Czech Republic tightens rules for Ukrainians with temporary protection: what may change

Government prepares new conditions for assistance, residence and registration

In the Czech Republic, the government is to consider legislative changes in the near future that will affect Ukrainians with temporary protection. These include new rules for receiving humanitarian assistance, staying outside the Schengen area, special long-term residence and vehicle registration.

This is reported by the Czech publication iDNES.

Temporary protection may be canceled due to prolonged stay outside the Schengen area

The Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs explains this by the loss of connection with the country

One of the key innovations concerns the stay of Ukrainians outside the Schengen area. According to the proposed changes, temporary protection may be terminated for people who will be outside the Schengen area for more than 30 days.

The Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs explains: in such cases, the state may consider that the person no longer plans to return to the Czech Republic or other Schengen countries.

At the same time, short-term trips abroad — to visit relatives or for private business — will remain possible without automatic loss of status or assistance.

New requirements for receiving humanitarian assistance
Ukrainians must work or be registered with the employment service

The draft law also provides for changes to the system of humanitarian payments for Ukrainians with temporary protection.

The right to assistance is planned to be reserved only for those citizens who:

are officially employed;

are engaged in entrepreneurial activity;

or are registered with the Czech employment service — Úřad práce.

In addition, a person must be physically present in the Czech Republic for at least 16 days in the month for which the assistance is accrued.

At the same time, these requirements are not planned to be applied to children, students and the elderly.

The Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs explains: the new rules are intended to prevent possible abuse of the humanitarian payment system.

Conditions for special long-term residence are changing
The absence of tax debts will be added to the criteria

Some changes concern the special long-term residence permit, which gives Ukrainians a more stable status in the Czech Republic.

The government wants to add another one to the already existing requirements – the absence of tax debts.

Previously, the Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasized that only economically independent, socially integrated applicants who have their own housing and do not violate the law can receive such status.

According to the Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs, this year about 56.5 thousand people expressed interest in special long-term residence.

Registration may be canceled for false data
The Czech Republic plans to strengthen control over biometric verification

The document also provides for changes to the rules for registration and biometric verification.

If the applicant submits false information or incorrect data, his registration may be canceled.

In addition, the Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs no longer plans to issue temporary travel permits or foreign passports to Ukrainians with temporary protection, which were previously issued in exceptional cases.

Ukrainian cars will have to be registered in the Czech Republic from 2028
New rules are being introduced for cars with Ukrainian license plates

Another part of the bill concerns vehicles with Ukrainian registration.

From January 2027, such cars will be able to be officially entered into the Czech vehicle register.

And from January 2028, the operation of cars with Ukrainian license plates without Czech registration should become impossible.

New initiatives criticized in the Czech Republic
Human rights activists remind of the contribution of Ukrainians to the economy

As of the end of May, about 386 thousand people with temporary protection were registered in the Czech Republic.

Martin Rozumek, Director of the Refugee Assistance Organization, criticized the proposed changes, calling them excessive.

In his opinion, Ukrainian refugees already make a significant contribution to the Czech economy through taxes, employment, and social contributions.