Ukrainians in the Czech Republic may face reduced access to benefits and increased control over temporary protection.
According to the proposed changes, Ukrainians with temporary protection will be required to work, run a business, or be registered with the employment service to receive humanitarian aid. This is stated in a report by ČTK.
Additionally, refugees will likely need to be present in the Czech Republic for at least 16 days in the month for which aid is granted.
The Czech Ministry of the Interior explains that this is intended to introduce a "minimum standard of active engagement" in meeting one's own living needs and to prevent potential abuses of social benefits.
At the same time, these rules are not planned to be applied to children, students, and elderly people.
New Residency Rules
The amendment also provides for stricter conditions for obtaining a special long-term residence permit for Ukrainians with temporary protection.
In particular, applicants must not have tax debts. The rules for biometric verification and registration will also be tightened. Therefore, if a person submits false information in their documents, their registration may be revoked.
Protection May Be Revoked
In the Czech Republic, there are also proposals to revoke temporary protection for Ukrainians who are outside the Schengen Area for more than 30 days. Additionally, the status may be annulled in the case of expulsion due to criminal or administrative violations.
According to the Czech Ministry of the Interior, there are currently more than 386,000 Ukrainians registered with temporary protection in the country.
The Czech Republic is gradually transitioning from emergency support for Ukrainian refugees to a stricter integration model, where social assistance is directly linked to labor activity and compliance with residency rules. At the same time, the authorities are trying to reduce the burden on the social system and strengthen control over migration processes.
