Ukrainian nationals who immigrate to Czech Republic from Ukraine benefit from a set of special rules, given the emergency situation that such citizens currently face.
Although in normal conditions Ukraine represents a 3rd party country for Czech Republic, which implies that Ukrainians must apply for visas, in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the nationals of this country can relocate here under emergency immigration procedures.
In this context, those who immigrate to Czech Republic from Ukraine are considered refugees and they are allowed to apply for temporary protection.
If you need legal advice or legal representation, our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic remains at your service.
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How can Ukrainians immigrate to Czech Republic?
Currently, Ukrainians can relocate to Czech Republic without applying for a visa, if the duration of the stay is limited to 90 days.
For this, the foreigner must have a valid biometric passport, but in the current situation, where Ukrainians are forced to flee the country, one can also arrive here without a passport.
Once the person received the right to stay in Czech Republic, it is mandatory to address to the local Foreign Police office, in order to register with the institution.
The registration should be done in a period of maximum 30 days after the arrival in Czech Republic. This procedure can also be completed by the person/entity who provides accommodation for the Ukrainian citizen.
Ukrainians can apply for temporary protection once they arrive in Czech Republic; temporary protection is also extended to other categories of persons.
Besides the citizens of Ukraine who fled Ukraine after 24th of March 2022, this rule also applies to: 1) persons who received international protection in Ukraine before the 24th of March 2022; 2) citizens who had permanent residency in Ukraine; 3) family members of Ukrainian citizens.
What is the Lex Ukraine?
Lex Ukraine represents the set of laws that were enacted in Czech Republic after the beginning of the war in Ukraine, which forced millions to relocate to neighboring countries and other EU states.
Although EU states implement the same EU directives when it comes to forced immigration, each country has the right to impose its own rules, in accordance with the capabilities of the respective state to sustain the needs of relocated foreigners.
In Czech Republic, the following legal framework is available:
- temporary protection was defined under the Act no. 65/2022;
- another legislation, the Act no. 66/2022, establishes the conditions in which Ukrainians can work in Czech Republic;
- an additional rule, very important for those who immigrate to Czech Republic from Ukraine with children, refers to the access of Ukrainian children to the Czech public school system;
- the 3 laws are available on the Czech territory starting with 21 March 2022 to 31 March 2024;
- persons who apply for temporary protection have the right to stay in Czech Republic for up to 1 year.
Please mind that the Ukrainians who currently have their residence in Czech Republic can benefit from an extended temporary protection. The law has been modified to provide temporary protection status until 31 March 2024.
Ukrainians living here have to complete their application with the Ministry of the Interior, as per the latest regulations of the Lex Ukraine IV.
What rights are granted to Ukrainians moving to Czech Republic?
The refugee status provides multiple rights to Ukrainians; our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic can offer an in-depth presentation on the extensive list of rights one can obtain.
Firstly, Ukrainians who have the refugee status are entitled to access the labor market following a more simplified procedure. This right is, however, granted only for the duration of the temporary protection.
A 2nd advantage is that Ukrainians can benefit from social security based on humanitarian reasons. A 3rd advantage is that the children of Ukrainians refugees can participate in the school system.
For additional information on this subject, please refer to our immigration lawyer in Czech Republic.
