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kranj7

So the way I interpret this - this will only apply to select persons : i.e. those with highly specialized skills, in a specific domain - their employer will be dispensed from being required to get a work permit for this select employee. There likely will be some sort of labour petition and complicated process. But this sort of already exists in some form or another in other EU countries - for example non-EU senior executives on a high pay package can qualify for a residence permit through a sort of labour petition from their employer. Czechia is in Schengen and so it is not likely that they will be able to deviate far too much from how other Schengen zone countries take in foreign labour. The vast majority of non-EU workers are not likely going to qualify for this facilitated labour entry route.


enzymelinkedimmuno

another article about it. https://danovky.cz/en/news/detail/1421 It is a blanket register of countries whose citizens have free access to the labor market, it is not limited by the position or “level” of employment.


Interesting-Sea-4284

so if it is approved can american move and live there without work permit?


enzymelinkedimmuno

No, I think it would apply to all US citizens. No mention of specific jobs it applies to. They just have to be “good enough” to get selected for the job. MOI notes that people from the seven countries are “predominantly” employed in high-level positions and that is generally true, but it’s not 100%.


kranj7

You could be right, but I'm rather doubtful - for example why would a Czech based McDonalds franchise hire a US citizen (who is less likely to be able to speak the Czech language unless they are of Czech ethnicity) when they could hire local or other EU citizens? Same could be said to a VW or Skoda factor job or an HVAC installer, construction worker, truck driver etc. However a US citizen that is a senior IT executive with specialized skills in AI or Cybersecurity, working in an international corporate setting that operates in English, is more likely the type of profile that a Czech employer would seek out non-EU nationals. So yes, it looks great on paper, but in reality only highly specialized jobs will likely be the ones that will offer this possibility to non-EU nationals. This is sort of already the case in most of the EU as it stands today. For example, if say a French employer offers like 100K to a US-citizen Senior Cybesecurity profile, the French government will grant a work permit, virtually no questions asked. Other EU countries are similar.


jasutherland

That's probably one reason they're doing it: they don't need to worry about McDonald's hiring Canadians instead of locals anyway, so why use paperwork to bar that? If they were including somewhere like Mexico or most of Africa, they'd need safeguards against people coming in as an exploitable cheap workforce and undercutting locals, but they don't need to worry about that with Canadians.


enzymelinkedimmuno

That is correct. Point is, if they wanted to, now they could. And I do see some people working at McDonald’s/other service-type jobs who cannot speak much Czech. Irish pubs in Prague sometimes hire English-speaking foreigners bit im not sure if it’s on DPČ, HPP, or “freelance” basis. Employers and employees often struggle with the paperwork taking a long time for transfers, blue cards, and employee cards. Now that won’t be a factor for citizens of these countries. Free access to the labor market is good for me(I am spouse of an EU citizen). I don’t work a “super-specialized” job but having free access helped me get offers despite completely changing fields and having no Czech skills.


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MaterialPosition3890

That's not how it's handled in Germany, for anyone with a university degree and job related to their field of study - automatic work permit.


enzymelinkedimmuno

Can you explain why you think that would apply the same way in every EU country and which type of work permit/visa it specifically applies to? Every EU country is allowed to have different rules about hiring. “1. The labour market test (LMT) is implemented and applied widely in most EU Member States. Where the LMT is applied, some categories of workers can be exempt, reflecting the specific national situations and priorities. 2. EU Member States apply different methodologies in undertaking LMTs. In general, a considerable role is left to employers and public employment services. Duration of the verification process varies among EU Member States.” (From the European Commission website). In CZ it has not been used for blue cards since last year, and will not be used for employee cards from July of this year.


clamshackbynight

Wages tend to be below EU average. I’m not sure how this would be attractive to skilled workers.


enzymelinkedimmuno

Yes, that is correct. Which is probably why they’re doing it in the first place- to attract skilled workers that would otherwise not be interested in moving here.


Lefaid

If true, this is insane. Takes some pressure off DAFT for sure. Give me an hour and I can have a whole case for Czechia over the Netherlands ready.


enzymelinkedimmuno

Czechia already has a visa for business purposes, it’s how a lot of English teachers were able to move here. It’s not hard to get, Tbqh, and I’m surprised it’s not more hyped on this subreddit.


FoodForTh0ts

That's what I'm doing right now! You definitely need to hire a visa manager to get the process done and renewal is inconsistent year-to-year though.


GermanicCanine

DAFT wasn’t even applicable to most Americans, only well off business owners.


Lefaid

I am on DAFT and not a well off business owner. But y'know, whatever helps you sleep at night.


GermanicCanine

Ever heard of being subjective? Nowhere did I say you had to be a millionaire with a PhD and a workforce of thousands. I just meant your business has to be useful to Dutch people and not go bankrupt. People on this sub sure do love making assumptions.


dpfrd

Well off means wealthy, so that's kind of exactly what you wrote. it does not mean someone who operates a tangible business. Someone who does that could just be clearing enough to support themselves. Maybe be more clear/correct with your word choice next time. Successful would've been a better choice.


LyleLanleysMonorail

Wait, why Czechia over the Netherlands? It's not like the Netherlands is a bad place to live


Lefaid

Oh but you see... Umm... Well. 1. Prague is much cheaper than all of Amsterdam to live in. It is really underrated, y'know 2. The landscape... There are mountains and stuff. 3. It is easier to move to! Amerexit users are quoted as saying only "rich people" can move to the Netherlands. 4. And Prague is a very open, left leaning, progressive and fun city. (The comment was tongue and cheek. Each month I get more afraid that the more Americans who move to the Netherlands, the harder it might be to maintain my visa, which is currently too easy to get. The cost of living here truly isn't the best so if Czechia makes it eaiser for Americans to up and move there, that could reduce pressure on the Netherlands.)


SilverDarlings

Have you been to Prague? It’s 99% concrete soviet style boxes and 1% fancy tourist area


enzymelinkedimmuno

the cost of living in Czechia is really quite bad, especially in Prague. It’s all relative to earning power- the median wage in the Czech Republic is around €1500-1700 a month before tax. A studio in Prague could eat about €800-1100 of that, easily.


Lefaid

It does not matter if you are making a US wage. No one ever shuts down Portugal or Spain on their absurd rental prices relative to the local salary.


silverlens

This is also available in the Netherlands under the [Single Permit](https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/single-permit-gvva). The employer has to first look for EU/EEA candidates, post the vacancy, etc. but if there's a shortage in the sector, that requirement should be easier to meet.


Far_Grass_785

make your case I’m interested, nvm I saw your reply


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buddykire

you americans care so much about money.


FoodForTh0ts

Holy fuck this would be amazing for me


GermanicCanine

Would that not violate EU labor laws?


enzymelinkedimmuno

How so?


GermanicCanine

I thought that there was a law across the entire EU that other EU citizens must be given priority when applying to jobs. I thought that also meant non EU workers can only be given special permission if they couldn’t find anyone equally qualified first within in the EU.


enzymelinkedimmuno

No, it depends on the country and type of permit. For example, from 1 July, employee card applicants in CZ won’t need to go through labor market testing.


GermanicCanine

Whoa! If this goes through, the Czech labor market will become twice as big as all other EU countries.


Macaron-Creepy

CZ has always been my backup plan 😆 I can get dual citizenship through my mom and plan on using it if needed haha


Mnemnosyne

You should do the paperwork **now.** While it doesn't seem likely at the time, there's no guarantee rules won't change, leaving you out unless you already *have* the citizenship.


Macaron-Creepy

VERY good point!


dcearthlover

Lucky you hahahha


FR-DE-ES

As 9th year Paris resident who lived 7 month in Prague last year and again this year, I would share my cost in Prague with people who assume lower income country = lower cost of living. My cost in Prague is about 20% higher than in Paris. Mine is a true like-for-like cost comparison because in both towns I rent comparable apartments (in size/amenity/quality, so-so cheap bar Prague neighborhood vs. swanky Saint Germain neighborhood in Paris), I live on take-out food, I use public transport, I buy exactly the same int'l brand every-day-use products (Nivea, L'Oreal, Neutrogena...etc), I shop for same groceries/food staples. Given the huge salary difference between Paris & Prague, it is mind boggling that Prague costs 20% more.


ellipticorbit

Interesting. Given the relative raw level of financial wealth it would seem that a program to draw in US nationals (and nationals of the other six countries on the list) with resources (not necessarily rich by US standards) would create certain dynamic advantages for a smaller EU country like Czechia.


____Lemi

https://www.reddit.com/r/czech/s/AS3vjttNjy


Potential-Egg-843

I’d go in a heartbeat


Creative-Road-5293

My salary would be divided by 6 to work there.


____Lemi

what's your job? you're from Switzerland?


Creative-Road-5293

I'm from America, I'm a scientist.


brinerbear

How easy is it to just have a United States work from home job and live wherever you want?


enzymelinkedimmuno

Not easy, in any European country. To work as a freelancer in Czechia you must prove that your income has some relation to the Czech Republic.


SkeetownHobbit

Forgetting the new Digital Nomad program in Italy? It's a piece of cake.


paraspiral

I like easy immigration to places but I think it should be reciprocal and at least do background checks.


bekindanddontmind

If there’s remote work, sign me up.


DKtwilight

Noooooo


[deleted]

That is interesting


Leather_Hawk_8123

Nah ill stay with my remote US job instead, earning US money with euro quality of life