Multinational employers in Czechia received welcome clarity on 22 May 2026 when global immigration law firm Fragomen reported that the Czech government has quietly created a new five-year residence permit for people who have held EU temporary protection for at least two years and can prove they are economically self-sufficient. The measure gives Ukrainian professionals—and the companies that rely on them—a medium-term alternative to annual extensions of temporary protection, which currently run until March 2027.
![Czechia Introduces Five-Year Residence Permit for Long-Term Holders of Ukraine Temporary Protection]()
For Ukrainian nationals or employers looking for hands-on assistance with this new permit or any other Czech immigration process, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork, schedule appointments, and keep applicants updated on compliance requirements; visit https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/ to see how their specialists can help.
Under the scheme, applicants must show a valid employment contract or documented income at least equal to the Czech subsistence minimum (currently CZK 4 860 per month) and health-insurance coverage. Time spent under the new permit will count toward the five-year qualifying period for EU long-term resident status, something that time under temporary protection does not. Applications can be filed in-country through the Ministry of the Interior’s Foreigners’ Portal, avoiding trips to Czech consulates abroad. For employers, the new pathway streamlines staff-planning: once approved, the permit removes the uncertainty of annual protection renewals and eliminates the risk that a geopolitical decision in Brussels could suddenly make workers undocumented. Fragomen notes that companies should begin transitioning key employees early, as demand for appointments is expected to surge and digital filing requires up-to-date electronic signatures from both employee and employer. The announcement aligns with broader Czech efforts to digitalise immigration processes. From 1 January 2026, Czechia moved most residence-permit filings online and began issuing biometric cards with remote-update capability. The five-year permit will be delivered on the same smart-card platform, meaning address updates and employer changes can be handled via the e-Doklady mobile app once the holder has picked up their first physical card. Corporate mobility managers should audit their Ukrainian talent pool to identify who meets the 24-month threshold and budget at least CZK 2 500 per application in administrative fees. While the policy still requires formal publication in the Collection of Laws, the Interior Ministry has confirmed to sector associations that it will accept applications immediately under an “administrative discretion” clause, provided applicants attach a cover letter citing Section 182b of the Foreigners’ Residence Act.
For Ukrainian nationals or employers looking for hands-on assistance with this new permit or any other Czech immigration process, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork, schedule appointments, and keep applicants updated on compliance requirements; visit https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/ to see how their specialists can help.
Under the scheme, applicants must show a valid employment contract or documented income at least equal to the Czech subsistence minimum (currently CZK 4 860 per month) and health-insurance coverage. Time spent under the new permit will count toward the five-year qualifying period for EU long-term resident status, something that time under temporary protection does not. Applications can be filed in-country through the Ministry of the Interior’s Foreigners’ Portal, avoiding trips to Czech consulates abroad. For employers, the new pathway streamlines staff-planning: once approved, the permit removes the uncertainty of annual protection renewals and eliminates the risk that a geopolitical decision in Brussels could suddenly make workers undocumented. Fragomen notes that companies should begin transitioning key employees early, as demand for appointments is expected to surge and digital filing requires up-to-date electronic signatures from both employee and employer. The announcement aligns with broader Czech efforts to digitalise immigration processes. From 1 January 2026, Czechia moved most residence-permit filings online and began issuing biometric cards with remote-update capability. The five-year permit will be delivered on the same smart-card platform, meaning address updates and employer changes can be handled via the e-Doklady mobile app once the holder has picked up their first physical card. Corporate mobility managers should audit their Ukrainian talent pool to identify who meets the 24-month threshold and budget at least CZK 2 500 per application in administrative fees. While the policy still requires formal publication in the Collection of Laws, the Interior Ministry has confirmed to sector associations that it will accept applications immediately under an “administrative discretion” clause, provided applicants attach a cover letter citing Section 182b of the Foreigners’ Residence Act.
