One of the frequent applicant questions: can a student work in Czechia? The short answer is yes, and quite freely. The Czech system is much more lenient toward part-time work than, for example, the German or Swiss one: a student with a long-term D visa is allowed to work as soon as they arrive, with no separate permit from the police.
Most of our students start working in their 1st or 2nd year and from the second year fully or partially cover their living costs. Below — what is allowed by law, how to formalize work and how much you can realistically earn.
What the D visa allows
A student D visa with the purpose "studies at a public or accredited university" automatically grants the right to work. There is no need to request separate permits (as in Germany). Formally there are two regimes:
- Through an employment contract (DPP, DPČ or HPP) — without ŽL the limit is 300 hours per year with one employer under DPP (≈ 25 hours/month). With multiple employers you can multiply.
- Through ŽL (živnostenský list) — effectively self-employed. No hour limit — you can work as much as you manage between studies.
In practice most students combine: part-time work in a café or shop through DPP + tutoring or freelance through ŽL.
ŽL — živnostenský list
This is the Czech equivalent of self-employment / sole proprietorship — the status of a self-employed person with the right to issue invoices. It opens in 1 business day at the local Živnostenský úřad.
- Documents: passport, D visa, residence registration, completed JRF form.
- Opening cost: CZK 1,000 (about €40).
- Monthly obligations: social insurance — CZK 0 up to income of CZK 100,000/year for students under 26 (you are exempt), health insurance under ŽL — about CZK 2,700/month (but if you already have commercial insurance for the visa — consult an expert).
- Annual tax return: by 1 April of the following year, via the bank identity service or through a tax consultant.
Tip: if you plan to earn less than CZK 100,000/year — open only "volné živnosti" (free trades, e.g. "programming", "translations", "graphic design"); they do not require proof of qualifications.
Brigády — typical types and salaries
Brigáda is the Czech term for part-time work under DPP. Typical options for an international student:
- Cafés and restaurants (barista, waiter, dishwasher) — CZK 180–250/hour. Starbucks, Costa Coffee, local cafés. Tips add 20–40% on top.
- Retail (cashier, shelf-stocker at Albert, Lidl, Kaufland, Tesco) — CZK 170–220/hour. Flexible schedule.
- Courier (Wolt, Bolt Food, Foodora) — CZK 150–250/hour + tips. Through ŽL, flexible.
- Tutoring (Russian, English, math, programming) — CZK 300–500/hour. Through ŽL.
- IT internships (junior dev, QA, support) — CZK 250–500/hour gross. Under DPČ or half-time HPP.
- Call centers in your native language (support for the Russian-speaking market) — CZK 200–300/hour.
On average a 1st–2nd year student works 60–80 hours per month and earns CZK 15,000–25,000 (€600–1,000). This is enough to cover dormitory rent and food.
Job search sites
Where to look for part-time work:
- brigady.cz — the largest student brigáda site, plenty of offers from 1 day.
- jobs.cz — Czechia's main job portal, with a filter for students.
- prace.cz — alternative to jobs.cz, especially strong in regions.
- LinkedIn — for IT internships and office roles, English-speaking companies.
- Wolt Partners / Bolt Drivers — separate apps for couriers.
- Facebook groups (Práce v Praze, Brigády Praha) — sometimes the fastest offers from private employers.
Taxes for a student
Czechia is very friendly to student incomes. Key rules:
- Up to CZK 100,000/year under ŽL for students under 26 — exemption from social insurance.
- Up to CZK 11,500/month under DPP with one employer — no income tax withheld (the student deduction of CZK 30,840/year applies).
- Student tax credit — CZK 30,840 per year automatically reduces the tax base. For most students with part-time work this means actual tax of CZK 0.
- Tax return: by 1 April of the following year, if total annual income exceeded CZK 50,000. If less — no return required.
Combining with studies
Realistically combining studies and work is not for everyone. At technical faculties (ČVUT, VUT, VŠCHT) and medical ones (LF UK, LF MU) the workload is such that work is only possible on weekends. At humanities (FF UK), economics (VŠE) and management ones schedules are more flexible and you can work 20–30 hours per week.
The main risk is not financial but academic: failing to close the required credits by the end of the winter session. If you fail to close 60% of credits per semester — you lose student status, and with it the visa. So it is best to spend the first semester "in idle mode" — focused on studies without work, to understand the real workload.
After graduation
Work during studies is not just a way to earn money but also an investment in your career. Czech employers value local experience, and a student with 2–3 years of brigády finds it much easier to get a full-time offer right after graduation. In addition, after receiving the diploma you automatically get 9 months to find a job, and after employment — a Blue Card (for qualified professions) or a regular work permit; both lead to a residence permit after 2 years and citizenship after 10.