Long-term residence in the Czech Republic: new requirements for Ukrainians and stricter integration criteria

The Czech Republic is tightening the conditions for Ukrainians to obtain long-term residence and is placing an emphasis on economic self-sufficiency. Find out what new requirements the government is setting and who will be eligible for special status

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The Czech government is changing its approach to Ukrainian refugees and plans to tighten the requirements for obtaining long-term status. The focus will be on economic self-sufficiency, integration into the labor market, and refusal of social benefits.

This was announced by Czech Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar at a briefing after a government meeting, according to Ukrinform.

Transition from social assistance to labor integration

According to Metnar, the Czech authorities want to increase the number of Ukrainians who work, pay taxes, and do not depend on state support. That is why the government has approved a resolution on the so-called special long-term residence program.

"We want more people to work here. The program is a tool to support working and self-sufficient people who have been living in the Czech Republic for a long time, working, paying taxes, and following the rules," Metnar emphasized.

The goal of the initiative is a clear transition from humanitarian support to a model of labor integration.

Who can obtain long-term status in the Czech Republic

The program has strict criteria. Only those Ukrainians who are fully integrated and meet the established conditions will be eligible for a special permit. The main requirements include:

● mandatory security clearance;

● no social benefits — both for the applicant and their family members;

● no insurance debts;

● mandatory schooling for children;

● gross annual family income of at least CZK 440,000;

● residence in the Czech Republic with temporary protection status for at least two years.

“We are focusing on those who are truly economically self-sufficient, have no criminal record, and want to fully integrate,” the minister emphasized.

Thus, it will become more difficult to obtain long-term residence, as the criteria are clearly aimed at economically active individuals.

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How many Ukrainians meet the new requirements

As of the beginning of the year, there are more than 390,300 people with temporary protection in the Czech Republic. Of these, more than 180,000 are working and integrated into the labor market.

Last year, 80,000 Ukrainians applied for long-term residence. However, only 17,000 were able to meet the established conditions, and 16,000 completed the registration process.

These figures show that even under the current rules, not all applicants met the requirements.

When to expect changes in legislation

According to the head of the Ministry of the Interior, the relevant law should be prepared no later than May. The new model is expected to finally consolidate the transition from humanitarian support to labor integration.

The Czech government emphasizes that long-term stays must be fair to employees and employers and help stabilize the labor market, where there is a labor shortage.

The tightening of requirements means that the issue of long-term status in the Czech Republic is becoming more legally complex. It is important to correctly assess compliance with the criteria, confirm income, verify the absence of debts, and correctly complete the documents.

If you plan to apply for long-term residence or change your residence status in the Czech Republic, it is worth consulting with specialists in advance. On the Visit Ukraine platform, you can contact immigration lawyers who will help you understand the requirements, check your compliance with the conditions, and prepare a package of documents without errors.

We remind you! The Czech Republic plans to extend the long-term residence program for Ukrainian refugees. Read about the requirements that must be met, the income that must be confirmed, and who is eligible for five-year legal status.

Photo: Getty Images

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