The Czech Republic plans to tighten rules for Ukrainian refugees: what we know
Novinky reports on this.
Under the new rules, temporary protection will be automatically revoked if a refugee stays outside the Schengen area for more than 30 consecutive days or commits a serious crime. Similar restrictions are being introduced for financial support: to be eligible for humanitarian benefits, a person will need to be physically present in the Czech Republic for at least 16 days a month.
The government explains that this is intended to prevent situations where funds are received by people who have effectively returned home or left for other countries. At the same time, short trips abroad, such as to visit family or to sort out paperwork, will remain permitted.
Separately, the bill amends the rules for drivers. Ukrainians will be required to register their cars with Ukrainian number plates in the Czech vehicle register. After this, such vehicles will be subject to mandatory technical inspections on a par with local cars.
Czech Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar has assured that the changes will not affect those Ukrainians who work and abide by the law. According to him, the bill is aimed exclusively at combating illegal migration and abuse of the social welfare system.
“Since the start of this year alone, we have identified several hundred cases of abuse, and since the start of the year, the police have launched over 40 criminal investigations involving losses exceeding 18 million crowns,” Metnar said.
The minister added that there are currently over 385,000 Ukrainian refugees living in the Czech Republic, and around 90,000 of them receive benefits.
For the law to come into force, it must be passed by both chambers of the Czech Parliament and then signed by the president. If the vote is successful, the new rules on residence and benefits will come into force on 1 January 2027, and the provision on mandatory registration and vehicle inspections will come into force on 1 January 2028.
As a reminder, it was previously reported that Switzerland may change its protection rules for Ukrainians in 2027.
Follow us on Telegram
