Speaking at the 116ᵗʰ Council session of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Geneva, Czech Permanent Representative Václav Bálek reaffirmed his country’s “strategic partnership” with the UN agency and announced a €3 million contribution for 2026 projects. The statement on 12 December highlighted Prague’s dual priorities: preventing irregular migration and expanding legal pathways for skilled workers.
Between 2020 and 2025 Czechia financed 13 IOM projects worth €11.5 million, including assistance for voluntary returns from Libya, Greece and—most recently—Ukraine. Bálek stressed that Czechia’s experience hosting more than 850 000 Ukrainians under temporary protection has underscored the importance of IOM technical support in registration, housing and long-term integration. Roughly 400 000 of those displaced persons still reside in the country, filling labour-market gaps in manufacturing and IT.
The envoy also applauded closer coordination between IOM and the European Union on the forthcoming EU Talent Pool, which Czech employers hope will streamline recruitment of engineers and healthcare staff from third countries. Business associations in Brno and Ostrava argue that without faster, rules-based migration channels, the ageing Czech workforce will struggle to meet export demand.
![Czechia Pledges €3 Million to IOM, Stresses Need for Regular Migration Channels]()
For organisations and individuals navigating Czech visa requirements—whether facilitating talent through the EU Talent Pool or securing permits for short-term business travel—VisaHQ can simplify the process. Its Czech portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) consolidates the latest forms, fees and processing times, allowing HR teams and prospective migrants to submit compliant applications online and avoid costly delays.
For HR teams, the speech signals that Prague is unlikely to roll back humanitarian admissions but will pair generosity with stronger return programmes for applicants who fail to qualify. Companies employing Ukrainians should monitor the Interior Ministry’s pilot of a five-year biometric residence card, which will replace annual sticker renewals from 15 December and reduce paperwork.
Migration lawyers note that Czechia’s financial pledge gives it leverage in IOM governance—and could translate into more Czech-language integration modules or co-funded regional mobility schemes in 2026.
Between 2020 and 2025 Czechia financed 13 IOM projects worth €11.5 million, including assistance for voluntary returns from Libya, Greece and—most recently—Ukraine. Bálek stressed that Czechia’s experience hosting more than 850 000 Ukrainians under temporary protection has underscored the importance of IOM technical support in registration, housing and long-term integration. Roughly 400 000 of those displaced persons still reside in the country, filling labour-market gaps in manufacturing and IT.
The envoy also applauded closer coordination between IOM and the European Union on the forthcoming EU Talent Pool, which Czech employers hope will streamline recruitment of engineers and healthcare staff from third countries. Business associations in Brno and Ostrava argue that without faster, rules-based migration channels, the ageing Czech workforce will struggle to meet export demand.
For organisations and individuals navigating Czech visa requirements—whether facilitating talent through the EU Talent Pool or securing permits for short-term business travel—VisaHQ can simplify the process. Its Czech portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) consolidates the latest forms, fees and processing times, allowing HR teams and prospective migrants to submit compliant applications online and avoid costly delays.
For HR teams, the speech signals that Prague is unlikely to roll back humanitarian admissions but will pair generosity with stronger return programmes for applicants who fail to qualify. Companies employing Ukrainians should monitor the Interior Ministry’s pilot of a five-year biometric residence card, which will replace annual sticker renewals from 15 December and reduce paperwork.
Migration lawyers note that Czechia’s financial pledge gives it leverage in IOM governance—and could translate into more Czech-language integration modules or co-funded regional mobility schemes in 2026.
