What is changing?

A recent statement from the Ministry of Health (ref. no. MZDR 32731/2025-1/DZP) explains that the employee card is a long-term residence permit that is based on the European Directive on the single permit (2011/98/EU). This directive guarantees foreign nationals the same social security rights as nationals of a Member State, including the right to unemployment benefits. Therefore, the conditions of public health insurance for holders of employee cards must be set in a non-discriminatory manner, as well as for citizens of the Czech Republic, regardless of whether the card is dual or non-dual. It is important to note here that this directive does not apply to third-country nationals who are seconded.

The Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals, No. 326/1999 Coll., distinguishes between two forms of employee card:

• Dual Card: Includes both residence and employment permits.
• Non-dual card: It is used only for legal residence for the purpose of work, while the work permit depends on another legal title (most often free access to the labour market under Section 98 of Act No. 435/2004 Coll., on Employment). This group includes, for example, students who are studying in the Czech Republic or who have successfully completed their studies here.

If a foreigner who holds a dual employee card terminates their employment, they have 90 days to find a new employer or apply for another type of residence permit. During this protection period, he was and continues to be entitled to be registered with the local employment office in the register of jobseekers, to receive unemployment benefits if he meets the legal conditions, and at the same time to remain in the public health system. During this period, the state pays insurance premiums for foreigners.

The same options were available to holders of non-dual employee cards, except that they could not stay in the public health system and had to pay for insurance themselves during their unemployment. This approach has now been modified by the Ministry of Health, and since January, even holders of non-dual employee cards who have also worked in the Czech Republic on the basis of a locally concluded employment contract are entitled to be included in public health insurance paid by the state during their temporary unemployment.

Health insurance companies will newly issue these holders with a replacement insurance document, which will be valid for these 90 days. If the employee card holder does not find a new job within this period, he or she may, under certain conditions, apply for an extension of insurance individually.

What do employee card holders have to do?

Employee card holders who will be affected by this change do not have to take any complicated steps. After the termination of employment, it is crucial to register with the employment office as a job seeker so that they can be included in the 90-day health insurance paid for by the state.

This change brings greater equality in access to public health insurance for locally employed holders of non-dual employee cards. They are now entitled to state-funded insurance even during temporary unemployment, which strengthens their social protection.