Czech Lobbying Act: Mandatory Register, Obligations and How to Comply

If your company promotes its interests before public authorities, you need to know that the Czech Republic operates a mandatory lobbyists register. This article explains how to turn registration under the Czech Lobbying Act into an advantage—transparent lobbying builds trust and protects you against risks. You will learn what obligations apply to you and how to register.

Quick summary

• New legislation: The Lobbying Act introduced rules for transparent advocacy of interests and a mandatory central register of lobbyists and lobbied persons administered.
• Registration obligation: If your company systematically influences legislation or decision-making by selected public authorities in the Czech Republic, you must register in the central register before you begin any lobbying activity.
• Transparency as a competitive advantage: A registered lobbyist with a public record offers greater credibility, minimises legal risks, and builds a positive company image with decision-makers and the public.
• Sanctions for breaches: Lobbying without registration may result in a fine for a legal entity of up to  or up to CZK 1 million; providing false information may also lead to significant sanctions or a ban on activity.
• New legislation: The Lobbying Act introduced rules for transparent advocacy of interests and a mandatory central register of lobbyists and lobbied persons administered.

Lobbying Act – what has changed and why it matters

In the Czech Republic, the Lobbying Act is in force and regulates lobbying activities in detail. This is no coincidence—the Czech legislation has moved closer to European Union standards and responded to long-standing demand for transparency. For your business, this means a change in the rules of the game.

The Act defines lobbying as systematic influencing of the conduct or decision-making of a public official in the preparation and adoption of legislation. The key word here is “systematic”—an occasional or one-off contact is generally not considered lobbying, but repeated communication aimed at influencing legislation is.

This is an important line you need to understand. Practically speaking, if lobbying is part of your company’s activities—whether you do it in-house or hire agencies—you are required to be entered in the register.

Our Czech legal team at ARROWS advokátní kancelář deals with this topic daily and can explain in detail whether your specific activities fall under the Act under Czech law.

Lobbying without registration – what could be your mistake

Many companies believe that “lobbying” is only something large multinational corporations do and that it does not concern them. In reality, however, the definition of lobbying may also cover the activities of intermediaries, commercial agencies, associations, or professional bodies.

If, for example, your company advocates for a change in tax rules, you become a lobbyist. If you do so without registration, you risk a fine which, for legal entities, can reach up to 3% of net turnover.

The risk is real: the Ministry of Justice (Czech Republic) carries out supervision, and the public or competitors may submit a motion for review. In practice, we see competitors specifically pointing out breaches of registration obligations. Timely registration helps you avoid this.

Legislative footprint – a new control mechanism

The Act introduced the so-called lobbying footprint. This is a mechanism that makes it clear who contributed to drafting a legal regulation and in what way. Information about lobbying is reflected in the explanatory reports accompanying draft laws.

This means your influence on legislation is not hidden but visible. If your company is registered and acts transparently, being named in connection with the legislative process is legitimate. Our attorneys in Prague at ARROWS advokátní kancelář routinely set lobbying strategy so that it remains transparent under Czech legislation.

Register structure – how to navigate it

The central register of lobbyists and lobbied persons is administered by the Ministry of Justice (Czech Republic) and is publicly accessible. The system contains information about lobbyists, the natural persons who lobby on their behalf, their clients, and lobbying reports. It is essentially a public directory.

Every six months, you must submit a so-called lobbying report summarising your activities over the previous six months. The deadlines are by the end of the month following the end of the half-year period—typically by 31 January and 31 July. It is an administrative obligation, but with properly set processes it becomes routine.

Our attorneys in Prague and specialists at ARROWS advokátní kancelář can handle the complete register administration and the management of reports. This means you would not have to worry about missed deadlines, incomplete data, or sanctions for submitting inaccurate information.

What information you must provide during registration

When registering, you provide your name or company name, contact details, identification number, and other particulars required by law. If you lobby for other entities, you will state their identification. You will also list the natural persons who actually carry out the lobbying.

The authorisation to lobby arises only at the moment of entry in the register—before that, you must not carry out regulated lobbying activities. Each registered person accesses the register via electronic identification means.

In practice, it is more complicated than it sounds. Many companies are unsure whether their activities constitute lobbying or not. 

Lobbyist vs. natural persons carrying out lobbying

It is necessary to distinguish the terms. A lobbyist is an entity (a natural or legal person) that systematically lobbies and is entered in the register. If the lobbyist is a legal entity, the actual lobbying is carried out by specific natural persons.

These persons must be listed in the register in connection with the lobbyist. A condition for registering a natural person who lobbies is their integrity (clean criminal record), which the Ministry of Justice verifies in the Criminal Register (Czech Republic).

Related questions about the register of lobbyists

1. What happens if someone acts on my behalf who is not listed in the register?
If a lobbyist (company) has someone act on its behalf who is not entered in the register as a person authorised to lobby, it commits an administrative offence under Czech law. A fine of up to CZK 1 million (or a percentage of turnover) may be imposed. Our attorneys in Prague at ARROWS advokátní kancelář can help ensure that all relevant persons are recorded correctly and in time.

2. How many people in my company must I list?
You must list every natural person who, on behalf of your company, actually carries out lobbying towards public officials.

3. Can I lobby as a natural person on my own behalf?
Yes, natural persons can register as lobbyists. The conditions are full legal capacity and integrity (clean criminal record).

Practical obligations of a lobbyist – what you must do

Once you register, you are obliged to comply with the Act. The most important obligations are: notifying the lobbied person, ensuring the truthfulness of information, and submitting reports.

Identify yourself at the outset – the duty to disclose lobbying activity

Before initiating a lobbying contact, you must inform the lobbied person (e.g., an MP or a minister) that you are a lobbyist and whose interests you are representing. The Act requires you to state whom you represent. If you are lobbying in your own interest, you must state that as well.

The reason is transparency – the politician must know who they are dealing with. If you fail to comply with this duty, you commit an administrative offence under Czech law. In practice, it is best to include this information right at the beginning of the meeting or in written communication requesting an appointment.

Mandatory lobbying reports – what must be reported and when

Twice a year, you must file a lobbying report via the register. The report includes information on whom you lobbied, on what matter (which piece of legislation or document was the target), and in whose interest.

The specific filing deadlines are 31 January and 31 July. If you do not submit the report on time, the Ministry will call on you to remedy the situation. If you still fail to comply, you face a significant fine.

In reality, this is administratively demanding, especially if you have complex lobbying activity focused on multiple laws in the Czech Republic. ARROWS advokátní kancelář routinely handles exactly this type of administration for its clients – we prepare the supporting documents, review them, and ensure timely filing.

Changes of details and termination of authorisation

If the details entered in the register change (e.g., a change of registered office or a change of persons carrying out lobbying), you must submit a request to amend the entry without undue delay.

If you cease to meet the conditions (e.g., loss of integrity for an individual), the authorisation to lobby terminates, or the relevant person must be removed. 

Related questions on a lobbyist’s obligations

1. Do I have to report unsuccessful lobbying as well?
Yes, the lobbying report includes information on lobbying contacts regardless of the outcome. What matters is the attempt to influence decision-making, not the final success.

2. Do I have to report contacts within the consultation procedure?
The standard submission of comments within the legislative process (e.g., in the inter-ministerial consultation procedure) is not considered lobbying in the narrower sense under Czech law if it follows the standard procedural route. However, the boundary is thin and depends on the form of communication.

Risks and sanctions – what you face if you act unlawfully

The Czech Lobbying Act contains a system of sanctions. These can be substantial, especially for legal entities, where they are linked to turnover.

How to approach lobbying strategically and transparently

If you want to lobby lawfully and without unnecessary risks in the Czech Republic, it is not enough just to register. You must approach the matter strategically. This means clarifying what you want to achieve, which politicians or officials need to be approached, and at what stage of the legislative process.

Selecting the topic and objectives

The Act applies to lobbying in the preparation, discussion, and adoption of legislation and policy documents of the Czech Republic. Do not forget that lobbying is regulated primarily at the central level.

The Act defines the circle of lobbied persons. Communication with local self-government (municipalities, regions) within their independent competence generally does not fall under this Act, unless it involves influencing nationwide legislation through these bodies.

Selecting lobbied persons

You may lobby under the Act only in relation to so-called lobbied persons. The list of these positions is exhaustive. It includes, for example, an MP, a senator, a member of the Government, the head of a central administrative authority, or a state secretary.

An important practical point: The Act does not apply to communication with persons who are not listed as lobbied persons, for example rank-and-file officials. However, strategic lobbying often targets decision-makers directly, where the obligations apply in full under Czech legislation.

Stages of the legislative process and timing

Lobbying is most effective if you intervene in the preparatory phase of legislation – i.e., before a bill is submitted to Parliament. At that point, it is still possible to influence the content itself.

The attorneys at ARROWS advokátní kancelář commonly help clients with monitoring the legislative process in the Czech Republic – we will identify what stage the draft law is at and when it is best to intervene.

Ethics and the boundary between lobbying and corruption

A very important boundary: lobbying is the legitimate promotion of interests, whereas corruption is unlawful conduct. The Czech Lobbying Act clarifies this boundary by introducing public oversight. If you comply with the record-keeping obligations, you protect yourself against accusations of corruption.

How to register – step-by-step

The practical steps are as follows:

• Submitting an application: The application for entry in the register is submitted electronically to the Ministry of Justice on the prescribed form.
• Proving integrity: For individuals who are to lobby, the Ministry typically obtains an extract from the Criminal Register itself.
• Entry: If you meet the conditions, the Ministry will enter you in the register and notify you accordingly.
• Access credentials: You will receive access to the register’s user interface for managing details and submitting reports.

The attorneys at ARROWS advokátní kancelář can take over the process under a power of attorney and ensure that the registration is error-free.

Updating and maintaining the register

You must continuously monitor whether any changes have occurred that you must report. For example, if an employee who was reported as a lobbying person leaves, you must remove them from the register.

Positive aspects of regulation – why transparent lobbying is an advantage

Lobbying regulation is not only a restriction. On the contrary, it has a number of benefits for your company:

• Legitimisation of activity: Transparent lobbying confirms that your company has an interest in legislation and promotes it through lawful channels under Czech law.
• Reputation protection: If you have all data recorded and reported, you reduce the risk of media scandal.
• Professionalisation: Registration puts you in the position of a professional partner for discussions with the state.

Conclusion of the article

The Lobbying Act is a tool that separates legitimate advocacy of interests from non-transparent practices. For companies that promote their interests openly, it is an opportunity to professionalise their relations with the state authorities in the Czech Republic.

The essence is: if your company engages in lobbying in the Czech Republic, you must register, submit reports, and act transparently. The Czech legal team at ARROWS, a Prague-based law firm, deals with lobbying, registration, and compliance in this area on a daily basis and can ensure the entire process runs smoothly.

If you want to set up your lobbying strategies correctly, or if you are not sure whether your activities fall under the Act, contact the attorneys at ARROWS advokátní kancelář at office@arws.cz.

FAQ – Most common legal questions on lobbying regulation

1. If I am a small company and only occasionally meet with politicians, do I have to register?
The decisive factor is whether the activity is carried out on an ongoing basis. If you act repeatedly and systematically with the aim of influencing legislation or policy/strategic documents, the obligation will likely apply to you. A one-off meeting is generally not considered lobbying. 

2. What happens if I register and then find out that I am not actually lobbying?
You can file an application to be removed from the register. If you do not carry out any lobbying activity in the relevant period, you submit a so-called negative report (stating that you did not lobby).

3. If I am an employee of a company and I lobby on its behalf, who registers?
The company (your employer) registers as the lobbyist. You must be listed in the register as the natural person acting on behalf of the lobbyist. The company is responsible for the accuracy of the information.

4. Is legal advice lobbying?
Legal representation or advice in itself is not lobbying. However, if a lawyer, beyond legal representation, communicates with politicians on an ongoing basis with the aim of changing legislation to the client’s benefit, this may constitute lobbying. The line can be thin and requires an assessment of the specific activities.

5. How high are the fines?
For legal entities, the fine may reach up to 3% of net turnover for the last closed accounting period. If turnover cannot be determined, or in the case of a natural person or other specific situations, the upper limit is set as a fixed amount (typically up to CZK 1 million for serious offences, such as unauthorised lobbying without registration).

6. What if I hire a PR agency?
The agency must register as a lobbyist. You will be listed in the register as its client. It is important to address the agency’s obligations contractually so that its conduct does not damage your name. We can help you set up the contract with the agency so that you are protected. Write to office@arws.cz.

Notice: The information contained in this article is of a general informational nature only and is intended for basic guidance on the topic. Although we strive for maximum accuracy, legal regulations and their interpretation evolve over time. To verify the current wording of the regulations and their application to your specific situation, it is therefore necessary to contact ARROWS advokátní kancelář directly (office@arws.cz). We accept no liability for any damages or complications arising from the independent use of the information in this article without our prior individual legal consultation and professional assessment. Each case requires a tailored solution, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

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