Czech Interior Ministry Takes Immigration Helplines Offline over Holidays, Putting January Permit Deadlines at Risk
EES Outage Forces Manual Passport Stamping and Three-Hour Queues at Prague Airport
Germany Extends Internal Schengen Border Checks to 15 March 2026, Impacting Czech Cross-Border Commuters
Latest News
Czech Republic to Open 39 km of New Motorways in 2026, but Vignette Prices Will Rise
Highway authority ŘSD says 39 km of new Czech motorways will open in 2026, boosting inter-city travel and logistics efficiency. However, motorway vignette fees will increase from January 2026, prompting companies to revise travel budgets and policies.
Czech Interior Ministry Switches Off Immigration Helplines for Holidays, Threatening January Permit Deadlines
Both of Czechia’s immigration helplines are offline until 2 January, leaving foreign employees and 400,000 Ukrainian refugees without telephone support during the busiest renewal season of the year. Employers must scramble to secure appointments and gather documents or risk fines and status loss for late filings. The shutdown underscores the need for contingency planning in corporate mobility programmes.
Entry/Exit System Meltdown Forces Manual Stamping, Causes Three-Hour Queues at Prague Airport
A software glitch paralysed Prague Airport’s biometric Entry/Exit System on 28 December, forcing manual passport stamping and creating three-hour queues. The disruption delayed multiple long-haul flights, cost airlines an estimated €180,000 and exposed weaknesses in the EU’s new digital border controls. Companies are advised to pad travel schedules and brief staff on contingency plans.