Babiš government plans to renew special long-term residency for Ukrainian refugees

The coalition government of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš says it wants to follow up on the previous cabinet of Petr Fiala (Civic Democrats) in maintaining special long-term residence permit for Ukrainian refugees.

The scheme is intended for self-sufficient and economically active refugees who meet strict eligibility criteria. Those granted the status are assured five years of residence in the Czech Republic and may subsequently apply for permanent residency.

The permit was introduced under Fiala’s government, with approximately 16,000 people obtaining it last year. Andrej Babiš’s planned cabinet now aims to relaunch the program under similar conditions.

According to Interior Ministry statistics, more than 398,000 Ukrainian refugees are currently living in the Czech Republic. The vast majority hold temporary protection status, which is extended annually under a European Union framework. However, self-supporting refugees have been able to apply for the special long-term residence permit, offering greater stability and a path toward permanent settlement.