Policy and research developments in migrant integration in the Czech Republic

Return of special long-term residence permits for people displaced from Ukraine

The Czech government approved another registration round for special long-term residence permits for temporary protection holders. This status is designed as a tool to support self-sufficient temporary protection holders living in the Czech Republic for the long-term, who can demonstrate that they work, pay taxes and follow the rules.

The formal registration for granting residency will take place from October to December 2026.

The conditions for obtaining the status remain the same as previously: at least 2 years of continuous residence in the Czech Republic under temporary protection, a valid travel document, a clean criminal record and proof of economic self-sufficiency (a minimum annual income of 440 000 CZK; 17 530 EUR for an individual), secured accommodation, or not receiving humanitarian benefits for at least 6 months.

In 2025, approximately 80 000 people expressed interest in this type of residence permit, of whom 17 000 received confirmation that they met the criteria.

Government ministries collaborate to tackle illegal employment

The Ministry of Finance, together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, and their subordinate organisations, is launching the KOBRA 26 initiative. Its goal is to significantly reduce illegal and disguised employment. Targeted inspections will be carried out focusing on employers and recruitment agencies with a higher probability of illegal hiring practices.

The issue of illegal labour is closely linked to migrant employment. The Association of Personnel Service Providers (APPS) is currently preparing a collaboration with several regional Centers for the Integration of Migrants. APPS brings together agencies that adhere to ethical principles, the labour code, and the principles of transparent recruitment. It has long highlighted the problem of "pseudo-agencies" that bypass legislation and, in some cases, lead to the exploitation of (migrant) workers.

Government publishes regional data on education of people displaced from Ukraine

The Ministry of Education shared statistics on children displaced from Ukraine in regional education, up-to-date as of the commencement of the academic year in September 2025. At this time there were a total of 81 126 children and students with Ukrainian citizenship in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and conservatories. Of these, 55 348 were holders of temporary protection, which represents 3.0% of all students in Czech regional education.

In kindergartens the number of Ukrainians increased since 2024 by 2.1%; in primary schools there was a slight decrease of 0.4%. Ukrainian students in primary schools are shown to be primarily concentrated in public schools, where they make up 4.1% of students, compared to 1.3% in non-public schools. The number of Ukrainian students in secondary schools grew sharply (by 30.4%) from 2024 to 2025. In secondary schools, the share of Ukrainians in public and non-public schools is identical at 1.8%.

The concentration of Ukrainian students is not uniform across the Czech Republic-the Capital City of Prague, the Karlovy Vary Region, and the Plzeň Region show the highest numbers. The data confirms the successful process of integrating refugees into mainstream classes with minimal segregated instruction.

The published analytical report can be viewed here, and the related infographic here.

Positive public perception of integration of people displaced from Ukraine

The Public Opinion Research Centre (CVVM) published the results of a survey conducted in October and November investigating the attitudes of the Czech public towards people displaced from Ukraine. The findings show that the integration of this group is overall perceived positively, with 61% of Czech residents saying they believe inclusion measures are succeeding.

The majority of respondents (88%) said they encounter people displaced from Ukraine in public, while roughly a quarter interact with them at work, among friends, or in schools. Less than a quarter (23%) of the public supports their permanent settlement, while 60% prefer only temporary hosting. The view that the Czech Republic has 'accepted more refugees than it can manage' is held by 47% of respondents; 40% consider the number to be appropriate. It should be noted that due to a shift in CVVM's research methodology, these results are not directly comparable to previous surveys.

Ministry of the Interior submits new draft of Act on the entry and residence of migrants

The Ministry of the Interior submitted a completely new Act on the Entry and Residence of Migrants with a proposed effective date of 1 January 2029. The Act represents a comprehensive recodification of residency laws, replacing the current legal framework with a new information system and procedures that significantly transform existing practices.

Under the new system, residence applications will be processed electronically via the 'ICAS' system, which will enable online submissions, data sharing, and accelerated processing. Greater responsibility will be introduced for so-called guarantors (e.g., employers of foreigners), the possibility of revoking residence for high-risk individuals will be strengthened, and registration will now be mandatory for EU citizens, who have previously undergone registration only on a voluntary basis.

Research report on attitudes of public and migrants in Czechia in 2025

New research examines the integration of third-country nationals (TCNs) in Czechia through the attitudes of both the native Czech public and migrants. Conducted by Geomigrace (Department of Social Geography and Regional Development, Charles University, Prague) and non-profit organisation Slovo 21, the process comprised a representative survey among 1 240 native residents with focus groups among people displaced from Ukraine, people from Arab countries, and the Vietnamese minority in Czechia.

Overall, the findings show abstract skepticism toward migration, but favorable views of legally residing, qualified TCNs, especially students and educated women. Perceptions of migrants were found to depend on the legality of their status, their occupation and their cultural proximity. Survey respondents were found to overestimate migrant shares in the population and to have attitudes towards migrants positively affected by personal interaction. TCNs were found to assess others pragmatically, prioritising legal status and work, and to reject stereotyping. The research concludes that effective migrant integration depends on centring on local contact, language acquisition, clear rights information and faster recognition of qualifications.

Foreigners in the Czech Republic 2025

The Czech Statistical Office recently published its 25th publication in the series 'Foreigners in the Czech Republic'. The report includes data from 2024 in a number of areas: Demographic information (including age, sex, national origin, civil status); International protection and asylum (including applications, proceedings, decisions); Economic activity (including employment, wages, trade licences); Education; Crime; Healthcare; Illegal entry and stay of persons on the territory of the Czech Republic.

As of 31 December 2024, there were 1 094 089 migrants legally residing in the Czech Republic. Of these, more than two-thirds (65.9 %; 720 723 individuals) held some form of temporary residence permit. This category includes TCNs holding long-term visas, long-term residence permits, or those granted temporary protection status, as well as EU citizens and their family members with registered temporary residence. A total of 370 802 migrants held valid permanent residence permits in the country. The remaining 2 564 individuals were migrants granted international protection (i.e., asylum or subsidiary protection). The publication is available online in both Czech and English.