The Czech government has taken a decisive step to give Ukrainian refugees greater security – and to relieve overburdened migration offices – by launching a brand-new “special long-term residence” card that will replace the annual Temporary Protection sticker many Ukrainians have been renewing since March 2022.
Under a ministerial notice published on 26 November, eligible applicants will be able to exchange their current permit for a biometric card valid for five years, starting 15 December 2025. To qualify, Ukrainians must prove untaxed annual income of at least CZK 440,000 (≈ €18,000) plus CZK 110,000 for every dependent, present a lease or property deed covering the full five-year term, and submit an apostilled police-clearance certificate. The Interior Ministry argues that the tougher financial test will encourage economic self-sufficiency while still offering a clear path to stability for tens of thousands of refugees who have integrated into the Czech labour market.
![Czech Interior Ministry introduces 5-year biometric residence card for Ukrainians on Temporary Protection]()
For employers, the move is a major administrative win. Companies have complained that renewing Temporary Protection every 12 months created “permit cliffs”, forcing HR teams to track hundreds of expiry dates and schedule mass appointments that clogged the reservation portal. A five-year card means fewer renewal cycles, reduced legal risk and a more predictable workforce, especially in manufacturing hubs such as Plzeň and Ostrava where Ukrainian technicians now fill critical skill gaps.
Practical implementation, however, will not be trivial. Applicants must attend an in-person biometric appointment, and migration offices in Prague and Brno are already warning of multi-month backlogs. The ministry says it will open 20 pop-up enrolment booths across the country and extend Saturday hours through March 2026, but observers worry that capacity may still fall short. Refugee-support NGOs are also concerned that many single-parent households will fail to meet the income threshold and could slip back into the less secure annual regime.
Nevertheless, the introduction of a multi-year card aligns Czechia with neighbouring Poland and Slovakia, both of which recently lengthened their protection permits. For multinationals managing large Ukrainian talent pools, the message is clear: plan now to gather income proofs, leases and police certificates so that staff can file as soon as appointment slots open.
Under a ministerial notice published on 26 November, eligible applicants will be able to exchange their current permit for a biometric card valid for five years, starting 15 December 2025. To qualify, Ukrainians must prove untaxed annual income of at least CZK 440,000 (≈ €18,000) plus CZK 110,000 for every dependent, present a lease or property deed covering the full five-year term, and submit an apostilled police-clearance certificate. The Interior Ministry argues that the tougher financial test will encourage economic self-sufficiency while still offering a clear path to stability for tens of thousands of refugees who have integrated into the Czech labour market.
For employers, the move is a major administrative win. Companies have complained that renewing Temporary Protection every 12 months created “permit cliffs”, forcing HR teams to track hundreds of expiry dates and schedule mass appointments that clogged the reservation portal. A five-year card means fewer renewal cycles, reduced legal risk and a more predictable workforce, especially in manufacturing hubs such as Plzeň and Ostrava where Ukrainian technicians now fill critical skill gaps.
Practical implementation, however, will not be trivial. Applicants must attend an in-person biometric appointment, and migration offices in Prague and Brno are already warning of multi-month backlogs. The ministry says it will open 20 pop-up enrolment booths across the country and extend Saturday hours through March 2026, but observers worry that capacity may still fall short. Refugee-support NGOs are also concerned that many single-parent households will fail to meet the income threshold and could slip back into the less secure annual regime.
Nevertheless, the introduction of a multi-year card aligns Czechia with neighbouring Poland and Slovakia, both of which recently lengthened their protection permits. For multinationals managing large Ukrainian talent pools, the message is clear: plan now to gather income proofs, leases and police certificates so that staff can file as soon as appointment slots open.
