KPMG’s Global Mobility Services group reports that on 9 March 2026 the Czech cabinet adopted a resolution confirming that holders of EU temporary protection from Ukraine may again apply for a special five-year long-term residence permit. Dubbed “Lex Ukraine,” the scheme supplements—but does not replace—temporary protection, giving qualifying refugees unrestricted labour-market access and a clearer path to permanent residence. Individuals and HR teams navigating these new residence pathways may find expert assistance through VisaHQ, which offers up-to-date guidance on Czech immigration requirements and streamlined application support; more details are available at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/ The 2026 iteration follows the pilot run in 2025, when only 15 000 of 80 000 applicants met stringent self-sufficiency criteria, including minimum annual income of CZK 440 000 and no reliance on Czech humanitarian benefits since October 2024. Demand is likely higher this year: roughly 400 000 Ukrainians still reside in Czechia under temporary protection. Registration opens in April via the Interior Ministry’s online Foreigners’ Portal, with biometrics and card issuance staggered through the autumn. For employers, the permit provides stability beyond the rolling one-year extensions of temporary protection, facilitating medium-term manpower planning in sectors from IT to manufacturing. HR teams should audit salary levels and benefit packages against the programme’s income test and plan for possible documentation bottlenecks. KPMG notes a procedural tweak: the initial “expression of interest” window shifts to October (previously September) to ease ministry workloads. Companies with large Ukrainian workforces are advised to schedule legal workshops to brief employees on eligibility and timelines. Policy-makers frame the move as a bridge between emergency displacement measures and conventional immigration channels, acknowledging that the war shows no sign of abating. The decision positions Czechia—already hosting the EU’s highest per-capita Ukrainian population—as a frontrunner in long-term integration strategy.
