All fourteen Regional Assistance Centres for Ukraine (KACPU) have published their festive-season schedule, confirming complete closure on 24–26 December and again on 1 January, plus half-day operations on 30–31 December. Full services will resume on Monday 5 January 2026.
The blackout affects thousands of Ukrainian nationals who must extend their Temporary-Protection stickers or obtain referrals for social services at the start of the new year. Czech law requires in-person filing for most TP renewals, and appointments can be booked only after an initial screening at a KACPU desk.
Refugee NGOs fear a processing bottleneck when centres reopen: roughly 400 000 Ukrainians are due to renew 2026 documents by 31 March. Interior-Ministry officials say extra staff will be seconded from regional offices during the first two weeks of January, but queues could still reach four hours in Prague and Brno.
![Czech Assistance Centres for Ukrainians Announce Holiday Closure Until 5 January]()
For those looking to avoid long lines, VisaHQ’s online platform can help streamline many Czech visa and residence-permit procedures before ever setting foot at a government counter. The company’s Czech Republic portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) offers clear document checklists, fee calculators, and courier submission options that may save valuable time—especially during the KACPU holiday shutdown.
Employers of TP holders should remind staff to book appointments as soon as the system reopens and keep evidence of attempted bookings in case of missed deadlines. Individuals with urgent medical or travel needs can request an emergency slot via the Interior-Ministry hotline—but that line itself was down until 2 January for IT maintenance, compounding the challenge.
Observers note that the disruption underscores the importance of the new digital Foreigner Account, which is expected to incorporate TP services later in 2026, removing the need for physical visits.
The blackout affects thousands of Ukrainian nationals who must extend their Temporary-Protection stickers or obtain referrals for social services at the start of the new year. Czech law requires in-person filing for most TP renewals, and appointments can be booked only after an initial screening at a KACPU desk.
Refugee NGOs fear a processing bottleneck when centres reopen: roughly 400 000 Ukrainians are due to renew 2026 documents by 31 March. Interior-Ministry officials say extra staff will be seconded from regional offices during the first two weeks of January, but queues could still reach four hours in Prague and Brno.
For those looking to avoid long lines, VisaHQ’s online platform can help streamline many Czech visa and residence-permit procedures before ever setting foot at a government counter. The company’s Czech Republic portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) offers clear document checklists, fee calculators, and courier submission options that may save valuable time—especially during the KACPU holiday shutdown.
Employers of TP holders should remind staff to book appointments as soon as the system reopens and keep evidence of attempted bookings in case of missed deadlines. Individuals with urgent medical or travel needs can request an emergency slot via the Interior-Ministry hotline—but that line itself was down until 2 January for IT maintenance, compounding the challenge.
Observers note that the disruption underscores the importance of the new digital Foreigner Account, which is expected to incorporate TP services later in 2026, removing the need for physical visits.
