Czechia plans to introduce a number of changes to its immigration system in an attempt to attract more highly qualified workers amid the ongoing shortages in many sectors.
One of the main changes is the approval of a new plan that will reshape the allocation of work visas, with the authorities revealing that the work visa quota is set to increase for some workers and be limited for others, Schengen.News reports.
As Expats.cz explains, the country wants to specifically attract IT experts, scientists, and other skilled professionals, while reducing the spots for those with limited qualifications.
Some of the nationalities that are set to benefit from the upcoming change include Indians, Chinese, and Thais, among many others.
According to the authorities, the Czech Embassy in India will soon start offering 24 new slots for IT specialists via the digital nomad program.
This type of visa gives the right to its beneficiaries to live and work in the territory of Czechia as self-employed individuals, and the authorities have said that they will be processed within 45 days.
Czechia will also increase the number of work visas for Chinese nationals who are showing increased interest in moving to the country for employment purposes. The new annual cap of work visas for Chinese nationals will be 1,170, with the majority of these visas being reserved for qualified applicants.
The work visa quota will also increase for Thai nationals. The Embassy of Czechia in Bangkok will increase the yearly work visa quota from the current 300 to 460.
Work Visa Quota Will Be Cut for Low-Skilled Applicants From Some African Countries
Since Czechia wants to attract mainly highly qualified foreign workers, low-skilled applicants are set to be the most affected by the new changes that will soon be announced.
The Ministry of Interior of Czechia has already proposed to reduce the quota for low-skilled applicants from some African countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, and Zambia.
Regarding highly qualified applicants from these countries, the authorities have noted that the same quotas will remain in place.
As part of its move to attract more foreign workers, the Czech government announced earlier in February that it would drop the work permit requirement for nationals of Taiwan.
Once the new rule becomes effective, Taiwanese will be eligible to enter Czechia for employment purposes without needing to obtain a work permit or an employment card.
Data from the Ministry of Labour of Czechia show that 80 men and 105 women from Taiwan were working in the country last year.