The Czech Republic wants to tighten rules for Ukrainian refugees: what will change for people with temporary protection

To receive assistance, Ukrainians may be required to work or register with the employment service

The Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs has prepared a bill that provides for a significant tightening of conditions for Ukrainian refugees with temporary protection when receiving humanitarian assistance.

This is reported by Czech Radio.

What new requirements are proposed to be introduced

According to the document, adult recipients of humanitarian payments will have to:

officially work;

engage in entrepreneurial activity;
or be registered with the employment service.

In addition, a mandatory condition will be to stay in the Czech Republic for at least 16 days a month.

At the same time, the new rules will not apply to:

children;

students;
the elderly.

The Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs explains that the purpose of the changes is to ensure the “active participation” of recipients of assistance in providing for their own needs and prevent abuse of the social system.

Temporary protection may be canceled for leaving the Schengen area

The amendments also provide for tightening the conditions for obtaining a special long-term residence permit for refugees with temporary protection.

In particular:

applicants must not have tax debts;

in case of submitting false information, registration may be canceled.

Separately, the draft law proposes to terminate temporary protection for persons who have been outside the Schengen area for more than 30 days, as well as in cases of criminal or administrative expulsion.

The Czech Republic wants to change the rules for documents and car registration

Another proposed change is the termination of the issuance of travel documents and foreign passports to people with temporary protection.

Previously, this was allowed to Ukrainians who could not obtain documents through the state authorities of Ukraine.

The draft law also provides for:

the cancellation of privileges for confirming foreign education;

mandatory registration of cars with Ukrainian license plates in the Czech registry;
new rules for state payment of health insurance for people with serious illnesses.

To receive such support, it will be necessary to have an officially established degree of limitation of independence.

What the Czech government says

Czech Prime Minister Andríj Bábíš said that the government may consider the draft law as early as next week.

Interior Minister Lyubomir Metnár explained that the changes take into account the experience of recent years and the current security situation in Europe.

According to him, the goal is to establish clear rules for the stay of foreigners and create mechanisms to combat abuse of the system.

Human rights activists criticize the initiative

Director of the Refugee Assistance Organization Martin Rozumek called the proposed changes unnecessary and that they will create additional difficulties for Ukrainians.

According to him, Ukrainian refugees already pay taxes and contribute to the Czech economy, and statistics do not indicate an increased security threat from them.

He also stated that some of the innovations may contradict European law.

How many Ukrainians are in the Czech Republic

According to the Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs, as of February 2026, almost 400 thousand Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection status are officially in the country.