In a surprise Sunday announcement, the Czech cabinet confirmed that it will not join the United-Nations Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš told reporters that the non-binding pact “defines migration as a basic human right” and could undermine the country’s ability to set its own admission rules. The decision makes Czechia the latest EU member—after Hungary and Austria—to abandon the accord, which is due to be endorsed at a ministerial conference in Marrakech on 10–11 December 2025.
Although the compact has no enforcement mechanism, Prague’s move is politically significant. Babiš leads a coalition that campaigned on tighter borders and argues that Brussels is over-reaching on migration. By rejecting the pact, the government distances itself from EU partners that continue to support the agreement and signals that it will pursue a more unilateral approach to labour and humanitarian admissions.
![Czech Government Formally Rejects UN Global Migration Pact]()
From a business-mobility perspective, the message is mixed. On the one hand, multinationals that rely on intra-company transfers and highly-skilled third-country talent do not expect immediate procedural changes; Czech work-permit channels remain governed by domestic law and EU directives. On the other hand, the political rhetoric could translate into lengthier security reviews or additional documentary checks, especially for applicants from regions that Czech authorities consider “riskier.” Employers should therefore budget extra lead-time for new hires in 2026.
Legal practitioners note that the government must still transpose recent EU asylum reforms, including accelerated screening and return procedures. That legislative package is working its way through Parliament and could add new compliance layers for corporations that sponsor foreign assignees. Companies are advised to monitor the Interior Ministry’s implementing decrees, expected in Q1 2026, and to update mobility policies accordingly.
Finally, Czechia’s decision may influence neighbouring Visegrád countries, which often coordinate migration stances. If Poland or Slovakia follow suit, intra-Schengen dynamics could become more complex, potentially affecting the consistency of border-control practices across Central Europe.
Although the compact has no enforcement mechanism, Prague’s move is politically significant. Babiš leads a coalition that campaigned on tighter borders and argues that Brussels is over-reaching on migration. By rejecting the pact, the government distances itself from EU partners that continue to support the agreement and signals that it will pursue a more unilateral approach to labour and humanitarian admissions.
From a business-mobility perspective, the message is mixed. On the one hand, multinationals that rely on intra-company transfers and highly-skilled third-country talent do not expect immediate procedural changes; Czech work-permit channels remain governed by domestic law and EU directives. On the other hand, the political rhetoric could translate into lengthier security reviews or additional documentary checks, especially for applicants from regions that Czech authorities consider “riskier.” Employers should therefore budget extra lead-time for new hires in 2026.
Legal practitioners note that the government must still transpose recent EU asylum reforms, including accelerated screening and return procedures. That legislative package is working its way through Parliament and could add new compliance layers for corporations that sponsor foreign assignees. Companies are advised to monitor the Interior Ministry’s implementing decrees, expected in Q1 2026, and to update mobility policies accordingly.
Finally, Czechia’s decision may influence neighbouring Visegrád countries, which often coordinate migration stances. If Poland or Slovakia follow suit, intra-Schengen dynamics could become more complex, potentially affecting the consistency of border-control practices across Central Europe.
