Two markets, one region
Prague and Bratislava sit less than an hour apart by train, and it's common to see companies with dual offices — or engineers who commute between the two. Both countries have strong engineering, fintech, and cybersecurity sectors, plus a growing base of international R&D centers.
Work permits and the EU Blue Card
Both Czechia and Slovakia are EU members, so EU citizens can work freely. Non-EU candidates typically go through an Employee Card (Czechia) or a comparable national permit (Slovakia), or the EU Blue Card for higher-earning specialist roles. Processing generally runs a few weeks to a few months depending on the applicant's home country and the permit type.
Day-to-day life
Both Prague and Bratislava offer efficient public transit, walkable city centers, and a lower cost of living than most Western European capitals. Brno, Czechia's second city, has become a notable secondary hub for engineering teams, often with a lower cost of living than Prague.