Cross-border workers (so called pendlers) working on the territory of the Czech

Republic, Germany, Poland, Austria or Slovakia – complex information valid

from April 14th, 0:00

Cross-border workers (so called pendlers) are characterized by the fact that their permanent
residence is in one state, while their employment contract in another and, therefore, they
cross state borders in order to commute to work. This only includes Czech and EU citizens.

Pendlers are divided into three (new!) main categories:

Group A) Pendlers – workers in healthcare, social services, workers of the basic

integrated rescue system services, critical infrastructure subjects - this applies for
crossing the state borders with the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Slovakia and
Germany

 Same rules apply to pendlers from the Czech Republic commuting to work in the
neighbouring states and foreign pendlers coming to work in the Czech Republic
(different scope of documents in needed).

This includes specific professions or specific subjects. This category includes also workers of
critical infrastructure subjects, including especially workers of chemical and pharmaceutical
operations related to the fight against the epidemic. It must be a regular work performance in
a concrete subject in any employment position. Pay attention – for external service and
repair of critical infrastructure see an individual category of Workers of Service of Critical
Infrastructure.

Critical infrastructure is an element of critical infrastructure or a system of elements of critical

infrastructure, of whose disruption would have a serious impact on the state security,
securing basic living needs of population, health of persons or the state economy.
Therefore, the company cannot freely decide whether it is a part of critical
infrastructure.

Basic IRS bodies consist of Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic, fire units that have
been included in the programme of fire brigade regional coverage, Medical Rescue Service
and Police of the Czech Republic – in parallel, the same bodies in Austria, Germany, Poland
and Slovakia.

The following applies to persons in category A:

 The obligation of two-week tours does not apply – these persons can commute every
day or e.g. from Monday to Friday, or else.
 They are not subject to 14-day ordered mandatory quarantine upon entering the
Czech territory. However, in case their turn exceeds 14 days, this obligation
does apply to them. The frequency of entries and exits will be monitored at border
crossings by the Police. It is recommended not to travel with family members as they
would have to stay in quarantine upon return; the neighbouring countries have strict
immigration rules and family members might not be let in.
 They do not have to work within 100 km from the state border. In case they travel
further than 100 km from the border, they must only use the main border crossing

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 with the 24/7 regime for their journey. Pendlers who travel less than 100 km from the
state border may continue to use the so-called pendlers’ crossings as well (open from
5:00 to 23:00). A person that does not travel in the “pendler regime” cannot use
the pendler’s crossings.

Other obligations:
- Stricter prohibition of free movement within the territory of CZ, with the
exception of travel to work, necessary travels for the provision of basic
necessities, travel to the doctor, travel for the purpose of urgent official affairs,
travel back to the place of residence, funerals;
- Obligation to cover mouth and nose (face mask, scarf, etc.) on the territory of the
Czech Republic;
- Obligation to minimalize direct personal contact with on foreign territory.

The following is required:

 Confirmation for cross-border workers in health care, social services, IRS and
critical infrastructure subject (a special form can be found at the MoI website)
 In case of traveling from CZ to a neighbouring country for less than 14 days – a
diplomatic note from the destination country embassy – it is sufficient to carry
a copy of the document! (e.g. a person traveling to Austria will need a note from the
Austrian Embassy in Prague). The diplomatic note shall confirm that th e purpose of
travel complies with the exceptions to the prohibition of free movement within
the Czech territory and that precautionary measures against the spread of the
coronavirus have been taken in the place of work. Embassies of German,
Austria, Slovakia and Poland all have a template of this note, which shall be
issued upon request from individual employers from the corresponding
neighbouring state. Only one diplomatic note is needed – i.e. not one for each
journey.

Attention: from April 14th 2020, in addition to the confirmation for cross-border
workers in healthcare, social services and IRS, it is also necessary to have a
diplomatic note issued by the destination country embassy (this applies to
pendlers traveling from the Czech territory). The relevant embassy shall issue the
note upon an employer’s request.

Attention: frequency of cross-border movement and potential quarantine (especially

in Poland and Slovakia) can be considerably influenced by measures taken by
Poland and Slovakia.

Groub B) Pendlers – cross-border workers who regularly and for the purpose of work
performance in a neighbouring state, cross the state borders from the Czech Republic
(outwards) to Germany, Austria, Slovakia or Poland

Cross-border workers (so called pendlers) are characterized by the fact that their permanent
residence is in the Czech Republic (Czech or EU citizens), while their employment contract

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in a neighbouring state and, therefore, they cross the state border to commute to work (e.g. a
person living in CZ who commutes to work in Germany).

The following applies to persons in category A:

 They must travel (pendle) exclusively in tours, each tour must be at least 14
calendar days long;
 They do not have to work within 100 km from the state border. In case they travel
further than 100 km from the border, they must only use the main border crossing
with the 24/7 regime for their journey. Pendlers who travel less than 100 km from the
state border may continue to use the so-called pendlers’ crossings as well (open from
5:00 to 23:00). A person that does not travel in the “pendler regime” cannot use
the pendler’s crossings.

Other obligations:
 Upon each return from the tour they must report this fact immediately after their entry
to the Czech Republic, by telephone or other remote access, to regional public health
office according to their place of residence and undergo a 14-day ordered
mandatory quarantine, after which they can leave for another tour for 14 days or
longer.
 The 2+2 regime applies – at least 2 weeks abroad with a 2 week quarantine after
returning. Breach of the 2+2 regime will result in the loss of the pendler status and
thus the possibility to use pendlers’ crossings. From then on, such person could only
travel outside the pendlers status – i.e. use the main border crossings. It is necessary
to undergo mandatory quarantine after each return.

The following is required:

 To follow the 2+2 regime – the Police keeps a record of the dates of entry and exit!
 To carry the confirmation form for cross-border workers (new template is available
at the MoI website; the old template of the confirmation is still valid)
 A document proving the completion of quarantine (for the purpose of subsequent
travel out of the Czech territory) – this is a decision issued by the regional public
health office.

Accommodation:
 Accommodation in neighbouring countries is not provided by state authorities of the
Czech Republic; it shall be provided by an employer or other subject.

Attention: cross-border movement can be considerably influenced by measures

taken by Poland and Slovakia.

Group C) Pendlers – cross-border workers crossing the border to the Czech Republic
(inwards) from Germany, Austria, Slovakia or Poland

Cross-border workers (so called pendlers) are characterized by the fact that their permanent
residence is a neighbouring state (Czech or EU citizens), while their employment contract in

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the Czech Republic and, therefore, they cross the state border to commute to work (e.g. a
person living in Germany who commutes to work in CZ).

The following applies to persons in category C:

 They must travel (pendle) exclusively in tours, each tour must be at least 14
calendar days long;
 They do not have to work within 100 km from the state border. In case they travel
further than 100 km from the border, they must only use the main border crossing
with the 24/7 regime for their journey. Pendlers who travel less than 100 km from the
state border may continue to use the so-called pendlers’ crossings as well (open from
5:00 to 23:00). A person that does not travel in the “pendler regime” cannot use
the pendler’s crossings.

The following applies to everyone:

 Before starting the tour (before they start working in CZ) they must report this fact
immediately after their entry to the Czech Republic, by telephone or other
remote access, to regional public health office according to their place of residence
and undergo a 14-day ordered mandatory quarantine, after which they can
start working and, after 14 days or longer they can return home. That means, if the
person is supposed to work in the Czech Republic for 14 days, their total stay in
the Czech Republic will be extended by 14-day quarantine.
 The 2+2 regime applies – 2 weeks in quarantine after entering the Czech territory
followed by at least 2 weeks of work in the Czech Republic. Breach of the 2+2
regime will result in the loss of the pendler status and thus the possibility to use
pendlers’ crossings.

The following is required:

 To follow the 2+2 regime – the Police keeps a record of the dates of entry and exit!
 To carry the confirmation form for cross-border workers (new template is available
at the MoI website; the old template of the confirmation is still valid)
 A document proving the completion of quarantine (for the purpose of subsequent
travel out of the Czech territory) – this is a decision issued by the regional public
health office.

Accommodation:
 Accommodation in the Czech Republic is not provided by state authorities of the
Czech Republic; it shall be provided by an employer or other subject.
 Accommodation of foreigners in the Czech Republic is exempted from the prohibition
of sales of accommodation services, i.e. a foreigner can still be accommodated on
the territory of the Czech Republic (Government Resolution no. 438 of March 30th
2020).

Counting of the cycle – categories B and C:

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 - The Government Resolution is valid from April 14 th, 0:00, therefore everyone
arriving from this day on must undergo mandatory quarantine. However, from
April 14th, the Police will not monitor whether a person has completed the 21-
day cycle for workers traveling to Germany or Austria
- The obligatory 14-dady cycle applies to travels from CZ for work in the pendler
mode from from April 14th, 0:00 (as well as to those traveling to CZ);
- 14-day quarantine – the regional public health office decides – the date
specified in the decision shall prevail.

Permitted interruption of the tour’s length – quarantine will apply!:

- The 14-day tour can be interrupted due to health reasons, especially due to
illness (must be confirmed by a sick note) or due to care for a family member
(must be confirmed by a document proving family member care). HOWEVER
the early return to CZ, Germany or Austria must be followed by 14-day
ordered mandatory quarantine before the new 14-day tour can be resumed.
- The 14-day tour can be interrupted due to an urgent medical visit or medical
treatment in the home country. HOWEVER, this must be supported by a
confirmation issued by a doctor / hospital. This is a one-time return to the
home country and the tour continues; the day of absence counts for the 14-
day tour. Please beware the urgency of the travel must be supported
convincingly.
- WARNING: a vacation is not a permitted reason for interrupting the tour’s
length and must therefore take place after the 14-day tour has elapsed, in
order not to lose the pendler status by early return.

Circumvention of rules:
 We warn against the circumvention of the rules, the Police will monitor each entry and
exit of pendlers
 The most common way of circumvention is through a confirmation for critical
infrastructure service workers; critical infrastructure service workers travel on a one-
time basis, not regularly, and their employer is not in another country (only a
contract); most importantly they must have a specific diplomatic note issued
by an embassy – see detailed information on MoI website.

Other obligations for all groups A) to C):

 the obligation to undergo a health check at the borders upon entry,
 the obligation to wear a protection of mouth and nose (face mask, scarf, etc.) on the
Czech territory,
 the obligation to minimalize direct contact on foreign territory.

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