On 9 March 2026 the Czech government confirmed that Ukrainian nationals living in Czechia under EU temporary-protection status will again be able to apply for a special five-year long-term residence permit, commonly dubbed “Lex Ukraine.”(kpmg.com) The programme, first introduced in 2025, offers a bridge between emergency protection and a more stable immigration category that provides unrestricted access to the labour market and a path toward permanent residence.
The 2026 cycle follows a two-step online registration model. Between 1 and 30 April applicants must file an expression of interest through the Interior Ministry’s Foreigners’ Portal. Successful candidates will then be invited to a second registration round—including biometric capture—in October instead of September, a change designed to ease administrative backlogs. Officials expect demand to exceed the 15,000 permits issued last year, noting that roughly 400,000 Ukrainians currently hold temporary protection in the country.
![Lex Ukraine 2026: Czechia Re-opens Five-Year Residence Track for Ukrainian Temporary-Protection Holders]()
For those seeking practical support with these requirements, VisaHQ’s Czech Republic specialists can manage everything from the initial online filing to securing biometric appointments and translating supporting documents. Employers and individual applicants can explore the full range of services at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/
For employers the scheme is a valuable retention tool: once granted, Lex Ukraine status eliminates the need for work-permit renewals and allows intra-EU business travel of up to 90 days in any 180-day period under Schengen rules. Global mobility teams should nevertheless prepare supporting documents early; financial self-sufficiency thresholds remain high and all paperwork must be uploaded electronically before time-stamped slots disappear.
Immigration advisers are urging HR departments to audit Ukrainian assignee populations immediately. Those who arrived after the original 2022 exodus or whose protection lapses before October may need interim visa extensions. Companies should also budget for additional tax briefings, as holders of the new permit become Czech tax residents once physical presence exceeds 183 days.
The 2026 cycle follows a two-step online registration model. Between 1 and 30 April applicants must file an expression of interest through the Interior Ministry’s Foreigners’ Portal. Successful candidates will then be invited to a second registration round—including biometric capture—in October instead of September, a change designed to ease administrative backlogs. Officials expect demand to exceed the 15,000 permits issued last year, noting that roughly 400,000 Ukrainians currently hold temporary protection in the country.
For those seeking practical support with these requirements, VisaHQ’s Czech Republic specialists can manage everything from the initial online filing to securing biometric appointments and translating supporting documents. Employers and individual applicants can explore the full range of services at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/
For employers the scheme is a valuable retention tool: once granted, Lex Ukraine status eliminates the need for work-permit renewals and allows intra-EU business travel of up to 90 days in any 180-day period under Schengen rules. Global mobility teams should nevertheless prepare supporting documents early; financial self-sufficiency thresholds remain high and all paperwork must be uploaded electronically before time-stamped slots disappear.
Immigration advisers are urging HR departments to audit Ukrainian assignee populations immediately. Those who arrived after the original 2022 exodus or whose protection lapses before October may need interim visa extensions. Companies should also budget for additional tax briefings, as holders of the new permit become Czech tax residents once physical presence exceeds 183 days.
