In a pre-dawn statement on 20 February, Deputy Labour Minister Kateřina Vymazalová outlined a package of measures that will make it easier for employers to recruit and retain Ukrainian citizens already in Czechia. Published in the government gazette the same morning, the decree eliminates labour-market testing for shortage occupations and streamlines the conversion of temporary-protection status into employee-cards.
Ukrainians now represent roughly one quarter of the foreign workforce—210,000 people—and officials admit that without them sectors such as construction, elder-care and healthcare would stall. The new rules therefore waive the requirement for a vacancy to be listed for 30 days before a permit can be issued if the position appears on the Ministry’s updated shortage list.
Processing will also move online: employers can upload contracts and accommodation proof directly to the Labour Office portal, cutting paper submissions and courier fees. Authorities hope to trim median processing times from seven weeks to three.
![Czech Republic moves to simplify hiring rules for Ukrainian nationals amid acute labour gaps]()
For organisations that prefer professional guidance, VisaHQ’s Czech Republic specialists can streamline the same steps—from drafting compliant contracts to submitting employee-card bundles—through a digital interface that dovetails with the government’s own portal. HR teams can start right away at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/ monitor case milestones in real time and avoid the costly delays that come with incomplete filings.
The decree dovetails with February’s legislative proposal for a five-year “special long-term residence” route, signalling a broader policy shift from humanitarian aid to economic integration. Companies planning spring recruitment rounds should review internal compliance manuals; failure to use the new e-portal correctly can still trigger fines of up to CZK 500,000.
Relocation advisers welcome the clarity but warn that the cap on non-EU quotas in some regions, notably South Moravia, remains unchanged, meaning early quota reservations are advisable.
Ukrainians now represent roughly one quarter of the foreign workforce—210,000 people—and officials admit that without them sectors such as construction, elder-care and healthcare would stall. The new rules therefore waive the requirement for a vacancy to be listed for 30 days before a permit can be issued if the position appears on the Ministry’s updated shortage list.
Processing will also move online: employers can upload contracts and accommodation proof directly to the Labour Office portal, cutting paper submissions and courier fees. Authorities hope to trim median processing times from seven weeks to three.
For organisations that prefer professional guidance, VisaHQ’s Czech Republic specialists can streamline the same steps—from drafting compliant contracts to submitting employee-card bundles—through a digital interface that dovetails with the government’s own portal. HR teams can start right away at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/ monitor case milestones in real time and avoid the costly delays that come with incomplete filings.
The decree dovetails with February’s legislative proposal for a five-year “special long-term residence” route, signalling a broader policy shift from humanitarian aid to economic integration. Companies planning spring recruitment rounds should review internal compliance manuals; failure to use the new e-portal correctly can still trigger fines of up to CZK 500,000.
Relocation advisers welcome the clarity but warn that the cap on non-EU quotas in some regions, notably South Moravia, remains unchanged, meaning early quota reservations are advisable.
