President Petr Pavel formally appointed billionaire Andrej Babiš as prime minister on 9 December, four years after the populist leader was voted out of office. Babiš’s ANO party won October’s election on a platform that combined promises of higher pensions with sharp criticism of “Brussels diktats”—especially mandatory migration solidarity payments.
Babiš has already signalled that his minority coalition with the far-right SPD and Motorists parties will oppose the EU’s new Migration and Asylum Pact. In his acceptance speech he vowed to “protect Czech borders and taxpayers” and hinted that Prague could block future burden-sharing schemes unless they remain strictly voluntary.
Business-immigration advisers expect a less welcoming climate for non-EU nationals outside skilled labour programmes. While the new cabinet cannot unilaterally override Schengen rules, it can tighten labour-market tests, slow quota releases and increase workplace inspections—tools Babiš used during his previous term.
![Pavel installs Babiš as Czech PM, setting stage for tougher stance on EU migration rules]()
In this shifting environment, VisaHQ can simplify Czech visa planning for both employers and assignees by offering real-time requirement updates, digital document uploads and end-to-end filing assistance; full details on work, study and business options are available at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/.
At the same time, analysts note that ANO governments tend to prioritise economic growth. Large investors may still secure fast-track processing through the Qualified Worker or Key & Scientific Staff schemes if they align with industrial-policy goals.
Practical takeaway: employers should prepare for longer lead-times on standard work-permit filings in 2026 and consider leveraging government-sponsored fast-track channels where available.
Babiš has already signalled that his minority coalition with the far-right SPD and Motorists parties will oppose the EU’s new Migration and Asylum Pact. In his acceptance speech he vowed to “protect Czech borders and taxpayers” and hinted that Prague could block future burden-sharing schemes unless they remain strictly voluntary.
Business-immigration advisers expect a less welcoming climate for non-EU nationals outside skilled labour programmes. While the new cabinet cannot unilaterally override Schengen rules, it can tighten labour-market tests, slow quota releases and increase workplace inspections—tools Babiš used during his previous term.
In this shifting environment, VisaHQ can simplify Czech visa planning for both employers and assignees by offering real-time requirement updates, digital document uploads and end-to-end filing assistance; full details on work, study and business options are available at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/.
At the same time, analysts note that ANO governments tend to prioritise economic growth. Large investors may still secure fast-track processing through the Qualified Worker or Key & Scientific Staff schemes if they align with industrial-policy goals.
Practical takeaway: employers should prepare for longer lead-times on standard work-permit filings in 2026 and consider leveraging government-sponsored fast-track channels where available.
