The Czech Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that roughly 45 000 Ukrainians who fled Russia’s invasion have already lodged an “expression of interest” in the country’s new special long-term residence permit, with the registration window set to close this Thursday (30 April 2026). Introduced last year as a bridge between temporary protection and permanent residency, the special permit offers a five-year status that includes unrestricted access to the labour market and the right to later apply for permanent residence. To qualify, applicants must have lived in Czechia for at least two years, earn a minimum gross income of CZK 440 000 (€ 17 600) per year (plus CZK 110 000 for each dependant), maintain uninterrupted health insurance with no arrears, show proof of suitable housing, and present a clean criminal record. Children must be enrolled in Czech schools. The Interior Ministry will begin vetting the 45 000 applications immediately after the deadline; last year only about one-fifth of applicants met all criteria, prompting business groups to call for clearer guidance in English and Ukrainian. Employers active in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics and IT—where many Ukrainians already work—welcome the programme because it removes the uncertainty attached to annually renewed visas. “Staff turnover drops dramatically once employees hold a multi-year permit,” said Jana Novotná, HR director for a Prague-based auto-parts supplier, noting that the company plans to sponsor language training and financial-literacy workshops so employees can satisfy the income and insurance thresholds. NGOs, however, argue that the income bar is set too high for many single mothers and elderly refugees and warn that only a narrow subset will ultimately benefit. They urge the government to publish real-time statistics on approval rates and to consider waiving the income requirement for vulnerable groups, echoing similar adjustments made in neighbouring Poland. The ministry counters that the criteria reflect “standard integration benchmarks” and that more flexible pathways—such as student or work-based long-term visas—remain available. For global mobility managers the key takeaway is timing: any Ukrainian assignee holding temporary protection who wishes to transition must register interest before 30 April 2026 or wait until the next intake, expected in early 2027. Companies should therefore alert affected employees, assist with document gathering and budget for the mandatory health-insurance checks.
![Deadline nears as 45,000 Ukrainian refugees apply for special five-year residence in Czechia]()
In that context, professional facilitators like VisaHQ can be invaluable: the platform helps applicants and HR teams verify eligibility, compile income and insurance evidence, and schedule the required appointments. More information on VisaHQ’s Czech services can be found at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/
Failure to act could result in loss of work authorisation once temporary protection eventually expires.
In that context, professional facilitators like VisaHQ can be invaluable: the platform helps applicants and HR teams verify eligibility, compile income and insurance evidence, and schedule the required appointments. More information on VisaHQ’s Czech services can be found at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/
Failure to act could result in loss of work authorisation once temporary protection eventually expires.
