Temporary Protection - Czechia | DIP EUAA
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Czechia originally transposed the Temporary Protection Directive through Act No. 221/2003 Coll on Temporary Protection of Aliens.
The Government of Czechia activated temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine on 21 March 2022 through the Act No. 65/2022 Coll. The law was initially effective until 31 March 2023 but was extended upon a Council Decision.
On 11 February 2024, the Czech government approved the latest amendment to the law (Lex Ukraine 7) enabling Ukrainian refugees who are economically self-sufficient and independent of the benefit system to obtain a special long-term residence permit.
Since the beginning of 2025, holders of temporary protection were able to register again for its extension which is currently valid until 2026. Similar to previous years, the process included online registration and subsequent marking of the visa sticker at the Ministry of the Interior.
Act No. 65/2022 Coll and subsequent amendments | Zákon č. 65/2022 Sb., o některých opatřeních v souvislosti s ozbrojeným konfliktem na území Ukrajiny vyvolaným invazí vojsk Ruské federace
| Area | Competent national authority | Assistance to the competent authority (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| Screening at the external border (if relevant) | Foreign Police Service | Služba cizinecké policie | |
| Biometric data (if relevant) | Asylum and Migration Policy Department | Odbor azylové a migrační politiky | |
| Granting temporary protection | Asylum and Migration Policy Department | Odbor azylové a migrační politiky Foreign Police Service |[Služba cizinecké policie | |
| Issuing the residence permit | Asylum and Migration Policy Department | Odbor azylové a migrační politiky | |
| Providing accommodation | Refugee Facilities Administration | Správa uprchlických zařízení | |
| Medical care | Ministry of Health | Ministerstvo Zdravotnictví | Ministry of Interior of The Czech Republic | Ministerstvo vnitra České republiky |
| Social welfare | Labour Office of Czechia | Úřad práce ČR |
According to Article 3 of Act No 65/2022 Coll., people eligible for temporary protection are anyone fleeing the armed conflict in Ukraine, as defined in the Article 2(1) and (2) of the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022. Temporary protection will be provided in Czechia in particular to the following persons:
- Citizens of Ukraine who resided in Ukraine before February 24, 2022 and subsequently left Ukraine.
- Stateless persons and foreigners who have been granted some form of international protection in Ukraine and who resided in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 and subsequently left it.
- Family members of the persons mentioned above who stayed with them in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 and subsequently left Ukraine. Family member means the spouse, registered partner, unmarried minor and relatives dependent on care and living in the family. (Family member means the spouse, registered partner, unmarried minor and relatives dependent on care and living in the family.)
Foreigners who were in possession of a valid permanent residence permit in Ukraine and their return to their country of origin or former habitual residence is not possible due to threat or real danger as foreseen in § 179 paragraph 2 of the Act on the Residence of Foreigners in the Czech Republic.
Temporary protection maybe also granted due to family reunification with the holder of temporary protection, or exceptionally in other cases.
An application for temporary protection is inadmissible if
- is not submitted in person,
- is filed by a foreigner who does not belong to any of the categories listed above
- is lodged by a foreigner who has applied for temporary protection in another Member State of the European Union; or
- it is lodged by a foreigner who has been granted temporary protection in another Member State of the European Union.
- is lodged by a foreigner who is a citizen of the European Union, of a State bound by an international treaty negotiated with the European Union from which he/she derives a right to free movement equivalent to that of citizens of the European Union, or of a State bound by the Agreement on the European Economic Area and their family members.
Czechia does not implement any specific entry conditions.
- If a person arrives without a valid travel document, identity can be proved with a Ukrainian identity card. If the person does not have any identity documents, s/he should contact the Embassy of Ukraine in Czechia to confirm nationality.
- Every foreigner arriving in Czechia is obliged to register with the police at the Foreigners' Residence Unit of the Department of Foreign Police (in the case of hotel or other type of accommodation facilities, the provider of accommodation is responsible for reporting). Ukrainians arriving in Czechia are registered in the Foreigner Information System (CIS) upon arrival. The deadline for registration has been extended up to 30 days counting from the day of arrival. Children under the age of 15 are not obliged to report their place of residence.
- A special working group for IT was also established at the Ministry of the Interior to make the whole system as efficient as possible.
There is no systematic medical screening in place when entering the country.
Information platforms (websites)
Dedicated websites ipc.gov.cz and nasiukrajinci.cz launched by the Ministry of Interior as a central point of information for displaced persons. Ministry of the Interior website on Information for Ukrainian Citizens
Information points
At the Regional Assistance Centres for Help and Assistance to Ukraine (KACPU) in person information is provided in Ukrainian and Russian.
Dedicated contacts
Telephone lines:
- Ministry of Interior helpline to provide the necessary information and assistance: +420 974 801 802
E-mail address:
- Ministry of Interior: ukrajina@mv.gov.cz
Other
- The main news broadcasted by the Czech Television is interpreted to Ukrainian and a public Radio Ukraine was established in order to help citizens of Ukraine to get oriented in Czechia.
They also offer educative videos with Ukrainian subtitles for children on CT Edu.
- Other actors/NGOs providing assistance and information to displaced persons from Ukraine include:
• Organization for Aid to Refugees
• META (education- integration)
• Caritas Czech Republic
• Refugees Welcome
• Association for Integration and Migration
• CARE Czech Republic
• Diakonie
Every person fleeing Ukraine is obliged to report their place of residence in Czechia to the Foreign Police within 3 days of their arrival.
Registration for temporary protection takes place at:
- The KACPU centres which operate as a one-stop service point to facilitate registration and the assistance process for those arriving from Ukraine; and
- The OAMP workplace of the Ministry of the Interior.
As of 1st April 2023, all KACPU transitioned under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior, without any fundamental changes in their operation.
At the KACPU, the following categories of people can apply for temporary protection:
- Ukrainian nationals who arrived in Czechia after 24 February 2022
- Family members of Ukrainian nationals, regardless of nationality, who travelled with them.
Ukrainian nationals who do not fall within the above categories can apply for temporary protection at the OAMP workplace of the Ministry of the Interior.
As of mid-2024 until November, Czechia piloted programme for voluntary returns to Ukraine.
| Registration | The registration for Temporary Protection takes place at the KACPU which operates as a one-stop service point for specific categories of beneficiaries (see above). A list of regional centres is available here. OAMP workplace of the Ministry of the Interior. Applications are accepted in person. Children under the age of 15 are not obliged to be present at the centres. However, their parents / legal representatives will need documents proving their identity, date of entry and authorization to act on behalf of them, and a photograph of the applicant (passport format). Interpretation is also provided. KAPCU one-stop service points: A network of regional assistance centres was set up across the country to facilitate the registration and assistance process for those arriving from Ukraine. Typically, KACPU offers assistance with the following services: ensuring registration and residence permits provision of accommodation in KACPU Ostrava children’s corner at some of the centres. At the KACPU centres, instructional videos might be broadcasted to share important information. Interpreters in Ukrainian and Russian languages are present all the time to disseminate all the necessary information as well as to prevent misunderstandings. Documentation: The list of necessary documentation is available here. The temporary protection application form for manual completion is available here. Apart from a complete form a valid passport (if the person applying is a holder) and confirmation of accommodation are needed. In the absence of a valid passport, if people are able to prove their identity by presenting a Ukrainian identify card or passport, or documents from the Register of Vital Records, and proof of when they crossed the border, they can still apply for temporary protection. In case a parent is applying for his/her absent child, a photo in the passport format is needed as well. People who are not in possession of a valid passport but have been granted temporary protection and prove that they need to travel outside Czechia are issued a Travel Identity Document. An application for temporary protection may be considered inadmissible if the persons applying do not fulfil the eligibility criteria. |
|---|---|
| Residence permit | The Department of Asylum and Migration Policy (OAMP) of the Ministry of Interior is able to grant temporary protection in the form a special long-term visa with the code D/DO. Persons who were issued a special long-term visa prior to the introduction of temporary protection and who now qualify for temporary protection were automatically transferred to the temporary protection system. No action was required from their end. The original visa sticker or visa stamp they received when they were granted the special long-term visa serves as a proof that they have temporary protection. Persons who are not eligible for temporary protection may apply for a visa for a stay for over 90 days for the purpose of tolerated stay under a standard procedure or asylum. |
| Legal aid | No information currently available. |
| Appeal | An appeal against the decision not granting temporary protection can be submitted before the Commission for decision-making in matters of residence of foreigners against a decision. The grounds for an appeal of a decision on temporary protection are laid down in Section 4(1) of Act No.65/2022 Coll. in conjunction with Section 56(5) of Act No.326/1999 Coll. and furthermore, in conjunction with Section 180e(2) of the same Act] |
| Exclusion | Reasons for exclusion are described in Act No 221/2003 Coll. on Temporary Protection of Aliens, Article 9, which corresponds to Article 28 of the Temporary Protection Directive: (1) Temporary protection residence permit cannot be issued if there is a well-founded suspicion that the applicant for temporary protection: a) has committed a crime against peace, war crime or crime against humanity in the sense of international documents containing provisions on these crimes; b) is guilty of acts which are in contradiction with the principles and objectives of United Nations; or c) may pose a risk for the State security. (2) Temporary protection residence permit can be refused to an applicant who: a) has been effectively sentenced for committing an especially serious crime provided that this fact continues to pose risk to the society; or b) stated false information or withheld facts important for determination of the real state of facts. (3) Temporary protection residence permit cannot be issued if there is a well-founded suspicion that the applicant for temporary protection committed on the territory of another state before the submission of temporary protection application a serious crime. |
| Termination/Withdrawal | The grounds for termination or withdrawal of temporary protection are laid down in Articles 9, 10, and 11 of Act No. 221/2003 Coll. of 2003, on Temporary Protection of Aliens (1) Temporary protection residence permit is withdrawn if: an alien on temporary protection gains temporary protection of another state or when he/she is issued permanent or similar residence permit by another state; the alien on temporary protection was issued permanent residence permit under special legal regulation, or when reasons for which the temporary protection residence permit cannot be issued were identified. (2) Temporary protection residence permit can be withdrawn if a reason, for which the issuance of temporary protection residence permit can be refused, was found. (3) If the reason on the basis of which temporary protection residence permit for the purpose of family reunion has been issued ceases to exist and if no other reason deserving consideration is identified, this residence permit shall be withdrawn. Temporary protection residence permit ceases to exist: when the person concerned dies or is proclaimed dead; when the period, for which temporary protection was provided, expires; when the person is granted asylum on the Territory or is recognized as a refugee under international convention; on the day when the Ministry received a written statement of an alien on temporary protection in the CR (with a notarized signature) renouncing his/her temporary protection residence permit; on the basis of a Governmental decision terminating the temporary protection regime (Article 62); or on the basis of the EU Council decision on the termination of the temporary protection regime. |
The national contingency had been planned for accepting around 250,000 registered persons (which corresponds to 2.5% of the whole Czech population). At the time of high influx, emergency shelters were created to accommodate newly arriving persons. Nevertheless, the emergency shelters were used only for the first days and the newcomers were moved to other accommodation more suitable for long term accommodation.
Initial reception: If persons arriving from Ukraine have no accommodation, they should reach the regional assistance centre for Ukraine (KAPCU Ostrava). An Infoline is also available at +420974801802.
Accommodation: Currently 2 types of accommodation are in place:
Short-term shelter (“krátkodobé přístřeší”) in Ostrava for persons who are waiting for the opening of the KACPU or those who are waiting to be granted temporary protection and do not have their own accommodation. The place providing short-term shelter is open non-stop.
State humanitarian accommodation is provided up to 90 days for free through Regional Assistance Centre for Ukraine. 90 days is counted from the day after the first temporary protection was granted.
Provision for means to obtain housing: From 1 July 2023, housing-related allowance is included in the humanitarian benefit provided directly to foreigners with temporary protection status. The person must visit Labour Office to request this benefit and must live in a separate apartment that is registered in the register of apartments and contracts.
| Rights | Description |
|---|---|
| Access to the labour market | A person who is granted temporary protection can directly access the labour market in Czechia, without needing an additional work permit. Employers are obliged to report new employees who are beneficiaries of temporary protection to the relevant regional branch of the Labour Office. The Ministry of Agriculture has a dedicated webpage with information for Czech employers and Ukrainian citizens interested in working in agriculture. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs provides on its websites information for Ukrainians concerning social benefits as well as information on how the Czech social system works. Throughout their Labour offices, they provide information for employers of Ukrainians as well as for Ukrainian employees in the Czech Republic. All this information is provided both in Czech and Ukrainian languages. For additional information consult the Overview of national measures regarding employment and social security of displaced persons coming from Ukraine - Country Fiches by the European Labour Authority. |
| Access to medical care | Upon issuance of a visa on the basis of temporary protection, beneficiaries participate in the public health insurance system with full access to health care. Even prior to completing this process, beneficiaries still have access to urgent medical care, if needed. Basic information for citizens of Ukraine on the health services is available here. Information is available at:
|
| Social welfare assistance and means of subsistence | From 1 July 2023, the TP holders can apply for humanitarian benefit. The amount of humanitarian benefit depends on the subsistence minimum and on the vulnerabilities. Relevant information is available here. |
| Education | Act No. 67/2022 Coll. Introduces a number of measures and exceptions to facilitate the inclusion in education at all levels of children of temporary protection beneficiaries. Measures include the possibility of some of the entry exams in Ukrainian and an exemption from the fee for the validation of a diploma or the possibility to replace a document proving previous education with an affidavit. Special enrolment is foreseen for children of beneficiaries for pre-school and primary education for the next school year. An exception is foreseen for the admission procedure to other levels of education for next year. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has created a webpage with tailored information for Ukrainian citizens on topics related to the Czech education system, including among others information on employment opportunities for Ukrainian nationals; a comparison between the Czech and the Ukrainian education system; resources for distant education; integration of Ukrainian nationals into the Czech education system; information on school counselling facilities and many more. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has created a webpage with methodological guidelines to facilitate admission of Ukrainian children to kindergartens and primary schools. Information with instructions is directed to school principals and bilingual information (Czech-Ukrainian) is offered to Ukrainian nationals on admission and non-admission to kindergartens and primary schools. The Czech National Agency for International Education and Research has created a dedicated webpage to provide all the necessary information for Ukrainian scientists, researchers and other scholars who come to the Czech, including information on what to arrange upon arrival in Czechia, where they can find a job and what social services are available to them. A second webpage by the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research provides information on various forms of assistance activities to Ukrainian students , academics and scientists. |
| Family reunification | According to Section 51 of Act No. 221/2003 Coll. of 2003, on Temporary Protection of Aliens Temporary protection may also be granted due to family reunification with the holder of temporary protection. This concerns close family members who resided in Ukraine before 24 February 2022. Assuming a family connection can be proven, close family members include spouses/ registered partners, minor unmarried children of a citizen of Ukraine, parents of an unmarried minor citizen of Ukraine, and in certain circumstances, another dependent relative of a citizen of Ukraine, are considered close family members. |
| Other | Communication: To facilitate communication between beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and Czech authorities the Ministry of Interior used existing eGovernment tools and translated the websites chciidentitu.cz (get a citizen’s certificate) and chcidatovku.cz (create a databox) into Ukrainian and Russian. Pets: The veterinary conditions for the entry of pet animals from Ukraine to the territory of the Czech Republic due to an emergency situation are defined by the State Veterinary Administration. |
Ukrainian minors who are accompanied by persons other than their legal guardian (i.e. especially parents), often come with a power of attorney from their parents, which is accepted by Czech authorities. If the child does not have any proof of identity (birth certificate, travel document), the identification of the child is based on the information received by the child itself and the responsible adult person.
General provisions for third country national unaccompanied minors also apply in the case of unaccompanied minors from Ukraine.
Accommodation
Unaccompanied minors are placed in the Facility for Children of Foreign Nationals (a specialized state facility), where they are provided with full care (accommodation, food, clothing, etc.), as well as other services (psychological, therapeutic, educational, medical, social and legal). Foster care is used especially for children of preschool and younger school age.
a) Ukrainian minors who are accompanied by persons other than their legal guardian often come with a power of attorney from their parents, which is accepted by Czech authorities. In case that the minors come with a member of broader family or family friends, the Czech Republic prefers to preserve these ties and the children stay with these people. Also, the wishes of the biological family and especially the wishes of the unaccompanied minors are respected. Accommodation suitable for children, e.g. where food is provided and conditions are suitable for children (guest houses, hotels) is offered.
b) In the case that the whole group consisting of minors from Children's homes or Orphanage come with their educators, it is preferred to keep the whole group together and the possibility of accommodation for the entire group is sought, including the provision of additional care.
Appropriate support is provided, as needed.
Czechia does not currently implement any solidarity measures for the relocation of people who are eligible for temporary protection.
According to § 6 (45 Act No. 65/2022 Coll, If an alien who has been granted temporary protection pursuant to this Act submits an application for international protection or, at the time of filing the application for temporary protection pursuant to this Act, proceedings in international protection pursuant to the Asylum Act are conducted, international protection is suspended for the duration of the temporary protection under this Act; an entry shall be made in the file in the matter of international protection. This person is not considered an applicant for international protection.
According to information provided by the Ministry of Interior “in the current situation, asylum procedure is not an optimal solution. It is faster and more efficient to request temporary protection which gives free access to the labour market. However, every foreign national has the right to apply for asylum (information regarding the international protection procedure can be found here, international protection application can be submitted here)”.