Dual vs non-dual employee cards: What students and employees need to know

6 May 2025 Practical Tips Lenka Kiknadze

A Czech Employee Card. What exactly is it? Are there more types? When can I apply for one? And how do I apply if I am a student? Let’s get you clear on these questions.

There are two types of Employee Cards, even if the card looks exactly the same.

1] Dual Employee Card

A residence permit for non-EU nationals that

incorporates both residence permit + work permit,
and is connected to a specific job registered in the central register of job vacancies.
These are published in the portal of Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs as vacancies that can be filled by employee cardholders. Each job vacancy has a unique reference number (referencni cislo volneho mista). It is the employer who registers the vacancy. To be able to apply for a dual employee card, you need a reference number that will be given to you by the employer. (or check the number at the portal of the Ministry).

2] Non-dual Employee Card

A residence permit for non-EU nationals that

is “only” a residence permit for the purpose of employment
for foreigners who have free access to the labour market and do not need a work permit.
Your job position does not have to be listed in the Central Register of Job Vacancies, and you do not need a reference number.

How can I prove that I have a non-dual employee card?

Both dual and non-dual employee cards look the same, and it is not possible to recognize a non-dual employee card at first sight. You always have to prove the fact that you have free access to the labour market with additional documents – your diploma, a confirmation of study or your passport.

Who has free access to the labour market – and how to get it?

These foreigners have access to free access:

Graduates: if you graduated in the Czech Republic and have a diploma, you get free access to the Czech labour market for the rest of your life
Full-time students: (prezencni or denni forma studia) of an accredited field of study at a university – you have free access to the labour market as long as you keep your student status
Citizens of selected states: Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America, Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore (see the list here). From March 2025, the list extends also to Taiwan
Citizens of Turkey after 4 years of regular employment in the Czech republic – in accordance to the Agreement establishing an association between the EEC and Turkey, 64/733/EEC

Can I get a non-dual employee card as a student before graduation?

Yes, if you are a full-time student of an accredited field of study. If you have a job, you can connect your residence permit with your job. In this case, you don’t need a reference number from the employer. You have to keep your student status to be able to legally work and reside in the Czech Republic.

If you wish to interrupt your studies and you have a non-dual employee card, you have to change it to a dual employee card before you lose your student status. If you are a citizen of selected states, you have free access to the labour market regardless of your student status.

What are the benefits of a non-dual employee card?

You can change employers without the approval of the Ministry of Interior.
You only need to inform MOI about the change of your employment within 3 days, by filling in a specific form. More information on how to proceed here (choose the option with free access to the labour market).
There is no hard deadline for you to find a new position if you lose your current job (unlike with the Dual Employee Card, when the window for reporting a new job is 60 days). However, as your purpose of residence in the Czech Republic is employment, you can’t stay without a job for an unlimited period. We recommend you find a new job within 3-4 months at the latest.

What are the benefits of a dual employee card?

As a student, if you don’t pass your exams or want to interrupt your studies, your dual employee card won’t be affected. A dual employee card can be issued with a maximum validity of 2 years (vs a study-based residence permit, which can be issued for max 1 year).
To put it simply, it will be only up to you if and how fast you will finish your studies (but remember, completing your studies gets you free access to the labour market, so try hard to finish 🙂
For employers, a dual employee card is a safer way to employ a student.

However, you won’t be able to change employers without prior approval from the MOI.

Can I change a dual to a non-dual employee card?

Definitely!

You have to provide MOI with a notarised copy of your diploma (if you graduated), or a confirmation of study (if you are a full-time student of an accredited field of study).

If your free access to the labour market is granted by citizenship (citizens of chosen states and Turkish citizens after 4 years of employment), the switch is done automatically. There is no action required from your side. However, please note that if you change citizenship, you have to inform MOI about it and show them your new passport.

Can I change a non-dual to a dual employee card?

Yes, you can and there are cases when you have to:

If you have a non-dual employee card that is connected with studies (you are a full-time student, and haven’t graduated yet), you are allowed to work only on the condition that you keep studying. Once you interrupt your studies, you lose free access to the labour market. If you need to interrupt your studies (or you are afraid you won’t pass your exams, or you need to switch to combined studies=kombinovaná forma studia) and you would like to keep your job, you will have to change your non-dual employee card to a dual one.

To be able to do so, inform your employer who will register the job vacancy and once it is published in the Central Register of Job Vacancies (usually in a few days), you will receive a reference (or vacancy) number.

To change your non-dual employee card to dual (and disconnect your residency from your studies), you will send a change of employer announcement (option without free access to the labour market – please note that proof of education is also part of the announcement) and wait for MOI’s approval. Once you receive the approval, your residency will be disconnected from your studies. You can still continue your studies, but it won’t affect your residency from the immigration point of view.