The Czech Republic will no longer require Taiwanese nationals to obtain a work permit to be employed in the country beginning next year, a move that marks a significant shift in the country’s labor policies.

Czech media outlet Novinky.cz reported Thursday that, starting in January, Taiwan will be added to the list of countries whose citizens can work in the Czech Republic without needing a blue card, employee card, or work permit. This means Taiwanese citizens will be able to seek employment in the country without the previous bureaucratic hurdles.

This decision follows an earlier announcement that, beginning in July, citizens from nine non-EU countries — Australia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Israel, and Singapore — would be able to work in the Czech Republic without a work permit.

Taiwan was initially excluded from this list due to the Czech Republic’s position of not officially recognizing Taiwan as an "independent state." However, the Czech government recently amended its employment laws to include "independent jurisdictions" in this category, allowing Taiwanese nationals the same work rights as citizens from other countries.

The amendment, which was approved by the Czech Senate last week, is expected to come into effect in January 2024. The Czech Ministry of Labor has indicated that this change will reduce administrative burdens on employers and streamline the process for foreign nationals to enter the Czech labor market.

While the proposal still requires approval from the cabinet, the ministry has expressed confidence that the measure will face little resistance, given the broad support for similar regulations introduced earlier this year.

This policy shift is expected to enhance labor mobility and attract skilled professionals from Taiwan to the Czech Republic, further strengthening the country’s ties with the island nation.