The Czech government supported changes to the law on Ukrainian refugees: stricter conditions for stay and receipt of humanitarian aid
The issue of temporary protection for Ukrainians in the Czech Republic is gradually moving from an emergency humanitarian response to stricter administrative control. After several years of special rules, the Czech authorities are trying to more accurately distinguish those who actually live in the country and need support from cases where the status or benefits are used without actually staying in the Czech Republic. Against this background, the government has supported changes to the legislation that may significantly affect some Ukrainians with temporary protection.
The Czech government has supported an amendment to the legislation on Ukrainian refugees
The Czech government has supported legislative changes that may affect some Ukrainians with temporary protection if they stay outside the country for a long time, receive humanitarian aid without actually residing in the Czech Republic, or use cars with Ukrainian registration without entering them in the local register. As reports the Novinky edition, the new rules will primarily concern the fight against abuse of the aid system and illegal migration.
According to Interior Minister Lyubomir Metnar, the changes should not affect foreigners who work in the Czech Republic, follow the rules and are legally in the country. The main emphasis is on situations where a person uses protection or assistance, although he does not actually live in the Czech Republic or violates the established conditions.
Residence permit may be revoked due to prolonged absence
One of the key provisions of the amendment is the rule regarding stay outside the Schengen area. If it is established that a foreigner with temporary protection has been outside the Schengen area for more than 30 days, his residence permit may become invalid.
This requirement will apply to people who have temporary protection status in the Czech Republic, but spend a significant part of their time outside the country. The government wants to close the possibility in which a person retains Czech status, although his actual place of residence is connected to another state for a long time.
Short trips abroad will remain possible
Legislative changes do not cancel the right of Ukrainians with temporary protection to travel outside the Czech Republic for a short time. Trips to relatives, business matters or other short trips should not automatically deprive a person of the right to stay or assistance.
An important limit will be the duration of the absence. If a person leaves for a short time and continues to actually reside in the Czech Republic, such circumstances should not create problems for his status. Another situation will arise when the stay abroad exceeds the established limit.
Humanitarian assistance will be tied to actual stay in the Czech Republic
A separate block of changes concerns humanitarian assistance. According to the new rules, recipients of benefits must be in the Czech Republic for at least 16 days during the month for which the benefit is accrued.
Such a rule should prevent payments to people who are registered in the Czech Republic, but spend most of the month in another country. The government’s logic is that humanitarian aid is intended for those who actually live in the Czech Republic and need support on the spot.
According to the data cited by Metnar, as of March, there were 385,040 Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic, of whom 90,000 received assistance. The minister also reported several hundred cases of abuse detected since the beginning of the year and more than forty criminal cases in which losses exceed 18 million crowns.
Ukrainian cars will fall under new requirements
The legislative changes also provide for changes for some drivers who use cars with Ukrainian license plates. They may be required to register their vehicles in the Czech registry.
This norm has a separate launch date. If the legislative changes are finally adopted, the rules for cars will come into effect on January 1, 2028. Such a delayed start will give vehicle owners more time to prepare documents and meet the requirements.
When the new rules can come into effect
The government’s support does not mean that all the rules will automatically come into force. The amendment must be considered by both houses of parliament, after which the document must be signed by the president.
If the procedure is successful, the main part of the changes will come into force on January 1, 2027. The regulations on the registration of cars with Ukrainian license plates are planned to be introduced from January 1, 2028.
What is important for Ukrainians in the Czech Republic to know
Ukrainians with temporary protection should carefully monitor the terms of stay outside the Schengen area, as a long absence may affect the validity of the residence permit. Recipients of humanitarian aid will need to take into account the requirement of at least 16 days of stay in the Czech Republic during the relevant month.
For those who work, comply with the law, actually live in the Czech Republic and use the benefits as intended, the government’s changes are not stated as a restrictive mechanism. The main content of the amendment concerns control over cases where the status or benefits are used without a real connection to staying in the country.
