Czech Republic Introduces Special Long-Term Residence Permit for Ukrainians

The Czech Republic has announced a new mechanism for obtaining a long-term residence permit for Ukrainian refugees residing in the country. This special residence permit is available only to those who have lived in the Czech Republic for two years, have an annual income of at least 440,000 crowns, and have not received humanitarian aid since July 2024. All others who do not meet these criteria will remain under temporary protection status.

This is reported by AgroReview

The Czech government made the decision to implement this permit on March 18, 2025. The new mechanism aims to provide refugees who have achieved financial independence and integrated into Czech society with the opportunity to transition to a more stable status.

Strict Conditions for Obtaining the Permit

However, the new initiative has faced criticism from NGOs and human rights advocates, who point out the strict conditions. To obtain the long-term permit, Ukrainians must meet the following requirements:

• reside in the Czech Republic under temporary protection status for at least two years (since March 2023);
• not receive humanitarian aid since July 2024;
• have official employment or entrepreneurial activity in the Czech Republic;
• regularly pay taxes and social contributions;
• have no criminal convictions or debts for health insurance;
• annual income must be at least 440,000 crowns (approximately 17,500 euros); this amount increases by 110,000 crowns for each additional family member;
• the applicant’s children must attend school in the Czech Republic.

Assessment of Potential Applicants

Considering the new conditions, representatives of NGOs working with migrants and the Office of the Public Defender of Rights note that such requirements may only be met by a very limited number of refugees. According to estimates from the Czech Ministry of the Interior, approximately 20,000 individuals may qualify for the special residence permit out of more than 659,970 Ukrainians who have received temporary protection since the beginning of the war.

Human rights advocates insist on the need to expand opportunities for obtaining various types of residence permits. At the same time, the Czech Ministry of the Interior emphasizes that changes to the current legislation are necessary for this.

Since the onset of the full-scale war, the Czech Republic has become an important refuge for Ukrainians, and as of December 2024, nearly 400,000 Ukrainian refugees have been registered in the country, having received temporary protection status. The Czech Republic demonstrates the highest rate of accepting Ukrainian refugees per capita among EU countries – approximately 36 individuals per 1,000 residents.