Prague Žukovského Migration Office to Stay Closed on 5 October After Fire in Same Building
Czech Republic Raises Income Thresholds for Long-Term and Permanent Residence Applications
Weekend Fire Near Prague Migration Directorate Forces Evacuation and Raises Safety Questions
Latest News
Travellers Report Persistent 90-Minute Queues at Prague Airport As EU Entry/Exit System Settles In
Message-board posts on 3 October indicate that non-EU passengers are still queueing up to 90 minutes at Prague Airport passport control, despite recent measures to ease congestion caused by the new biometric Entry/Exit System. Persistent delays risk denting Czechia’s appeal for business travellers, prompting airlines and employers to advise longer connection times and urge authorities to accelerate the installation of extra e-gates.
Czech Interior Ministry opens registration for five-year “special long-term stay” for eligible Ukrainian refugees
From 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2026, Ukrainian nationals who have held Czech temporary protection for at least two years can register online for a new five-year “special long-term stay.” The permit offers unrestricted labour-market access and a later route to permanent residence, replacing the more fragile temporary-protection status. Only 21 900 of the 57 000 interested refugees met the pre-screening criteria, so early appointment booking is advised. Employers should review eligibility and prepare supporting documents to secure workforce continuity.
Czech Interior Ministry Opens Registration for New Five-Year ‘Special Long-Term Residence’ Permit
From 1 October 2026, Ukrainian temporary-protection holders who meet income, insurance and residency requirements can register online for a new five-year Special Long-Term Residence Permit. About 21,900 people pre-qualified after automated checks. The status offers unrestricted labour-market access and a future path to permanent residence, giving employers and assignees greater stability.
Czech Republic Opens Registration for New Five-Year Special Long-Term Residence Permits for Ukrainian Refugees
From 1 October 2026 Ukrainian refugees who meet stringent self-sufficiency and residency requirements can register for a new five-year Special Long-Term Residence Permit. About 22 000 people qualify in the first round; successful applicants gain unrestricted labour-market access and a pathway to permanent residence. The programme signals Czechia’s shift from emergency protection to structured integration and offers employers a more predictable talent pool.
Prague Airport Launches Immediate Action Plan to Cut EES Queues for Non-Schengen Arrivals
Prague Airport has rolled out an emergency plan to tackle long queues created by the EU’s new Entry/Exit System. Measures range from multilingual assistance teams and extra kiosks to predictive staffing based on traffic heatmaps. Mobility managers should budget extra arrival time until the fixes push kiosk-completion rates from 60 % to the targeted 80 %.
Prague Airport unveils rapid-response action plan to slash EES passport-control queues
Prague Airport’s 1 October action plan tackles long queues triggered by the EU Entry/Exit System. Measures range from multilingual queue management and ‘Red Team’ passenger triage to UX upgrades of self-service kiosks and the fast-tracked installation of new passport booths. Business travellers should expect residual delays through November and ensure flawless kiosk registration to avoid secondary checks.
Pegasus Airlines Completes Take-Over of Czech Airlines and Smartwings, Creating 175-Aircraft Group
Pegasus Airlines has finalised the purchase of Czech Airlines and Smartwings, forming a 175-aircraft group centred on Prague and Istanbul. The merger is expected to boost flight frequencies and expand eastbound connectivity for Czech business travellers, while Smartwings retains its brand under Pegasus’ low-cost, digital model.
EU ministers approve tougher return rules at JHA Council, with implications for Czech removal cases
At the 1 October 2026 JHA Council, EU ministers—including Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan—formally adopted a Regulation that creates a European Return Order and authorises tougher, more coordinated returns of migrants without legal stay. The rules, effective from 2027, will tighten compliance obligations and could lead to longer EU-wide entry bans, making overstay risks more costly for Czech employers.
Czech Interior Minister Joins EU Justice & Home Affairs Council to Push Schengen Information-Sharing Reforms
At today’s EU Justice & Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan is advocating faster data-sharing across the Schengen Area, tougher incentives for migrant readmission, and a coordinated plan to move Ukrainian refugees from temporary to regular residence status. Decisions taken will shape how Czech police use the new EES/ETIAS systems and may soon ease border queues for frequent business travellers.