In March 2025, Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, and Minister of the Interior, Vit Rakušan, proposed an amendment to the Act on Asylum foreseeing faster deportation of illegally staying foreigners, stricter checks on the residence of asylum seekers, stricter security checks or reduction of benefits paid to certain applicants (i.e. applicants with disruptive behaviour). The proposal contains measures aimed at limiting the abuse of the asylum system and more effective expulsion of security-risk and illegally residing foreigners. According to the press release of the MoI, the most important proposed measures include linking negative asylum decisions with return decisions and broader security screening of applicants, which will speed up and streamline the deportation of illegal migrants and people posing a security risk.
Key points of the amendment include:
- Restrictions on asylum applications for persons seeking to avoid deportation or who are subject to extradition.
- Faster expulsion of foreigners who do not have the right to remain in the Czech Republic, including combining the decision to not grant asylum with a return decision.
- Better control of the residence of asylum seekers, e.g. the obligation to reside in asylum facilities and the possibility of officially determining their place of residence.
- Lowering standards for asylum seekers, including limiting state-funded healthcare and material benefits in the event of disruptive behaviour by the applicant.
- Expanding security screening of asylum seekers and irregular migrants, including the possibility of using EU databases and mobile phone data.
- Acceleration of asylum procedures and court proceedings in cases of appeal against asylum decisions.
- Tightening controls at international airports to prevent their misuse for illegal migration.
