Czech Republic
Free access to the Czech Labour Market for Citizens of Selected Countries is Extended to Citizens of Taiwan
Effective 1 March 2025, a government decree has introduced free access to the Czech labour market for citizens of Taiwan. Taiwanese citizens who wish to be employed in Czechia are no longer required to obtain a work permit, but only a residence permit.
Background
On 1 July 2024, a government regulation entered into force, introducing free entry to the Czech labour market for citizens of the following nine countries: Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States. Taiwan has now been added to this list.
Those planning to work in Czechia for up to three months must obtain a Schengen visa for employment purposes. Visa-free entry does not permit work. If the work period is extended beyond three months, the visa holder must exit Czechia and apply for a long-term residence permit at a Czech embassy abroad.
Those planning to work in Czechia for more than three months must apply for a so-called non-dual employee card at any Czech embassy. This type of employment card can be issued for a job that the employer has not reported to the Labour Office and is not included in the central register of vacant jobs that can be filled by holders of the employment card. The cardholder is then entitled to change jobs freely (and additionally notify the Ministry of the Interior of the change within three days).
A highly qualified foreign national can apply for a blue card, which includes benefits for the purposes of mobility within the EU, family reunification or social security. However, this card can only be issued for a vacancy announced to the Labour Office and included in the relevant central records, and the rules for its issuance therefore do not change for citizens of the selected countries with free access to the labour market.
A citizen of an eligible country who is to be temporarily transferred to Czechia as a manager, specialist or graduate-intern within the framework of a multinational business corporation for a period longer than three months should apply for an intra-company transfer employee card.
Free access to the labour market, without a work permit, will also apply to eligible foreign nationals who are sent by their foreign employer to a Czech client to perform work on the basis of a contract. The same approach will be applied in the case of eligible foreign nationals who have so far been able to enter the Czech labour market within the framework of closed memoranda and work leave programs, but who nevertheless had to apply for a work permit for this purpose.
Sweden
Residence and work permit applications now available in Pakistan
On 9 April 2025, the Swedish Migration Agency resumed its residence and work permit activities in Pakistan. Applicants needing to submit biometric data, have their passport checked or be interviewed after submitting an application can once again do so at the embassy of Sweden in Islamabad.
The previous requirement to travel to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia has been withdrawn.
This applies to Pakistani citizens and individuals with resident status in Pakistan who have been instructed by the Swedish Migration Agency to contact a Swedish embassy for an interview, passport check and/or to be fingerprinted and photographed.
This does not apply to those who are applying for a Schengen visa to visit Sweden for a short stay. Those who want to submit an application for a Schengen visa for a short visit to Sweden of up to 90 days are still required to submit their application to VFS Global in Bangkok, Yangon, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Cebu, Jakarta, Bali, Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Tokyo or Seoul.
Once an application has been submitted to VFS Global, it will be sent to the embassy of Sweden in Bangkok for processing and a decision.
