The Czech cabinet has approved a Special Long-Term Residence Programme that lets Ukrainian nationals upgrade from temporary protection to a five-year permit if they meet income and integration benchmarks. Labour and Social Affairs Minister Aleš Juchelka announced the decree on 19 February 2026, framing it as a pivot from emergency shelter to labour-market integration.
Applicants must prove at least two continuous years in Czechia, household income of CZK 440,000 (about EUR 17,700) per year, health-insurance coverage and school attendance for children. Receipt of humanitarian benefits at the time of filing is disqualifying, underscoring the programme’s self-sufficiency ethos.
The measure addresses acute skills shortages—foreigners now hold 18 percent of vacancies in manufacturing and logistics—while defusing populist pressure to cap migration. For employers the scheme offers a more predictable status than annual extensions of temporary protection, reducing HR compliance risk and enabling long-term training investments.
![Prague launches 5-year residence permits for self-sufficient Ukrainian refugees]()
For Ukrainians preparing to apply, VisaHQ can simplify each procedural step by pre-screening documents, scheduling required appointments and providing real-time guidance through its Czech Republic resource hub (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/). This streamlined support helps applicants avoid incomplete filings and keeps companies confident that their future employees stay on track for the new five-year permit.
Successful applicants receive open labour-market access and a pathway to permanent residence after five years, aligning Czech practice with Germany’s 2022 Chancenkarte law. The Interior Ministry will open an online application portal in March, and regional integration centres plan information sessions in Ukrainian and Russian.
Immigration counsel should alert clients that evidence packages—payslips, tax returns, lease contracts—must cover the full two-year look-back; authorities say incomplete files will be rejected without appeal. Early demand is expected to exceed 25,000 applicants, so booking biometric appointments promptly will be critical.
Applicants must prove at least two continuous years in Czechia, household income of CZK 440,000 (about EUR 17,700) per year, health-insurance coverage and school attendance for children. Receipt of humanitarian benefits at the time of filing is disqualifying, underscoring the programme’s self-sufficiency ethos.
The measure addresses acute skills shortages—foreigners now hold 18 percent of vacancies in manufacturing and logistics—while defusing populist pressure to cap migration. For employers the scheme offers a more predictable status than annual extensions of temporary protection, reducing HR compliance risk and enabling long-term training investments.
For Ukrainians preparing to apply, VisaHQ can simplify each procedural step by pre-screening documents, scheduling required appointments and providing real-time guidance through its Czech Republic resource hub (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/). This streamlined support helps applicants avoid incomplete filings and keeps companies confident that their future employees stay on track for the new five-year permit.
Successful applicants receive open labour-market access and a pathway to permanent residence after five years, aligning Czech practice with Germany’s 2022 Chancenkarte law. The Interior Ministry will open an online application portal in March, and regional integration centres plan information sessions in Ukrainian and Russian.
Immigration counsel should alert clients that evidence packages—payslips, tax returns, lease contracts—must cover the full two-year look-back; authorities say incomplete files will be rejected without appeal. Early demand is expected to exceed 25,000 applicants, so booking biometric appointments promptly will be critical.
