In a detailed bulletin published on 30 June, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration & Home Affairs mapped out a series of Czech policy moves designed to hard-wire the long-term integration of almost half a million people displaced by Russia’s war against Ukraine. The headline measure is the government’s decision to open another registration window (October–December 2026) for the “special long-term residence permit” that converts temporary protection into a multi-year status for self-sufficient holders. Eligibility remains strict: at least two years of continuous residence, a clean criminal record, secured accommodation and an annual income of CZK 440 000. The bulletin also flags “KOBRA 26”, a new multi-agency enforcement initiative that targets illegal employment and fraudulent staffing agencies. With inspections focusing on sectors that rely heavily on non-EU labour – notably logistics, construction and food processing – sponsors of employee-card holders can expect more site visits and documentation checks. The move dovetails with July’s rollout of the Single Monthly Employer Report and the obligation to file new-hire notifications before day-one on the job. Complementing the compliance push are fresh statistics on Ukrainian children in Czech schools: 55 348 pupils with temporary protection now account for 3 % of the entire regional-education cohort. Policymakers say those numbers justify extra language-training budgets and faster recognition of teaching qualifications obtained abroad – measures welcomed by employers scrambling for bilingual staff. For mobility teams the main takeaway is predictability: the Ministry of the Interior has effectively confirmed that temporary protection will remain valid until at least September 2026 and that a pathway to longer-term status is available for workers who meet minimum-income thresholds. HR departments should therefore start auditing payroll data and accommodation contracts now to ensure that eligible employees can file complete applications when the portal opens in October.
Source: European Commission – DG HOME
