On 19 March 2025, the Government approved the long-awaited draft Regulation on the details of registration for special long-term residence in the Czech Republic for citizens of Ukraine. We now know the final form of the conditions and procedure for registration for special long-term residence, which was enshrined in the “Lex Ukraine VII” law.

In order to obtain special long-term residence, applicants will have to meet several conditions: be of good repute, reside continuously in the Czech Republic under temporary protection for at least 2 years (i.e. from the end of March 2023) and be independent of humanitarian benefits. The period during which applicants may not receive humanitarian benefits has been reduced from the original 9 months to 6 months (i.e. from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025) as part of the settlement of comments on the Regulation. They must also be registered for public health insurance and not have any outstanding premiums.

The most controversial requirement, which several entities commented on, including for example the Office of the Ombudsman, has remained in the approved version of the Regulation: a minimum annual income of CZK 440,000 will be required for registration in 2024, with an increase of CZK 110,000 for each additional person registered together.

It is also the case that if a child of school age is registered, the condition of school attendance must be met by 31 March 2025.

The relatively strict criteria, which only by a narrow set of refugees is likely to meet, have sparked widespread debate and disagreement among professional organizations and the general public. However, according to the Ministry of the Interior, the institute of special long-term residence is not an authorization for residence after the end of temporary protection, but only an additional option to continuing temporary protection. The Ministry of the Interior also stated in the context of the settlement of comments on the Regulation that “it was intended that the stay should be only for a part of the holders of temporary protection who are economically self-sufficient with regard to their income”. 

Expressions of interest for special long-term residence will be launched online on the Information Portal for Foreigners as early as 1 April 2025 and will run until 30 April 2025. Registration for residence will then run from 1 September to 31 December 2025. Please note that spouses and their children under the age of 18, as well as registered partners or authorised representatives of children under the age of 18 with temporary protection, will have to express their interest jointly.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for a special long-term residence permit or need help with registration and other steps, please do not hesitate to contact our asylum and migration policy experts. We will be happy to help and assist you throughout the process.