Amendment to Lex Ukraine headed to president for signature
The senate has passed an amendment to the law allowing the extension of the temporary protection of Ukrainian citizens. Some of them will also qualify for special long-term residence permit. The amendment, also known as "Lex Ukraine VII", contains further innovations, such as stricter conditions for Russian citizens living in the Czech Republic and wanting to obtain Czech citizenship.
In the context of the Russian invasion in 2022 and the ongoing war, the Czech Republic, like other EU countries, has allowed the granting of temporary protection status to persons fleeing Ukraine. In the nearly three years of the war, almost 4.5 million refugees have benefited from temporary protection in the EU. Over 350,000 Ukrainians are registered under temporary protection status in the Czech Republic.
As of the beginning of this year, temporary protection holders will once again be able to register for its extension until March 2026. The new legislation will also allow temporary protection holders who meet the stipulated conditions to apply for a special long-term residence permit valid for five years.
Extension of temporary protection until 2026
The process of extending temporary protection will be the same as in previous years and will therefore consist of two steps. First, it will be necessary to register on the website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic where applicants will express their interest in extending their temporary protection status. After successful registration, they will be given an appointment to visit the ministry’s office where they will be issued with a new temporary protection visa sticker valid until March 2026. Online registration has not yet been launched due to delays in the legislative process but should be initiated soon.
Special long-term residence
All current temporary protection holders extending it in 2025 and having resided in the Czech Republic under this status for at least two years will be able to apply for long-term residence. To obtain this permit, they must first express their interest and meet the conditions stipulated by the law, such as a clean criminal record, economic independence, school attendance, etc.
Registration for these special long-term residence permits should open by mid-2025. Spouses and their minor children will need to express their interest in special long-term residence jointly. This means that families can apply for long-term residence only after all their members have met the relevant conditions. Once this happens, applicants will register just like they did for the extension of temporary protection. Applicants will go through a biometric scanning appointment, after which a long-term residence permit will be issued.
Benefits of special long-term residence
In addition to the longer validity of the residence permit, holders will also continue to have free access to the labour market and will not have to undergo adaptation and integration courses. The special long-term residence permit thus offers its holders security and stability, with the prospect of obtaining permanent residence.
Refugees not meeting the conditions will remain under temporary protection status until they do so. Only then will they be able to transfer to long-term residence.
Stricter conditions for obtaining Czech citizenship for citizens of the Russian Federation
The bill also contains an amendment tightening the rules for the citizens of the Russian Federation to obtain Czech citizenship: it imposes the obligation to prove the loss of Russian citizenship. Given the complexity of the conditions under which it is possible for Russians living abroad to renounce their Russian citizenship, the amendment has become the subject of a long debate, with its opponents arguing its potentially discriminatory nature.
Information on the legislative process
The chamber of deputies approved the draft amendment on 18 December 2024. It was expected to encounter opposition in the senate, mainly because of the disagreement on the issue of granting Czech citizenship to the citizens of Russian Federation. However, as the senate did not pass any resolution within the statutory deadline, the amendment has proceeded to the next stage of the legislative process in the wording as passed by the chamber of deputies.