The Czech Republic’s Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar on 18 February 2026 unveiled a draft amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals that, for the first time, would oblige citizens of other EU and EEA member states to register with the Ministry if they stay in Czechia longer than 90 days.
Until now, the vast majority of the roughly 200,000 EU citizens believed to live and work in the Czech Republic have been only "declaratorily" encouraged to report their presence. Because registration was voluntary and carried no practical benefit, compliance is estimated at below 40 percent. According to the Interior Ministry, the gap hampers everything from local authority planning to police work and emergency response. The new proposal therefore converts today’s paper-based declaration into a mandatory on-line registration linked to the central Foreigners Information System (CIS).
If adopted, EU nationals would have twelve months—beginning in January 2027—to complete a streamlined digital form and upload proof of accommodation. Once registered they would receive a unique accommodation identifier and log-in credentials that can be reused for banking, taxation and health-insurance portals.
![Czech Interior Ministry moves to make registration compulsory for EU nationals residing in the country]()
For anyone unsure how to navigate these new requirements, VisaHQ offers step-by-step assistance through its Czech Republic page (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/), guiding users in preparing the necessary documents and staying compliant. The platform’s digital tools can save time and reduce errors, making the transition to mandatory registration smoother for individuals and employers alike.
Failure to register after the one-year grace period could trigger administrative fines of up to CZK 15,000 and, in serious cases such as repeated misdemeanours, expulsion orders. The ministry stresses that the measure does not threaten freedom of movement; rather, it harmonises Czech practice with neighbouring states such as Austria and Germany, both of which already require some form of registration for EU residents.
Employers stand to gain additional clarity: under the amendment, companies will be able to verify an applicant’s registration status directly through the CIS interface, reducing their liability for undeclared labour. Real-estate owners will also have to report tenancy start and end dates, a step Metnar says will help municipalities forecast school-place demand and health-service capacity in districts with large concentrations of foreign workers.
The proposal arrives as foreigners—EU and third-country nationals combined—now comprise 10.4 percent of the Czech population and fill an estimated 18 percent of all vacancies in manufacturing and logistics. Business-lobby group Svaz průmyslu a dopravy welcomed the digitisation aspect but cautioned against “excessive bureaucracy” that could deter intra-corporate transfers. The bill will be sent to inter-ministerial comment this week and is expected to reach Parliament before the summer recess. If lawmakers approve the text unchanged, technical implementation would begin in early 2027, giving HR departments roughly a year to adapt on-boarding procedures.
Until now, the vast majority of the roughly 200,000 EU citizens believed to live and work in the Czech Republic have been only "declaratorily" encouraged to report their presence. Because registration was voluntary and carried no practical benefit, compliance is estimated at below 40 percent. According to the Interior Ministry, the gap hampers everything from local authority planning to police work and emergency response. The new proposal therefore converts today’s paper-based declaration into a mandatory on-line registration linked to the central Foreigners Information System (CIS).
If adopted, EU nationals would have twelve months—beginning in January 2027—to complete a streamlined digital form and upload proof of accommodation. Once registered they would receive a unique accommodation identifier and log-in credentials that can be reused for banking, taxation and health-insurance portals.
For anyone unsure how to navigate these new requirements, VisaHQ offers step-by-step assistance through its Czech Republic page (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/), guiding users in preparing the necessary documents and staying compliant. The platform’s digital tools can save time and reduce errors, making the transition to mandatory registration smoother for individuals and employers alike.
Failure to register after the one-year grace period could trigger administrative fines of up to CZK 15,000 and, in serious cases such as repeated misdemeanours, expulsion orders. The ministry stresses that the measure does not threaten freedom of movement; rather, it harmonises Czech practice with neighbouring states such as Austria and Germany, both of which already require some form of registration for EU residents.
Employers stand to gain additional clarity: under the amendment, companies will be able to verify an applicant’s registration status directly through the CIS interface, reducing their liability for undeclared labour. Real-estate owners will also have to report tenancy start and end dates, a step Metnar says will help municipalities forecast school-place demand and health-service capacity in districts with large concentrations of foreign workers.
The proposal arrives as foreigners—EU and third-country nationals combined—now comprise 10.4 percent of the Czech population and fill an estimated 18 percent of all vacancies in manufacturing and logistics. Business-lobby group Svaz průmyslu a dopravy welcomed the digitisation aspect but cautioned against “excessive bureaucracy” that could deter intra-corporate transfers. The bill will be sent to inter-ministerial comment this week and is expected to reach Parliament before the summer recess. If lawmakers approve the text unchanged, technical implementation would begin in early 2027, giving HR departments roughly a year to adapt on-boarding procedures.
