President Petr Pavel has signed a package of amendments—dubbed the latest “Lex Ukraine”—that prolongs temporary protection for Ukrainians in Czechia until at least 31 March 2027 and, for the first time, opens a path to a special five-year residence permit for self-sufficient refugees who have lived in the country for more than two years. The same bill introduces sweeping hurdles for Russian nationals seeking Czech citizenship: applicants must now furnish proof that they have legally renounced Russian nationality and may be barred entirely until the war in Ukraine ends.
Roughly 350,000 Ukrainians currently hold Czech temporary-protection visas. Under the new rules, those who can demonstrate stable housing, employment or independent income, and school enrolment for children can trade the annually-renewed visa sticker for a biometric residence card valid for five years and carrying full labour-market access. Immigration lawyers say the change removes bureaucratic churn for employers who repeatedly extend work contracts one year at a time.
For corporate mobility teams, the legislation offers clarity on workforce planning. HR departments can shift Ukrainian staff from short-term payroll codes to standard local employment contracts, simplifying tax and benefits administration. The Interior Ministry will roll out an online pre-registration portal next week; applicants must book an in-person biometrics slot within 30 days.
![Czech President signs law extending protection for Ukrainian refugees and restricting Russian citizenship]()
At any stage of these transitions, individuals and companies can lean on VisaHQ for hands-on assistance. The platform’s Czech portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) breaks down document requirements, schedules biometrics appointments, and offers courier options for passport or residence-card deliveries—streamlining exactly the renewals and status changes described above.
The same act tightens security provisions. A new criminal-code article penalises “unauthorised cooperation with a foreign power” with up to five years in prison (15 years in wartime). While aimed primarily at espionage, relocation providers are alerting clients that inadvertent breaches—for example, acting as a middleman for overseas police-clearance certificates without explicit authorisation—could trigger liability.
Russian assignees already face longer background-check processing. The citizenship clampdown is expected to spill over into residence-permit vetting, with additional due-diligence checks on financial links. Employers should budget extra lead time and consider alternative EU jurisdictions if start dates cannot slip.
Roughly 350,000 Ukrainians currently hold Czech temporary-protection visas. Under the new rules, those who can demonstrate stable housing, employment or independent income, and school enrolment for children can trade the annually-renewed visa sticker for a biometric residence card valid for five years and carrying full labour-market access. Immigration lawyers say the change removes bureaucratic churn for employers who repeatedly extend work contracts one year at a time.
For corporate mobility teams, the legislation offers clarity on workforce planning. HR departments can shift Ukrainian staff from short-term payroll codes to standard local employment contracts, simplifying tax and benefits administration. The Interior Ministry will roll out an online pre-registration portal next week; applicants must book an in-person biometrics slot within 30 days.
At any stage of these transitions, individuals and companies can lean on VisaHQ for hands-on assistance. The platform’s Czech portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) breaks down document requirements, schedules biometrics appointments, and offers courier options for passport or residence-card deliveries—streamlining exactly the renewals and status changes described above.
The same act tightens security provisions. A new criminal-code article penalises “unauthorised cooperation with a foreign power” with up to five years in prison (15 years in wartime). While aimed primarily at espionage, relocation providers are alerting clients that inadvertent breaches—for example, acting as a middleman for overseas police-clearance certificates without explicit authorisation—could trigger liability.
Russian assignees already face longer background-check processing. The citizenship clampdown is expected to spill over into residence-permit vetting, with additional due-diligence checks on financial links. Employers should budget extra lead time and consider alternative EU jurisdictions if start dates cannot slip.
