Legal status of Ukrainian citizens in the Czech Republic

The Czech authorities, similarly to other countries in the region, responded swiftly to the situation caused by the sudden influx of migrants, particularly refugees, following the outbreak of the full-scale armed conflict in Ukraine.

The scale of the challenge faced by, among others, Czech policymakers, is reflected in the fact that, according to available data, more than 3.6 million people left Ukraine during the first month of Russian aggression, while 6.5 million were internally displaced. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 12 million individuals have been affected by various consequences of the war. Two years after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, 6.5 million Ukrainian refugees remain in Europe and beyond, while approximately 3.7 million are internally displaced within Ukraine. As of the end of the first quarter of 2025, official data show that 1,073,303 foreigners were registered in the Czech Republic, constituting about one-tenth of the country’s total population. Among those with non-Czech citizenship who have been residing in the Czech Republic for a longer period, Ukrainian nationals are the dominant group—566,151 individuals. Between 1 January and 31 March 2025, a total of 276 applications for international protection were registered, with the highest number (50) submitted by Ukrainian citizens.

As in Poland and, in particular, in Slovakia, which shares close ties with the Czech Republic, the initial measures were aimed at urgently securing the existential needs of Ukrainians fleeing the war. The approach was in line with the current government's rational assessment of Russia’s escalating ambitions. Various formats of regional international cooperation and frameworks within the European Union also played a role, albeit limited. Czech intelligence reports, which have for years unequivocally identified Russia’s activities as a threat to the functioning of the state, remain significant. Czech society, in line with its characteristic outlook, largely condemned Russia’s actions and supported Ukraine. However, it must be clearly emphasized that a substantial part of the Czech population remains openly pro-Russian and thus anti-Ukrainian.

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