The Labour Office and unemployment benefit

If you lose your job, register with the Labour Office (Úřad práce) quickly. You may get unemployment benefit if you paid pension insurance for at least 12 months in the last two years. On an employee card or blue card, registering also keeps you in public health insurance for a limited time.

The Labour Office of the Czech Republic (Úřad práce ČR) keeps the register of job seekers, helps with finding work and pays unemployment benefit (podpora v nezaměstnanosti). You register at the branch for the area where you live. You can also apply online through the Ministry of Labour's JENDA portal if you have a data box, bank identity or another Czech digital identity.

You can only claim unemployment benefit together with registering as a job seeker. To qualify, you must have paid pension insurance for at least 12 months in the two years before you register, through a job or self-employment. If you apply within three working days after your job ends, the benefit is counted from the day the job ended. Otherwise it starts from the day you apply.

In 2026 the benefit is 80% of your previous average net earnings for the first two months and then lower. People aged 52 and over get it for longer (8 months, and 11 months from age 57). In August 2026 the government approved a proposal to lower the rates from January 2027, so check the current rules when you apply.

As a registered job seeker you must cooperate with the Labour Office, attend appointments and report changes within 8 calendar days. Any small job on the side must be reported before you start it.

Since 2024, holders of an employee card, blue card, student permit, researcher permit or intra-company transfer permit can register as job seekers and claim benefit. Other non-EU residents may only be able to register for advice, without benefit. Registration does not extend your residence permit. Benefit stops if your permit runs out.

Losing a job also affects your permit. On an employee card you must report a new job within 90 days of the old one ending. On a blue card you must report the end of the job within 3 working days. See the guide on changing jobs on a permit.

Employee card and blue card holders who are not EU citizens or permanent residents normally drop out of public health insurance when the job ends. If you register at the Labour Office, the state pays your public health insurance from the day you register until 90 days after your contract ended. Take your registration confirmation to your health insurer. Students on a student permit are not covered this way and need private insurance.

In Brno

Brno Expat Centre publishes up-to-date English explanations of the Labour Office rules for non-EU residents.

Step by step

1. Ask your employer for your confirmation of employment (zápočtový list).
2. Register at your local Labour Office branch, ideally within three working days of the job ending.
3. Apply for unemployment benefit at the same time.
4. Take your registration confirmation to your health insurer if you are on an employee card or blue card.
5. Report the job loss or new job to the Ministry of the Interior within your permit's deadline.
6. Keep all Labour Office appointments and report changes within 8 days.

Last checked 2026-11-11. Open this guide in the app to add the dates to your calendar.