Foreign nationals living or working in Czechia will have a harder time reaching government support over the holidays. According to an official notice on the Interior Ministry’s Information Portal for Foreigners, the main client-centre hotline (974 801 801) went offline on 22 December and will not resume service until 2 January 2026. A separate line dedicated to holders of Temporary Protection from Ukraine (974 801 802) will operate only on 22 December and again on 29–30 December before closing for the remainder of the festive period.
The ministry says the blackout is needed for IT maintenance and staff leave, but the timing is sensitive. January is peak season for employee-card and blue-card renewals, and roughly 400,000 Ukrainian refugees must finalise their 2026 status by 31 March. Immigration lawyers warn that missing filing deadlines because telephone support is unavailable does not excuse late submissions and can lead to fines or forced reclassification to a 90-day tourist stay.
During the shutdown, officials are redirecting urgent queries to two e-mail inboxes and encouraging personal visits to branch offices, which remain open on business days. However, heavier foot traffic is expected as callers switch to walk-in service—particularly in Prague, where appointment slots are already scarce.
![Interior Ministry Hotlines for Foreigners Shut Down Until New Year]()
For expatriates and HR managers looking for a buffer against such interruptions, VisaHQ offers an online gateway to Czech immigration services. Through its Czech Republic portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/), users can verify document lists, schedule courier pickups and request expert review of renewal applications, ensuring paperwork stays compliant even when government helplines are offline.
Global-mobility teams should alert foreign employees to the disruption, collect outstanding documents in advance, and use the ministry’s online reservation portal to secure January appointments. Employers with high volumes of renewals might consider booking at regional offices in Brno, Ostrava or Plzeň, where queues are shorter.
While critical asylum and deportation operations remain fully staffed, the helpline closure underscores the need for robust internal support. Companies relying on the hotlines for real-time guidance should deploy alternative channels—legal counsel, relocation vendors or third-party concierge services—to keep assignments on track.
The ministry says the blackout is needed for IT maintenance and staff leave, but the timing is sensitive. January is peak season for employee-card and blue-card renewals, and roughly 400,000 Ukrainian refugees must finalise their 2026 status by 31 March. Immigration lawyers warn that missing filing deadlines because telephone support is unavailable does not excuse late submissions and can lead to fines or forced reclassification to a 90-day tourist stay.
During the shutdown, officials are redirecting urgent queries to two e-mail inboxes and encouraging personal visits to branch offices, which remain open on business days. However, heavier foot traffic is expected as callers switch to walk-in service—particularly in Prague, where appointment slots are already scarce.
For expatriates and HR managers looking for a buffer against such interruptions, VisaHQ offers an online gateway to Czech immigration services. Through its Czech Republic portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/), users can verify document lists, schedule courier pickups and request expert review of renewal applications, ensuring paperwork stays compliant even when government helplines are offline.
Global-mobility teams should alert foreign employees to the disruption, collect outstanding documents in advance, and use the ministry’s online reservation portal to secure January appointments. Employers with high volumes of renewals might consider booking at regional offices in Brno, Ostrava or Plzeň, where queues are shorter.
While critical asylum and deportation operations remain fully staffed, the helpline closure underscores the need for robust internal support. Companies relying on the hotlines for real-time guidance should deploy alternative channels—legal counsel, relocation vendors or third-party concierge services—to keep assignments on track.
