At 00:00 on 1 January 2026, the Czech Republic switched on the largest overhaul of its immigration framework in two decades. The long-awaited Act on the Stay of Foreigners replaces a patchwork of amendments that critics said had become opaque and burdensome. From today, every stage of the immigration life-cycle—application, document issuance, address changes and renewals—can be completed inside a secure on-line “Foreigner Account” linked to the holder’s electronic identity (e-ID). Biometric capture remains in-person, but appointments, fee payment and document uploads now happen entirely through the new portal operated by the Ministry of the Interior (MoI). The digitisation is expected to cut average processing times for Employee Cards and other permits by several weeks.
The law also creates a mandatory “guarantor” concept: universities, employers and other sponsoring bodies must actively confirm the purpose of stay and notify the MoI of any changes. Sponsors gain real-time access to the status of applications they support but face fines up to CZK 500,000 for failing to report terminations or incorrect data.
VisaHQ can smooth the transition to these new rules. Through its Czech Republic hub (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/), the company sets up Foreigner Accounts, pre-screens document packs, and keeps both applicants and guarantor-employers informed of MoI portal updates—reducing the risk of costly delays or penalties.
![Czech Republic’s New Residence Law for Foreigners Enters Into Force, Launching Fully-Digital Immigration System]()
For EU citizens, the change is more evolutionary. Registration for stays longer than 90 days switches from paper forms to the portal and remains voluntary during a one-year transition period. However, failure to register from 2027 will constitute an administrative offence. Municipalities have lobbied for the measure, arguing that accurate foreign-resident data is vital for planning schools, waste-management and public transport.
The MoI stresses that eligibility rules and document validity periods are unchanged; the reform is administrative, not liberalising. Still, mobility managers applaud the move: digital filing eliminates the need to queue overnight at Prague’s notoriously overcrowded Hládkov office, and status updates will be available in English. Large multinationals have already begun integrating API feeds from the MoI portal into their global mobility dashboards, allowing real-time compliance tracking across hundreds of assignees.
Practical tip: companies should create their sponsor profile immediately and map internal HR systems to the MoI’s data fields. Foreign employees must activate their e-ID (bank-ID or data-box credential) before they can log in, so onboarding checklists should be updated. Early reports suggest the portal is stable, but bandwidth may be tight during the first week—especially for bulk uploads—so staggered filing is advised.
The law also creates a mandatory “guarantor” concept: universities, employers and other sponsoring bodies must actively confirm the purpose of stay and notify the MoI of any changes. Sponsors gain real-time access to the status of applications they support but face fines up to CZK 500,000 for failing to report terminations or incorrect data.
VisaHQ can smooth the transition to these new rules. Through its Czech Republic hub (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/), the company sets up Foreigner Accounts, pre-screens document packs, and keeps both applicants and guarantor-employers informed of MoI portal updates—reducing the risk of costly delays or penalties.
For EU citizens, the change is more evolutionary. Registration for stays longer than 90 days switches from paper forms to the portal and remains voluntary during a one-year transition period. However, failure to register from 2027 will constitute an administrative offence. Municipalities have lobbied for the measure, arguing that accurate foreign-resident data is vital for planning schools, waste-management and public transport.
The MoI stresses that eligibility rules and document validity periods are unchanged; the reform is administrative, not liberalising. Still, mobility managers applaud the move: digital filing eliminates the need to queue overnight at Prague’s notoriously overcrowded Hládkov office, and status updates will be available in English. Large multinationals have already begun integrating API feeds from the MoI portal into their global mobility dashboards, allowing real-time compliance tracking across hundreds of assignees.
Practical tip: companies should create their sponsor profile immediately and map internal HR systems to the MoI’s data fields. Foreign employees must activate their e-ID (bank-ID or data-box credential) before they can log in, so onboarding checklists should be updated. Early reports suggest the portal is stable, but bandwidth may be tight during the first week—especially for bulk uploads—so staggered filing is advised.
