FAQ – Starting up

Tips and tricks for foreigners on how to start a business in the Czech Republic, how to get a trade license, and where to find trade license offices.

Do foreigners need to have a trade license to pursue business in the Czech Republic?

A foreigner intending to engage in a business activity in the Czech Republic is authorized to do so only with a duly issued trade license. In order to obtain such license, foreign entities (a natural person residing or a legal entity domiciled outside of the Czech Republic) must visit the local trade license office and declare a trade or apply for the issuance of a license.

Where to find addresses of trade license offices, and how to determine which one is relevant for me?

A list of trade license offices (points of single contact, PSCs) with their respective contact information is available on BusinessInfo.cz. Determining the relevant trade license office depends on the type of business entity.

The BusinessInfo.cz website also provides information on and instructions for public administration services and other useful links.

In case a foreign entity does not establish an organizational unit of its enterprise in the Czech Republic, the relevant trade license office is the one with local competence according to the place of the foreign entity’s permitted residence within the Czech Republic.

A foreign natural person establishing an organizational unit of its enterprise in the Czech Republic must declare a trade or apply for the issuance of a license at the trade license office with local competence according to the address of such organizational unit in the Czech Republic.

A foreign legal entity must declare a trade or apply for the issuance of a license at the trade license office with local competence according to the address of the organizational unit of the enterprise in the Czech Republic.

About BusinessInfo.cz

BusinessInfo.cz is an official state information portal for business and export. The project is managed by the CzechTrade Agency in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The project partners include ministries, agencies, non-governmental business institutions, chambers, and associations.

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