As in previous years, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens will be deciding whether and under what conditions they will be able to reside and work in the Czech Republic. The legislation covering the above is based primarily on the so-called Lex Ukraine VII[1] (and related implementing legislation), which was adopted and entered into force last year.
Lex Ukraine VII and current developments
Through partial amendments to the Asylum Act, the Foreigners Residence Act, and many others, the law introduced, among other things, a mechanism for granting and extending temporary protection and the institution of special long-term residence (you can read more about Lex Ukraine VII and the changes it introduced in criminal law in our article at the link here).
However, the mechanism and rules for granting and extending temporary protection and special long-term residence enshrined in Lex Ukraine VII are still valid and applicable this year, as recently confirmed by the Council of the EU, which approved the possibility of extending the temporary protection provided by Member States to Ukrainian citizens.
In this article, we summarize the essential information regarding the conditions and deadlines for extending temporary protection and granting special long-term residence valid for 2026.
Extension of temporary protection
Temporary protection can be extended by anyone who was granted or had their protection extended in 2025 and whose protection is valid until 31 March 2026. Temporary protection cannot be extended if its validity date has already passed, if it has expired in the meantime in accordance with the law, or if it has been revoked by a decision of an administrative authority.
As in previous years, the process of extending temporary protection consists of two stages:
- On-line registration: Applicants must register online by 15 March 2026 to extend their temporary protection. By registering and booking an appointment to have a visa sticker affixed, temporary protection will be extended until 30 September 2026.
- Personal visit to the Ministry of the Interior: Applicants must then have a visa sticker affixed at the Ministry of the Interior. The affixing of the visa sticker extends their temporary protection until 31 March 2027. It is necessary to have a valid travel document or other document proving identity (passport, etc.) with you.
If a person does not register online for the extension of temporary protection by 15 March 2026, temporary protection will expire on 31 March 2026. In such a case, it can be reapplied for. Repeated applications for temporary protection are assessed under the same conditions as the first application for its granting. It will thus be assessed whether the applicant meets the current conditions for granting temporary protection, although there is no guarantee that temporary protection will be granted to the applicant. The granting of repeated temporary protection also does not preserve the continuity of the previous stay with temporary protection, which is important, for example, for obtaining special long-term residence (see further in the article).
In the event of the termination of temporary protection, the foreigner loses free access to the labor market and cannot be legally employed in the Czech Republic. If they nevertheless perform work, it would be considered illegal work, for which they could face a fine of up to CZK 100,000. An employer who employs such a person is also guilty of illegal employment, for which they may be fined up to CZK 10,000,000.
We recommend that employers continuously require employees with temporary protection to provide written confirmation of its duration. Alternatively, they can verify the validity of the registration for the extension of the employee’s temporary protection via the link here.
Special long-term residence
Persons with temporary protection who meet the specified conditions (by law and the relevant government regulation) may again obtain a special residence permit in the form of special long-term residence. Special long-term residence does not replace temporary protection status. It is intended for economically self-sufficient holders of temporary protection who wish to settle in the Czech Republic.
Special long-term residence is a regular residence status under the Foreigners Residence Act, valid for 5 years, which allows free access to the labor market and does not require the holder to complete an adaptation and integration course.
Similar to temporary protection, the process of granting special long-term residence has two phases:
- Those interested in special long-term residence must express their interest during April 2026 via their user account on the Information Portal for Foreigners, which they log into using electronic identification.
- They must then register online for special long-term residence between October and 31 December 2026.
In addition to the above registration requirements, the conditions for obtaining special long-term residence include, in particular:
- continuity of residence;
- no criminal record (does not apply to persons under 15 years of age);
- economic independence (the applicant must have a total annual income of CZK 440,000 for the relevant tax period);
- not receiving humanitarian benefits in the period from 1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026;
- no health insurance debts as of 31 March 2026;
- continuous health insurance coverage for two years as of 31 March 2026 (does not apply to persons under 18 years of age);
- own accommodation;
- valid travel document; and
- school attendance in the Czech Republic for children aged 6–14 years.
Holders of special long-term residence permits may apply for permanent residence after fulfilling the condition of 5 years of continuous residence in the Czech Republic. For these purposes, special long-term residence is counted in its entirety. Previous residence on the basis of temporary protection is counted as half.
You can find more information on special long-term residence and the specific conditions for its granting at the link here.
Conclusion
Temporary protection in 2026 remains a fundamental legal instrument enabling Ukrainian citizens to legally reside in the Czech Republic and access the Czech labor market. However, in order to maintain it, it is essential to comply with the set deadlines, in particular timely online registration by 15 March 2026 and a subsequent personal visit to the Ministry of the Interior office for the purpose of affixing a visa sticker.
Failure to comply with these steps may result in the termination of temporary protection and thus the loss of the right to work legally in the Czech Republic, which may have significant legal consequences for both the foreigners themselves and their employers.
In addition to extending temporary protection, it is still possible to obtain a special long-term residence permit, which is a more stable residence status intended primarily for economically self-sufficient persons with a long-term intention to remain in the Czech Republic. For many temporary protection holders, this institution can be an important step towards longer-term integration, as it allows free access to the labor market and also counts towards the period required to obtain permanent residence.
It is therefore crucial for both foreigners and employers to monitor the current legislative conditions and deadlines set by the law or the guidelines and methodologies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in particular.
If you have any questions regarding temporary protection, special long-term residence, or foreign and labor law in general, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will continue to monitor further legislative developments and changes in conditions for you.
[1] Act No. 24/2025 Coll., amending Act No. 65/2022 Coll., on certain measures in connection with the armed conflict in the territory of Ukraine caused by the invasion of the Russian Federation’s troops, as amended, and other related acts.
Mgr. Jakub Málek, managing partner – malek@plegal.cz
Ráchel Kouklíková, lawyer – kouklikova@plegal.cz
12. 3. 2026