Czech Trade License (Živnostenský list) – How to Apply as a Foreigner

What Is a Czech Trade License?

A Czech Trade License (Živnostenský list or Živnostenské oprávnění) is the official authorization that allows you to operate a business or work as a freelancer in the Czech Republic.
It is issued by the Trade Licensing Office (Živnostenský úřad) and is required for most self-employed activities.

Who Needs a Trade License?

You need a Czech Trade License if you are:

  • A foreigner planning to work as a freelancer (OSVČ – osoba samostatně výdělečně činná).
  • Starting your own business in the Czech Republic.
  • Providing services such as teaching, consulting, IT work, translation, design, or manual trades.

💡 Note: EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can apply directly. Non-EU citizens generally must also have a long-term visa or residence permit for the purpose of business.

Types of Trade Licenses

There are two main categories:

  1. Unregulated Trade License (Volná živnost)
    • Covers over 80 common activities (e.g., teaching languages, IT consulting, marketing, administrative services).
    • No special qualifications required.
  2. Craft / Regulated Trade License (Řemeslná / Vázaná živnost)
    • Requires proof of professional qualifications or experience.
    • Examples: accounting, electrical work, driving instruction.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for a Czech Trade License as a Foreigner

Step 1 – Prepare Required Documents

The basic documents include:

  • Valid passport
  • Proof of legal stay (visa or residence permit)
  • Proof of business address in the Czech Republic
  • Criminal record extract from your home country (apostilled/superlegalized and translated into Czech)
  • Completed application form (Jednotný registrační formulář)

Step 2 – Translation & Legalization

  • Any non-Czech documents must be officially translated by a court-appointed translator.
  • Foreign criminal record extracts must be apostilled or superlegalized depending on your country.

📌 See our Document Translation & Legalization Guide and Step-by-Step Apostille Guide for details.

Step 3 – Visit the Trade Licensing Office

  • Submit your application at the Živnostenský úřad in the city where you will operate your business.
  • Pay the administrative fee (usually 1,000 CZK).
  • Provide original documents + copies.

Step 4 – Registration With Other Authorities

Once approved, your trade license is automatically registered with:

  • Financial Office (Finanční úřad) for tax purposes
  • Social Security Administration (ČSSZ)
  • Health Insurance Company

Step 5 – Start Operating Your Business

  • You will receive an extract from the Trade Register (Výpis ze živnostenského rejstříku), which serves as proof of your license.
  • Keep this document for contracts, tax filings, and bank account openings.

How Long Does It Take?

  • EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: Usually issued within 3–5 working days.
  • Non-EU citizens: Processing depends on having the correct residence permit; if you’re applying for a visa for business purposes, it can take 60–120 days.

Costs & Taxes

  • Application fee: 1,000 CZK (approx. €40)
  • Monthly social security: ~2,944 CZK (minimum, 2025)
  • Monthly health insurance: ~2,968 CZK (minimum, 2025)
  • Income tax: 15% (with possible lump-sum deductions for certain activities)

Common Mistakes When Applying

  • Not having a legalized and translated criminal record extract.
  • Applying for a regulated trade without the required qualifications.
  • Forgetting to register for tax and insurance obligations.
  • Applying without the correct visa or residence permit (for non-EU citizens).

How PragueVisas.com Helps

We:

  • Advise you on the right type of trade license for your activity.
  • Prepare all forms in Czech.
  • Arrange apostille, legalization, and certified translations.
  • Submit your application with you at the Trade Licensing Office.
  • Ensure tax, health insurance, and social security registration is done correctly.

Quick Reference – Key Offices

Office Type

Czech Name

Purpose

Trade Licensing Office

Živnostenský úřad

Issues trade license

Financial Office

Finanční úřad

Tax registration

Social Security Administration

Česká správa sociálního zabezpečení

Pension contributions

Health Insurance Company

Zdravotní pojišťovna

Health coverage

FAQs

Can I get a trade license on a tourist visa?
No, you must have legal residence that allows business activity.

Do I need an accountant?
While not mandatory, many foreigners use accountants for tax filings.

Is a trade license the same as a work permit?
No. A trade license allows self-employment, while a work permit is for employment by a company.

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Hamilton Jerkins

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Disclaimer, we do not sell or provide Visas, or residence permits.

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Contact us using the form below:

  • Citizenship by descent
American moving to Czechia
Step 9 – Congratulations you have been Approved!

After your Czech citizenship by descent application is approved, you'll receive a certificate of citizenship and need to take the oath of allegiance within 12 months.

  1. Receive the Certificate of Citizenship:
  • You’ll receive a certificate confirming your Czech citizenship. 
  • This certificate can be picked up in person at the consular office after an appointment. 
  1. Take the Oath of Allegiance: 
  • You must take the oath of allegiance within 12 months of receiving the citizenship certificate.
  • This is a public, solemn event where you promise to be loyal to the Czech Republic and abide by its laws.
  • Children under 15 are exempt from taking the oath.
Step 8. Ready to request an interview appointment at the Czech Embassy

1. Upon receipt of your complete application packet, you can request an interview appointment at the Czech Embassy.

2. Bring your completed packet and passport.

3. At this Czech Embassy interview they will request a 2000CZK government fee for each applicant.

 Step 7 – We have received your documents.
  1. Upon receipt of your documents will make the arrangements to have the applicable documents notarized translated from their language of origin to Czech by a government authorized translator.
  2. We will create your declaration stating that you are not a Slovakian citizen.
  3. We will complete your Czech Application for Citizenship and any other family members applying.
  4. We will pay for the return international shipping for your completed document package.

Reminder: The only additional cost you will incur is the notarized translations because it is billed by page. It is $28 per page for English/Germanic languages and $54 for all other languages.

Step 6 - Shipping

Please ship all of these documents to us in Prague:

Owner: Dominik Poloch

Address: Žitomírská 744/26, Praha 10, 101 00

Czech Mobile: +420 731 935 993

dominik.poloch@praguevisas.com
 
Shipping carrier: DHL is preferred.

Step 5 – You will begin gathering your Documents for final submission.

Treatment of Documents in order of preference:

*Always keep the original documents in your possession. Do obtain replacements in this order of preference whenever possible.

** Any document supplied at application will not be returned and doesn’t apply towards future/other applications. Get extras if anticipating that another family member will apply in the future.

***Apostille is a method of certifying a document for use in another country. For countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention, it is sufficient to legalize the documents with the corresponding Apostille.

1. Obtain a duplicate of the original, it is effectively an additional original and have it apostilled, then we will have it notarized translated into Czech. If not possible, then... Go to #2

2. Have the original apostilled and then obtain a certified copy. We will have it notarized translated into Czech. If not possible, then... Go to #3

3. Obtain a certified copy of the original and have it apostilled. We will have it notarized translated into Czech.

4. Get enough copies for any/all of these documents for the additional family members to use as well.

Step 4 – Document analysis

Email us as much as this documentation as you can:

Documents required if you are applying for a line of descendant from a parent:

  1. a landscape color copy your passport
  2. a copy of your birth certificate
  3. The birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, name change certificate, death certificate of your parents when applicable
  4. Proof showing that the parents have lost their Czech or Czechoslovakian citizenship

Documents required if you are applying for a line of descent from a grandparent:

  1. a landscape color copy your passport
  2. a copy of your birth certificate
  3. The birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, name change certificate, death certificate of your parents when applicable
  4. The birth certificates, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, name change certificate, death certificate of your grandparents when applicable
  5. Proof showing that the parents or the grandparents have lost their Czech or Czechoslovakian citizenship

Email to office@PragueVisas.com

We will begin your document analysis in the next few business days and send you a written response by email.

Step 3 – Becoming our client

CLICK HERE: Purchase Citizenship by Descent package for $579

FAQs:

How long does this process take?

The timeframe is reliant upon your initial document collection and the research of missing documentation. Please allow for ample opportunity for research, document preparation, and flexibility in case of unexpected challenges.

In general, the granting of the citizenship certificate takes around 3 to 6 months.

How much does it cost?

Our fees are $349 plus the actual bill for the Czech notarized translations. This depends on the language, and they charge per page. You will incur the cost of international shipping the Czech Republic. We suggest DHL. You may experience various cost of obtaining duplicate originals of documents and their respective apostilles. We offer a discounted price of $99 for each additional family member that is submitted at the same time as the original applicant. At this Czech Embassy interview they will request a 2000CZK government fee for each applicant.

What is an apostille?

An apostille is a form of authentication that simplifies the process of legalizing public documents for use in other countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. It certifies the authenticity of the signature, seal, and position of the official who executed, issued, or certified a public document, enabling it to be recognized as valid in another country.

How do I obtain missing documents in Czechia?

If you would like us to research and obtain missing documentation in the Czech Republic archives, we bill at $30.00 per hour. We do our best to minimize the hours billed, but the Czech archives are not nationalized and they are antiquated. A retainer may be requested.   

Step 2 – We have emailed your preliminary results for qualification. We have developed a step-by-step process to create a pathway for Citizenship by Descent. Here is what our services include:

1. Upon receipt of your emailed documents, we will begin our review process. We will produce a written analysis of what documents are missing, the condition of each document, and how each document must be “treated”. Treated is term that refers to Apostilling, Czech Notarized Translations by a Government authorized entity, and the type of duplication accepted.

2. We offer guidance and referrals for document discovery. Discovery is the obtaining of any missing required documents from various archives.

3. We will make a final determination of eligibility and send you our written analysis results by email.

4. You will ship us the duplicate apostilled originals for notarized translation.

5. After receipt of your duplicate originals with Apostille, we have them notarized translated by a Czech Government authorized entity here in Prague.

6. We will create and provide your declaration.

7. We will complete your Czech Application for Citizenship.

8. We will pay for the international shipping for your completed document package.

9. The only additional cost you will incur is the notarized translations because they are billed per page. It is $28 per page for English/Germanic languages and $54 for all other languages.

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Step 1 – Curious if you eligible for Czech Citizenship by Descent?

We have a simplified process to help answer your questions. Determining actual eligibility is a complicated process, but let’s start by seeing if you pre-qualify by answering a few questions.

Identify the relative, parent or grandparent, not great grandparent that will be the person the line of descent is traced to.

Example: USA citizen Applicant> USA citizen Parent> Czech-American Grandparent (Czech Ancestor)

Applicant

Parent

GrandParent (if applicable)

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