EU Blue Cards: New law could make it easier to stay in Czechia

Holders of so-called EU Blue Cards – a work and residence permit for third-country nationals in an EU country – that wish to reside in Czechia could be in for some good news.

Interior Minister Vít Rakušan said Wednesday that a governmental draft amendment to Czechia’s asylum law aims to provide easier conditions for EU Blue Card holders to stay in the country and find work. It was approved yesterday.

According to Rakušan, Czechia’s current legislation requires change due to an EU directive from October 2021. Among other things, it mandates the issuance of residence permits for Blue Card holders’ family members after staying in the country for one year.

If passed, the new law will “simplify the employment of highly qualified foreigners and the access of minors with long-term residence to the health insurance system,” ČTK writes.

To get a blue card in Czechia at present, an applicant must earn at least 1.5 times the average annual monthly gross wage. This may be reduced. Furthermore, the current system states that an applicant must have a work contract lasting a minimum of one year to apply for a Blue Card.

Holders of a Blue Card may travel to other EU countries for holiday reasons, staying for a maximum of three months per year. Following the start of the Russian-Ukraine war, there are over half a million third-country nationals currently present in Czechia, many of whom have – or may soon need – Blue Cards.