Ukrainians who have been granted temporary protection in the Czech Republic can leave the country, but the length of time spent abroad and some other circumstances may lead to the loss of protection. Find out under what conditions and for how long refugees are allowed to leave the country and what you need to know in order not to lose temporary protection

An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay abroad

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Temporary protection does not restrict travel and work trips, and therefore is not canceled if refugees leave the country. First of all, the purpose of temporary protection is to provide Ukrainians with a safe haven in the Czech Republic. However, the Czech Ministry of the Interior “Naši Ukrajinci” emphasizes that long-term travel can affect other areas of stay in the Czech Republic and, in some situations, lead to the revocation of temporary protection. We will tell you what rules apply in 2024 and what is the impact of a long-term stay of refugees outside the Czech Republic.

How long can I leave the Czech Republic without losing my housing and benefits?

According to the information published by the Ministry, a long trip abroad (for a period longer than 10 days) may result in the loss of state humanitarian housing (if the refugee has not informed the person providing such housing of his or her departure).

In addition, the direct stay in the territory of the Czech Republic is inextricably linked to other aspects, including the receipt of social assistance, educational services and health insurance. In other words, the absence of a person may affect the availability of a place at school for a child or the provision of humanitarian aid.

It is important to keep in mind that Ukrainians are required to have insurance in the Czech Republic. And health insurance can be suspended only for a period of prolonged absence - at least 6 months. And if a person does not pay for insurance, he or she will accumulate a debt to the insurance company.

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How long can I leave the Czech Republic without losing temporary protection?

In general, Ukrainians who have temporary protection in the Czech Republic can travel freely to Schengen countries. The duration of such a stay is limited by the so-called Schengen rule. That is, refugees can stay in Schengen countries for no more than 90 days within a period of 180 days. If a person's stay outside the Czech Republic exceeds 90 days, temporary protection will automatically expire.

If a Ukrainian plans to travel outside the Schengen area, he or she should take into account that he or she will lose temporary protection if he or she needs to apply for a long-term visa (longer than 90 days) for such a trip. However, there are exceptions, temporary protection is preserved if the refugee receives

– Canadian W1 visas that were issued before February 10, 2023

– Canadian V1 visas;

– US visas - Uniting for Ukraine (USA ''Paroled'');

– UK “Visitor” visas for a period of up to 6 months.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that obtaining international protection or temporary protection in other countries will also automatically cancel the protection in the Czech Republic.

What documents can I use to leave the Czech Republic with temporary protection?

The Office emphasizes that the main condition is the availability of a valid foreign passport. If you do not have it, you cannot travel.

As for traveling outside the Schengen area, with a valid temporary protection visa sticker with the number of MULT entries, Ukrainians can cross the external border of the Schengen area (for example, to Ukraine) without any problems. 

However, if a person has only a certificate of extension of temporary protection or a stamp in his/her passport, it is necessary to additionally check the conditions of entry in the institutions of the country through which he/she plans to return to Schengen.

Please note! The Czech Ministry of the Interior strongly recommends not to travel outside the Schengen area without a valid visa sticker.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that to travel abroad, Ukrainians need to have appropriate insurance that will cover medical care outside the country of permanent residence. Insurance can be checked when crossing the border of any country. And in case of illness or injury, a person without insurance risks not only his or her own health but also financial stability, as it will be very expensive to go to a medical facility.

You can take out health insurance with worldwide coverage on the Visit Ukraine portal. Follow the link and apply for a policy for the required period in just a few minutes.

We remind you! Citizens of Ukraine who enjoy temporary protection in the Czech Republic will have the opportunity to obtain a long-term residence permit in the country. This will allow them to legalize their status and establish a stable foundation for their future in this country. Read more about the changes in our previous article.