereby the parties agree to conclude such a contract or agreement is submitted when applying for an employment permit
DO NOT OVERLOOK:
-Supporting documents may not be older than 180 days with the exception of a passport, registry documents (birth certificate or marriage certificate), diplomas and similar documents and photo (if reflecting current appearance).
-Supporting documents must be submitted in Czech. Documents in another language must also be submitted in official translation into Czech.
-Foreign public documents must be legalized, i.e. equipped by an apostille or superlegalized.
-The following documents must always be submitted in their originals: passport, supporting documents on purpose of stay (in this case employment permit). These originals will be returned to the applicant should he / she wish to keep them. Passport is always returned to the applicant and is submitted again when issuing the visa.
-Other supporting documents may be submitted as originals or officially verified copies.
-We kindly request applicants to also prepare a set of copies of all the requirements.
-SUBMIT ONLY COMPLETE APPLICATIONS CONTAINING ALL THE DOCUMENTS.
-INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS ARE UNACCEPTABLE => THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR PROCESSING AND WILL BE RETURNED TO THE APPLICANT. (§ 169h of Act on Residence of Foreign Nationals)
4. AWAIT THE DECISION.
The legal processing time of long-term visas for the purpose of seasonal employment is 60 days.
5. GET TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE WHEN VISA APPROVED.
When picking up your visa, do submit an officially verified translation of the policy and general conditions into Czech to prove the conclusion and extent of the insurance.
Upon request, do submit the proof of payment for the insurance.
6. PICK UP YOUR VISA IF APPROVED OR REFUSAL FORM IN CASE OF VISA REFUSAL.
Applicants can pick up their passports themselves or they can authorize someone else to do so on their behalf. A certified power of attorney needs to be presented when picking up the passport on somebody´s behalf. If the applicant notifies the consulate about this arrangement when lodging the application, no power of attorney is necessary.
NOTE: Visa issuance does not automatically grant the right of entry to the Czech Republic or the Schengen Area. Visa holders are required to fulfill entry conditions specified in the Schengen Border Code when crossing the external borders and, upon request, present documents related to the planned stay.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON LONG-TERM VISAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT:
Long-term visa applications can be lodged by citizens of the so-called third countries, i.e. states outside of the EU, Island, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Long-term visa is not intended for family members of EU citizens nor of Island, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland who are holders of residence cards of family members of citizens of the EU/EEA or who have applied for them.
Long-term visa applications for the purpose of seasonal employment are lodged when a stay exceeding three months is expected and cannot be covered by a short-term Schengen visa for the purpose of seasonal employment.
Long-term visa for the purpose of seasonal employment can be issued for a maximum of nine months.
Seasonal employment involves activities dependent on change of seasons, specifically work in (1) crop and animal farming, game management and related areas, (2) forestry, (3) accommodation services, (4) restaurant services and catering and hospitality industry and (5) sports, entertainment and recreational services – based on Decree No 322/2017 Coll., on Establishing Sectors Involving Season Dependent Activities.
Long-term visa applications are lodged at diplomatic missions of the Czech Republic according to the local territorial competence. They forward the applications to the Ministry of the Interior, which examines them and decides on them. If approved, the diplomatic mission where the application was lodged issues the visa into the passport.
Long-term visa grants its holder a right of free movement in the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days within any 180 days for non-gainful purposes (in this respect, it fulfills the function of a short-tem Schengen visa).
Legal sources:
○ Act No 326/1999 Coll., on Residence of Foreign Nationals in the Czech Republic and Amending Certain Acts (mainly § 32 on seasonal employment, further territorial competence: § 169g, scheduling appointment to lodge application: § 169f, lodging application in person: § 169d, requirement to submit documents: § 168.2, submitting fingerprints: § 55.3, long-term visa: § 30, long-term visa supporting documents: § 31, supporting documents – requirements (not older than 180 days, originals): § 55.1, unacceptability of application: § 169h, legal processing period: § 169t.2, travel health insurance: § 180j) (available in Czech)
○ Act No 500/2004 Coll., Administrative Code (requirement to submit documents in Czech: § 16.1+2) (available in Czech)
○ Act No 435/2004 Coll., on Employment (mainly § 96) (available in Czech)
○ Decree from September 25, 2017, No 322/2017 Coll., on Establishing Sectors Involving Season Dependent Activities (available in Czech)
○ Directive 2014/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the conditions of entry and stay of third-country nationals for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers
○ Decree from December 21, 2010, No 429/2010 Coll., on Establishing Exceptions from Foreigner´s Obligation to Apply for a Visa or Residence Permit at a Diplomatic Mission According to Local Territorial Competence (available in Czech)
○ Decree from February 5, 2020, No 35/2020 Coll., on Establishing Territorial Districts of Diplomatic Missions for Purposes of Lodging Visa and Residence Permit Applications (available in Czech)
○ Regulation (EU) No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) – mainly Title II – External Borders, Chapters I and II
Useful links:
○ Ministry of the Interior – Seasonal Work, Long-stay Visa (Visa for Stays Exceeding 90 Days) for the Purpose of Seasonal Work, Contacts, Application Requirements, Status of Application, Conditions of Entry and Basic Requirements after Entry to the Czech Republic
○ Ministry of Justice – Court Certified Translators (in Czech)