Czech Government Plans Stricter Pathway from Temporary Protection to Permanent Residence for Ukrainian Refugees

The Czech Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that it is drafting an amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals that will make it markedly harder for holders of “temporary protection” status—granted to Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion—to convert that status into long-term or permanent residence. Under the proposal, Ukrainians who arrived after February 2022 would, from mid-2027, need to demonstrate a minimum of two years of uninterrupted legal stay, Czech-language proficiency at A2 level, no outstanding debts to the health-care system or tax authorities, and proof of stable full-time employment that pays at least 1.2 times the national average wage. Children born in Czechia to temporary-protection holders would also lose the automatic right to permanent residence once they reach adulthood unless their parents satisfy the new income and language thresholds. Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar framed the change as a “pivot from humanitarian assistance to labour-market integration,” arguing that generous welfare benefits have become a pull factor at a time when reception facilities are at capacity and the Czech labour market is facing wage-dumping accusations. Employers, particularly in manufacturing and logistics, fear that the stricter rules could squeeze an already-tight blue-collar talent pool. The Confederation of Industry has asked for a six-month transition period so that companies can convert existing agency workers to direct contracts and arrange subsidised language courses.



VisaHQ can help both employers and individual applicants stay ahead of these changes. The company’s Czech portal (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) offers real-time updates, document checklists, and end-to-end filing assistance, making it easier to secure the appropriate visas or residence permits even as the legal landscape shifts.

Immigration lawyers note that the amendment would end the current fast-track to a five-year permanent residence card and instead push Ukrainians onto the standard route used by other third-country nationals. That route normally requires five years of continuous legal stay on long-term visas or permits, plus a Czech-language exam and an integration test. NGOs working with refugees warn that thousands could fall into irregular status if they fail the language exam or lose their jobs, potentially fuelling a grey labour market and human-trafficking risks. The draft bill is expected to reach Parliament in May, giving businesses and municipalities little time to adapt. Global mobility managers should therefore audit their Ukrainian assignee population, budget for higher salary benchmarks, and explore corporate-sponsored language tuition. Companies that rely on agency workers from Ukraine may also wish to shift them onto in-house contracts to retain staff once the amendment takes effect.