Job Discussion Forums

[jashworth]

I was told that I did not need EU Passport to work in Prague. I was told a yank can't work legally in Western Europe. Please let me know thanks.

J.

[johnchina]

You need a passport (obviously), but an EU one is not essential - plenty of Americans, Canadians and Australians working in Czech. Americans (like all non-EU citizens) can work legally in the EU, but I it's obviously harder than if you're an EU citizen. A quick search on the net should reveal some info., e.g. American Embassy website? Czech government website?

[JDYoung]

If you want to work legally in the Czech Republic and don't hold a passport from an EU country the problem will be finding an employer willing to do all the extra paperwork required to get a work permit and a long-stay visa. It's a lot of work and money to get the permits so employers are reluctant to do so if they can get an EU passport holder to do the job.

That said, I'm told there are a lot of "black" teachers out there - my employer's term for foreign teachers working here illegally. They have to leave and re-enter the country periodically with a new tourist visa. The time in the country and the difficulty in getting a new visa depends on the country of citizenship. For Canadians it's every 90 days and just a run across the border and back. The problem will arise if you get a passport control officer who questions all those visa stamps.

I got here a week ago on a 90-day tourist visa and should have my work permit sometime this week as I have an efficient employer who applied for my work permit based on emailed scans of my documents and then just had to take in the originals or notarized copies when I got here. Then I have to go to a Czech embassy outside the Czech Republic to apply for a long-stay visa. I apply, come back to the Czech Republic, and then go back to the other country in about 2 months to pick up my long term visa.

Personally, I don't want to work illegally. I did it in Turkey and hated the feeling of having to watch what I said and to whom. Then the school was raided ....

Good luck whatever you decide.

[spiral78]

The word on the street is that after January, when the Czech Rep enters the Schengen zone (no passports required for crossing borders), the 'black market' teachers will be more targeted by legal authorities. The 90-day option will be pretty much gone. You've got to find an employer to help you through the legalities in future - the risks will be much greater than before.

[johnnyappleseed]

It is not hard to find employers willing to hire a non-EU person.

It does cost them 2500 kc(or about 125 US dollars.) MOre if they spend time giving advice, etc.

The concern would be the Schengen Zone, as spiral mentioned. It's going to make that more difficult as getting a visa takes at LEAST three months from arrival in the country, and sometimes longer.
I don't know if there will be some sort of program or lenient policy for people who are waiting for visa approval come December or not.

Parliament is in the process of debating a bill(which seems likely to pass) that will make it a much easier process for non-EU'ers to move to the Czech Republic, but it seems that that law, if it goes through(it is likely to pass, IMO) won't take effect until 2009.

[spiral78]

In the past, when legal paperwork had been applied for, the authorities would usually let it go (in the case of English teachers - not necessarily street workers from the far East or something).

I expect this will be the case with the new laws, but there could be 'interesting' complications. Ok, it's simply 'interesting' for me, as a permanent resident awaiting citizenship in the country. Could be anything from a major to minor hassle for an English teacher here for a year or two.

We shall see, and I'll try to keep educated about what's going on so that I can provide some info when things change.

[ITTP]

We were initially concerned about the Czech Republic accession into the Schengen Zone and how it would affect the flexibility which teachers in Prague enjoy currently.
We consulted a local visa expert who explained that it wouldn't really have any impact on the current flexibility and that the Czech authorities will be making the work visa process a lot more clearer and easier to negotiate.
There was similar speculation on the Czech Republic entrance to the EU.
It still stands that it is very easy for TEFL/TESOL qualified EU and North American nationals to find teaching work in the Czech Republic - each month, as an example, our fresh grads begin teaching usually the week after their studies have finished up and the majority of our clients are from North America.
I personally don't think that the 'black market' Western teachers are a concern for the Czech authorities - they have much more important concerns such as the influx from the East.
Just my 2 cents worth.

[Arab Strap]

TEFL-Prague,

Well you would say that wouldn't you? I mean you don't want to hurt your business do you?

As someone who has lived and worked legally in CZ for a number of years and who has also paid all the taxes and social security/national insurance contributions I would welcome a clamp down on the 'black' backpacking fly-by-night lads and lassies fresh out of their TEFL/CELTA nappies (diapers I suppose is more appropriate here).

Have youy any idea how difficult it is for a Czech (or for that matter any EU citizen) to find legal employment in the good ol US of A..............by the way?

[ITTP]

Hello Arab Strap.

Good to hear from you again.

My post wasn't orientated at winning more business; instead it was, as usual, a post aimed at helping out newbies with concise and helpful information.

Apologies in advance for any offense.

Enjoy your time in Saudi (you wrote in a previous post that you are teaching there now).

Peace and poetry