The Czech Interior Ministry on 19 May 2026 unveiled a sweeping amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals aimed at tightening migration rules in the wake of Russia’s war against Ukraine. At the heart of the draft is a new clause that would automatically terminate the EU-mandated temporary protection status of Ukrainian refugees if they spend more than 30 consecutive days outside Czech territory. Officials say the measure is intended to curb so-called “benefit tourism” whereby holders of the visa-like status move back and forth across borders while still drawing Czech social support. Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar stressed that security and equal treatment were the main drivers: “People who genuinely live and work here are welcome, but those who exploit our welfare system must meet the same obligations as Czech citizens.”
![Czech Government Proposes 30-Day Absence Limit That Would Cancel Temporary Protection for Ukrainians]()
For individuals and employers looking to stay compliant under the evolving rules, using a specialized visa facilitator can save time and headaches. VisaHQ, for example, continuously tracks Czech immigration updates and helps applicants assemble the right paperwork, book appointments and monitor case status—services that apply to everything from short-term visas to long-term residence permits. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/
Revised rules would also make it harder for beneficiaries to convert temporary protection into the new five-year “special long-term stay,” a pathway that requires economic self-sufficiency, proof of insurance and minimum annual income of CZK 440,000. Applications for that status have soared—about 45,000 were filed in the first four months of 2026 alone. Beyond the 30-day rule, the bill introduces stricter penalties for organising irregular migration and centralises judicial review of security-sensitive residence cases in one specialised court. Ukrainian-registered vehicles would have to pass Czech technical inspections within six months and be transferred to the national car registry by 2028, closing another compliance loophole that police say criminal networks have exploited. For employers, the proposal raises the stakes of workforce planning. Human-resources teams will need to track employees’ cross-border travel far more closely to avoid sudden loss of work authorisation, while mobility managers must monitor the evolving conversion criteria for long-term residence. Should the legislation pass Parliament in the autumn, most provisions would take effect on 1 January 2027—giving companies roughly six months to adapt internal compliance systems. With more than 380,000 Ukrainians still under temporary protection, the change would be felt across construction, manufacturing and services, sectors that rely heavily on Ukrainian labour. Business associations are already lobbying for a transitional grace period, warning that abrupt status losses could exacerbate Czechia’s acute labour shortages and choke regional supply chains.
For individuals and employers looking to stay compliant under the evolving rules, using a specialized visa facilitator can save time and headaches. VisaHQ, for example, continuously tracks Czech immigration updates and helps applicants assemble the right paperwork, book appointments and monitor case status—services that apply to everything from short-term visas to long-term residence permits. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/
Revised rules would also make it harder for beneficiaries to convert temporary protection into the new five-year “special long-term stay,” a pathway that requires economic self-sufficiency, proof of insurance and minimum annual income of CZK 440,000. Applications for that status have soared—about 45,000 were filed in the first four months of 2026 alone. Beyond the 30-day rule, the bill introduces stricter penalties for organising irregular migration and centralises judicial review of security-sensitive residence cases in one specialised court. Ukrainian-registered vehicles would have to pass Czech technical inspections within six months and be transferred to the national car registry by 2028, closing another compliance loophole that police say criminal networks have exploited. For employers, the proposal raises the stakes of workforce planning. Human-resources teams will need to track employees’ cross-border travel far more closely to avoid sudden loss of work authorisation, while mobility managers must monitor the evolving conversion criteria for long-term residence. Should the legislation pass Parliament in the autumn, most provisions would take effect on 1 January 2027—giving companies roughly six months to adapt internal compliance systems. With more than 380,000 Ukrainians still under temporary protection, the change would be felt across construction, manufacturing and services, sectors that rely heavily on Ukrainian labour. Business associations are already lobbying for a transitional grace period, warning that abrupt status losses could exacerbate Czechia’s acute labour shortages and choke regional supply chains.
