Starting in April, Ukrainian refugees wishing to settle long-term in the Czech Republic will have the opportunity to apply for a special residency permit.
This permit will allow them to stay for five years and, over time, apply for permanent residency. However, the government plans to set stringent criteria, meaning only a small percentage of applicants will likely qualify. For instance, applicants will need to earn a minimum of 440,000 Czech korunas (17545 euro) gross annually.
The government acknowledges the challenge in predicting how many people will apply for the permit, citing the limited capacity of the Ministry of the Interior. According to the explanatory note for the regulation, there are concerns over the bureaucracy involved in processing the applications.
“Given the difficulty in predicting demand for special long-term residency, the lack of capacity—particularly within the Ministry of the Interior—and the innovative nature of this process, it is advised to regulate the group of potentially eligible individuals to ensure a quick process without compromising other migration responsibilities,” the document states.
As a result, the government plans to limit applications to 15-20% of economically active individuals in the first wave. Hana Malá, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior, confirmed this, stating, “Yes, the state administration must consider existing capacity.”
This stringent approach means the process must be highly automated, with uniform conditions applied nationwide. Refugees, regardless of whether they live in Prague or a small village, must meet the income requirement of at least 36,600 Czech korunas gross per month. For a family of two, such as a mother and child, the threshold rises to 45,800 Czech korunas.
As a result, the gross income requirement for a single applicant is set at 440,000 Czech korunas annually, with an additional 110,000 korunas required for each family member.
Experts argue that these conditions are designed in such a way that a significant portion of the more than 396,000 Ukrainian refugees currently in the country will be excluded. The government’s 15-20% estimate of working-age applicants is likely to be far too high.
Martin Rozumek, director of a refugee aid organization, notes, “Except for professionals in Prague or large cities, people will not be able to meet these requirements. If they have a regular job in a small town, they will not succeed.”
Filip Pertold from the CERGE economic institute agrees, adding, “A significant number of people will not meet these figures. Ukrainian refugees in our country often face difficulties in finding work matching their qualifications.”
While Ukrainian refugees currently benefit from temporary protection, it lasts for only one year. After that, they must apply for an extension. If a ceasefire or the end of the war in Ukraine occurs, the future of these individuals remains uncertain.
