Start a Business in the Czech Republic

Whichever passport you hold, your starting point differs: EU/EEA and Swiss citizens are treated on a par with Czech nationals from day one; third-country nationals (from outside the EU/EEA) must first secure a valid Czech residence permit; and Ukrainians under temporary protection follow a similar path with a few extra specifics. Use the situation cards above to jump to the guide that applies to you.

Regardless of your origin, you must meet the same general conditions as Czech citizens — full legal capacity and good standing (no criminal record) — and for craft trades, regulated trades and permit (concession) trades you must prove professional qualification. You submit the notification on the same Single Registration Form (JRF). The main differences lie in how you prove your good standing and whether you need a residence permit.

In practice that means an administrative fee of 1 000 Kč (or 800 Kč if you file the JRF online), and — once your application is processed — an extract with your IČO (business ID) within 5 working days. You can file the notification and check current fees on the government's official Trade Business Portal, rzp.gov.cz, which also publishes an official guide to administrative fees for trade notifications.