Public health insurance during job search to non-EU with an Employee Card or a Blue Card
First published in November 2025; updated 22 April 2026.
Losing your job is stressful on its own. Losing health insurance with it doesn’t help.
We come with good news! The Czech system now gives you some breathing room. As a non-EU citizen with an Employee Card or a Blue Card, you can stay covered by public health insurance for up to 90 days.
It’s not automatic. You have to register at the Czech Labour Office. This ensures that your healthcare coverage continues even while you are between jobs.
Health insurance coverage period
You can stay in the public health insurance system from the day you register at the Labour Office until 90 days pass from the date your original contract ended.
Example: If your employment contract ends on 1 March, your coverage under this system can last until 30 May. However, if you register yourself at the Labour Office on April 15, then you can stay registered in the system of public health insurance only from April 15 to May 30.
Currently, you cannot stay in the system for longer than up to those 90 days, even though you might be eligible for a longer time to search for a new job. However, this system is now being discussed on a national level. We will bring more on that soon.
State-paid category
During this period, you will be placed in the state-paid category of public health insurance. This means that you don’t have to pay for the insurance yourself — the state covers the costs for you.
No requirement for unemployment benefits
You don’t need to be eligible for unemployment benefits in order to be registered in the public health insurance system.
Your registration as an active job candidate at the Labour Office is enough for you to be included in the public health insurance system under this rule. However, if you are eligible for unemployment benefits, do apply for them too — they can provide additional financial support while you look for work. Here is our guide that explains how.
Step-by-step guide: How to register for public health insurance while looking for a new job
Once your employment ends and you have collected all necessary documents from your former employer, follow these steps in the order they are written here:
- Register at the Labour Office as an active job candidate
Go to the Labour Office and register. Follow this link for more information. - Get the confirmation of your registration
During the process of your registration as an active job candidate, ask about the possibility to have this confirmation issued immediately. However, from our experience, this is usually not possible due to the functioning of the Labour Office´s systems. If impossible, you will obtain it through post or into your data mailbox, typically within a week or two. In this case, if you need medical attention during your wait, you will have to pay for it. Collect bills, your insurance company will register you retroactively and reimburse them. - Visit your health insurance company
Take this confirmation of your registration to the insurance company where you have been registered while employed. They will register you in the public health insurance system under the state-paid category, ensuring coverage during your job search.
This measure is designed to make sure that you are protected and supported while you are between jobs. As long as you stay properly registered at the Labour Office, you will keep your access to public healthcare during up to 90-days of searching for a job period — without any extra costs.
Take this time to focus on finding the right new opportunity. The system is here to help you stay safe, healthy, and legally covered while you take your next steps in the Czech Republic.
Note: If you are a holder of a a researcher residence permit, or an internally relocated worker residence permit, it is currently being discussed on a national level, whether you can also remain in the public health insurance system. We will bring more information on that soon.
