The Interior Ministry’s quarterly migration bulletin, published ahead of the summer holiday exodus, reveals that 1 124 496 foreign nationals were legally resident in Czechia as of 31 March 2026—10.3 % of the total population. Ukrainians account for more than half of that figure, thanks to the temporary-protection scheme that has been extended into 2027. The report notes a mild 0.6 % decline versus year-end 2025 as some war-displaced Ukrainians returned home or moved on to other EU states. Meanwhile, irregular migration across EU external borders fell 39 % year-on-year, according to Frontex, reducing pressure on Czech transit routes. Why it matters for business: the data confirm that Czechia’s labour market will remain structurally dependent on migrants; without Ukrainian arrivals the foreign share would have stagnated. Employers seeking Blue- or Employee-Card talent should expect continued administrative quotas, especially for non-Ukrainian nationals, until EU-level migration reform is finalised. The ministry pledges to digitalise more residence-permit processes in 2027, including online appointment booking—a long-standing pain point for HR teams.
