Published: 08.10.2026

• 2026-10-08The Schengen Area operates the automated Entry/Exit System (EES)

  The EES records the entry and exit of non-EU nationals making short-term trips of up to 90 days in the Schengen Area. According to the sources, the system became fully operational on 10 April 2026, with stay limits tracked automatically using biometric data.

• 2026-09-09Germany and Austria maintain temporary land-border checks with Czechia

  Germany and Austria have maintained temporary checks on their land borders, including borders with Czechia, since September 2024. Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice, so travelers are advised to check visa and border requirements before departure.

• 2026-09-08Czechia Updates the Temporary Protection Renewal Process for Ukrainians

  To renew temporary protection, applicants must first register online by 15 March 2026 and then attend the Czech immigration authorities to receive new documents. A five-year residence permit with work rights is also available for people who have held temporary protection in Czechia for at least two years and are economically self-sufficient.

• 2026-09-07Czech Residence Status Affects Customs Relief for Personal Belongings

  Duty relief for personal belongings transferred from a non-EU country is available to people genuinely moving their usual residence to the EU and able to prove Czech residence status. A residence document, employment contract or verified lease may support the claim; without such a basis, the belongings may be treated as an ordinary dutiable import.

• 2026-08-18Czechia Limits Temporary Protection for People Holding Status in Another Country

  Czechia does not accept temporary protection applications from foreigners who have already applied for or received such protection in another EU country, except in certain family-reunification cases. Holding another long-term residence permit or visa issued by a third country may also affect the granting or extension of protection.

• 2026-07-21Czechia Recognizes Only Biometric Russian Passports for Entry

  Since 3 July 2024, Czechia has recognized only biometric passports issued by the Russian Federation. Exceptions apply to children under 15 and participants in certain specified events.

• 2026-07-16Czechia sets notification deadlines for foreigners changing address

  The deadline and procedure for reporting a new address depend on immigration status: it is generally 30 days for long-term visa or residence permit holders, 15 days for seasonal workers, and three working days for temporary protection holders. Missing the deadline may result in a fine of up to CZK 3,000, or up to CZK 5,000 for EU citizens and their family members.

• 2026-07-14Czechia Advances a New Law on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners

  The Czech government is advancing a new version of the law on the entry and residence of foreigners. The draft provides for digital interaction through the ICAS system, mandatory registration of EU citizens staying longer than 90 days, and additional duties for guarantors such as employers and educational institutions; implementation is planned for 2029.

• 2026-07-14Czechia Prepares a New Act on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners

  The Czech Interior Ministry has submitted a draft new Act on the Entry and Residence of Migrants, intended to replace the current framework and take effect on 1 January 2029. The draft provides for electronic applications through the ICAS system, mandatory registration for EU citizens, and greater responsibility for guarantors, including employers.

• 2026-06-30Czechia Opens a New Registration Round for Special Long-Term Residence for Ukrainians

  Holders of temporary protection in Czechia will be able to register for a special long-term residence permit from October to December 2026. Conditions include at least two years of continuous residence, a valid travel document, a clean criminal record, accommodation and financial self-sufficiency, including a minimum annual income of CZK 440,000 for an individual.

• 2026-06-25EU Register Updates Information on Czech Residence and Temporary Protection Documents

  Updated EU information confirms the formats of Czech residence permits and temporary protection documents. Holders of a long-term visa for temporary protection issued in 2026 may use the visa sticker as their residence and travel document within Schengen until 31 March 2027.

• 2026-06-25Czechia updates descriptions of residence and temporary-protection documents

  The updated EU list states that Czech long-term and permanent residence permits are issued as biometric ID cards. Temporary-protection documents—a visa sticker or PDF confirmation of an extension—allow visa-free crossing of the Schengen Area’s external border when combined with a travel document; visas issued in 2026 for temporary protection are valid until 31 March 2027.

• 2026-06-11New EU Migration and Asylum Rules Enter into Application in Czechia

  The EU Migration and Asylum Pact became applicable across EU member states on 12 June 2026. In Czechia, related changes provide for enhanced screening, accelerated asylum procedures, faster returns, and measures addressing abusive or repeated applications; implementation took place in phases through June 2026.

• 2026-06-11Czechia Updates Requirements for Residence Documents

  Czech residence permits are issued as biometric plastic cards using a uniform format. Documents expiring after 3 August 2026 must be replaced before that date; certain temporary-protection documents continue to confirm residence and, together with a travel document, allow crossing the Schengen Area’s external border.

• 2026-06-11Foreigners in Czechia Face Residence-Registration Deadlines

  Foreigners staying in Czechia beyond a short visit must report their place of residence to the Foreign Police Service. For EU/EEA citizens staying more than 30 days, the source gives a deadline of up to 30 working days; for non-EU citizens in the specified cases, the deadline is three working days after entry.

• 2026-05-29Buying property in Czechia does not automatically grant residence rights

  Owning property in Czechia does not automatically provide a residence permit. Property documents may support a multivisa application or serve as an additional factor in a residence case, but lawful long-term stay requires a separate basis such as employment, study or business.

• 2026-05-29Czechia maintains visa and residence restrictions for Russian and Belarusian nationals

  Since 22 October 2022, Czech diplomatic missions abroad have generally not issued Russian and Belarusian nationals most types of visas and residence permits. Exceptions include certain humanitarian cases and visits by family members of residents; people who were already living in Czechia before that date may apply in the country on legal grounds provided by law.

• 2026-05-27Czechia Sets Administrative Fees for Key Visa and Residence Procedures

  According to ARROWS, a standard Schengen visa costs EUR 90, a long-term visa CZK 2,500, and an application for an Employee Card or EU Blue Card submitted abroad CZK 5,000. Long-term and permanent residence applications generally carry a CZK 2,500 fee; failure to pay on time can lead to termination of the application process.

• 2026-05-05Czechia sets biometric and integration-course requirements for residence-permit holders

  After a decision on a Czech long-term or permanent residence application, the applicant is invited to provide biometric data, and card production usually takes up to 60 days after enrolment. Foreign nationals issued a long-term or permanent residence permit since 1 January 2021 must complete an adaptation and integration course within one year of collecting the card, with a possible fine of up to CZK 10,000 for non-compliance.

• 2026-04-30Czech Permanent Residence Usually Requires Five Years of Residence

  Applicants for permanent residence in Czechia generally need five years of residence under a qualifying permit. Naturalisation can typically be granted after ten years of residence and requires good conduct, financial independence and successful completion of an integration exam.

• 2026-04-27Entry and residence rules for EU citizens’ family members in Czechia

  Family members of EU citizens do not always have visa-free access to Czechia: nationals of visa-required countries may need a visa and proof of their residence rights. For stays exceeding 90 days, they may apply for a residence card that allows work without additional approval and visa-free travel within the Schengen Area.

• 2026-04-17Czechia Plans to Move Immigration Procedures to a Digital System from 2029

  The Czech government has approved a draft law on the entry and residence of foreign nationals. The draft envisages launching the ICAS system on 1 January 2029, allowing foreigners to submit applications, receive notifications, track cases and arrange appointments online.

• 2026-04-03Foreigners leaving Czechia permanently must formally end their residence

  When leaving Czechia permanently, foreigners must submit their residence document to a Ministry of the Interior office no later than three days before departure, and are advised to file an application cancelling the permit. EU citizens and some visa-exempt persons may send the documents by post, while holders of long-term visas are not required to surrender the document.

• 2026-03-09Czechia Maintains Entry Restrictions for Russian Tourists

  Czechia does not issue tourist visas to Russian citizens, and its visa centres in Russia were closed in autumn 2025. Tourists cannot enter Czechia through the Schengen Area’s external borders.

• 2026-03-05Czechia operates a long-term visa programme for digital nomads

  The digital nomad programme streamlines long-term visa applications for eligible remote professionals, particularly in IT, who work for foreign companies or clients. After arrival, applicants must register their residence with the Foreign Police within three business days and maintain qualifying health insurance.

• 2026-02-16Czechia Phases In Housing Support Measures for Certain Foreign Nationals

  The Housing Support Act is being phased in between January and June 2026. It applies to foreign nationals with permanent residence, asylum or subsidiary protection on the same terms as Czech citizens, while temporary-protection holders remain covered by the Lex Ukraine framework.

• 2026-02-15Czechia Provides a Specific Citizenship Path for Stateless Persons

  A recognised stateless person can generally apply for Czech citizenship after five years of permanent residence. After obtaining permanent residence, the person may ask the Ministry to waive the five-year requirement, but the decision is discretionary.

• 2026-02-13Czechia moves to renew a five-year residency pathway for self-sufficient Ukrainian nationals

  The Czech government is moving to renew a five-year residency pathway for financially self-sufficient Ukrainian nationals. The source presents the initiative as an extension of the existing route for this group of applicants.

• 2026-02-07Czechia Extends Temporary Protection for Ukrainians and Introduces a Five-Year Permit for Some Refugees

  Amendments extend temporary protection for Ukrainians in Czechia until at least 31 March 2027. Refugees who have lived in the country for more than two years and can demonstrate stable housing, employment or independent income, as well as children’s school enrolment, may obtain a special five-year biometric residence permit with full labour-market access.

• 2025-11-07EU Restricts Multiple-Entry Schengen Visas for Russian Citizens

  The European Commission tightened the rules for multiple-entry Schengen visas for Russian citizens residing in Russia, with single-entry visas becoming the general rule. Limited exceptions remain for certain family members, transport workers and specific applicants, while Russian travel documents issued in occupied Ukrainian regions are not accepted for entry to the Schengen Area.

• 2025-11-03Czechia’s New Foreigners’ Stay Law Took Effect in January 2026

  The new law provides for a digital foreigners’ residence register, a new registration system for EU citizens intending to stay in Czechia for more than 90 days, and a stronger role for a guarantor of the purpose of stay. It also creates a special five-year residence permit for Ukrainians with temporary protection; since 2024, the period of humanitarian accommodation has been reduced from 150 to 90 days.

• 2025-09-19Foreign students in Czechia may change residence status when continuing their stay

  Third-country nationals holding a Czech long-term residence permit for studies who wish to remain for another purpose must apply for a new residence permit to the Czech Ministry of the Interior. Holders of qualifying study documents issued by another EU country may, in certain cases, stay in Czechia without a separate visa or permit for up to 360–365 days.