Czech Republic
Do you have a temporary protection status in Czech Republic? On this page you can find information about your right to continued stay and access to services in Czech Republic, short and extended stay in Ukraine and how it affects your temporary protection status and assistance. If you consider returning to Ukraine permanently, you can also find information about administrative procedures that you need to complete in Czech Republic before your departure.
The Council of the European Union has decided to extend the application of temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine in the EU until March 2026.
Consular services in Czech Republic
If you are in need of consular services such as issuance of passport, certificate for return to Ukraine or other, please contact the Embassy of Ukraine in Czech Republic.
Charlese de Gaulla 29, 160 00 Praha 6
Short and extended stay in Ukraine
If I decide to return to Ukraine, what will happen to my temporary protection status?
For temporary visits to Ukraine, you do not lose your Temporary Protection in Czechia. A holder of Temporary Protection in Czechia can travel in the Schengen area for up to 90 days. Holders of Temporary Protection in Czechia can also return to Ukraine and come back freely.
There is no time limitation stated on the duration of stay in Ukraine, however, longer stays abroad may affect other areas of stay in the Czech Republic. For instance, if you are absent for more than 10 working days, you may lose your entitlement to free accommodation (if you are staying in a humanitarian accommodation). A longer absence can also have effect on the provision of humanitarian benefits, or on a place at the school their child attends.
For longer trips, you should consult your health insurance company (for absence longer than 6 months, it is possible to opt out from participation, for absences less than 6 months, it is not possible). In case of permanent return to Ukraine, you should cancel temporary protection before you leave. You will no longer be subject to the obligations arising from your stay in the Czech Republic, such as paying utilities or health insurance.
If I return to Ukraine but later decide to come back to the Czech Republic, will I be able to apply for temporary protection again?
According to the current legal framework, if you leave Ukraine after 24 February 2022 you can apply for temporary protection in the Czech Republic or another EU country. If you had already obtained temporary protection status in the Czech Republic, but you lost it because of leaving the country for over 90 days, you have a right to apply for the status again. If you apply and are granted temporary protection in another EU country, the Czech authorities may not grant temporary protection status in the Czech Republic.
Please visit the Ministry of Interior website or UNHCR Czech Republic Help website for information on temporary protection in the Czech Republic.
You can also contact UNHCR’s partner Organization for aid to refugees (OPU) at +420 730 158 779/+420 739 413 983 or by e-mail [email protected], if you would like to receive specific information and legal counseling by a lawyer (free of charge). You can find more information on the services provided by OPU. It is preferable that you contact OPU to schedule an appointment at their office in Prague or if you are not in Prague, their offices in Brno, Hradec Kralove, Plzen or Ostrava.
Or, if you would like UNHCR to refer you to OPU, you can write to UNHCR at [email protected].
If I return to Ukraine should I inform the authorities and cancel my temporary protection status?
If you are benefitting from Temporary Protection (TP) in the Czech Republic and plan to return to Ukraine with no intention to return to the Czech Republic, you must inform the authorities before leaving otherwise you may be required to comply with obligations related to your stay in the territory of the Czech Republic.
If you have a biometric passport, contact the National Aid Centre for Ukraine. If you do not have a biometric passport, you need to come to the office of the Ministry of Interior.
It is possible to revoke temporary protection at any embassy of the Czech Republic. In Ukraine you can contact the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Kyiv or the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Lviv.
Further information on what you need to do before leaving the Czech Republic permanently can be found on the website of Naši Ukrajinci.
Does Czech Republic offer assistance for return?
The Ministry of Interior has announced a pilot programme to assist a number of people who decide to return voluntarily to Ukraine. More information is available here.
As announced by the Ministry of Interior, the pilot programme will be implemented initially between June and November 2024 (6 months). The project targets 430 Ukrainian refugees (temporary protection holders and applicants and/or persons already granted international protection). Return assistance will be provided in the form of bus tickets and/or transport by ambulance (for serious medical cases) to Ukraine from the place of residence in Czechia to the nearest place of residence in Ukraine.
According to the announcement, the individual will be able to apply only once for reimbursement of the costs of travelling back to Ukraine. If someone wishes to re-apply for a residence permit in Czechia in the following 12 months, he/she will have to pay half of the costs.
For application for assisted return, write an e-mail to [email protected]
For more information you can call the Ministry of Interior helpline + 420 974 801 802.
Border crossing
How can I stay safe on my journey to Ukraine?
Be cautious of people who offer you help but cannot provide you with official documentation to identify themselves and their organization. Keep your personal information and documents safe and confidential. If you feel that you are in danger, call emergency number 112 or the Police at 158.
To report a suspected case of human trafficking in the Czech Republic, contact the Czech Police at 158. You can also contact La Strada SOS Line at (+420) 222 71 71 71 or 800 077 777 (free of charge) or by e-mail: [email protected]
You can find additional information here Looking for help – LaStrada, Facebook – LaStrada
If you are already in Ukraine, call the National Hotline for Prevention of Human Trafficking at 0800505501/527.
Can I travel back to Ukraine and later return to the Czech Republic?
Yes, you can travel back to Ukraine and later return to the Czech Republic if:
- You hold a valid visa or a residence permit allowing you to re-enter Czechia (during the validity of those documents); or
- You are entitled to a visa-free movement until the exhaustion of the maximum period of the visa-free movement; or
- You hold a valid electronic visa document. Remember, if you leave the Czech Republic for more than 90 days, your temporary protection will be withdrawn.
Is it allowed to enter Ukraine without an international passport?
Ukrainian citizens can enter Ukraine with one of the following documents:
- Passport of a citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad (International passport)
- Diplomatic passport of Ukraine
- Service passport of Ukraine
- Seaman’s identity card
- Crew member’s certificate
The internal passport (ID card) is not included in this list. Therefore, it cannot be used to return to Ukraine. Instead, it is necessary to issue either an international passport or a certificate for returning to Ukraine. The conditions and deadlines for these documents’ production vary.
A certificate for returning to Ukraine grants the right to enter Ukraine. This document is issued by diplomatic missions or consular institutions of Ukraine abroad. A certificate for returning to Ukraine is issued by a foreign diplomatic institution (embassy/consulate of Ukraine abroad) on the day of application. The production of this document is usually a paid service.
I do not have any identification documents – can I enter Ukraine?
If you or your relatives plan to return to Ukraine, but do not have a valid passport (the passport has expired, lost your passport or arrived in Czech Republic only with an internal passport or birth certificate), then you need to obtain a document from the consulate of Ukraine that will allow you to cross the border. To do this, you need to contact the nearest consular office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and issue a certificate of return to Ukraine (the so-called “white passport”). For information on Ukrainian embassy/consulates in the Czech Republic. Ukrainian Embassy in Czechia: Charlese de Gaulla 916/29 160 00 Praha 6-Bubeneč, Czechia.
Contacts:
Email: [email protected] Phone: +420 227020200 +420 227020212
You can also get information and help on the possibility and procedure for obtaining identity documents at the Counselling Centre located within KACPU in Prague. Address: Krajské asistenční centrum pro uprchlíky z Ukrajiny (KACPU), nám. OSN 844/1, 190 00 Praha 9, office on the 2nd floor. Contacts for advice and further communication: +420 722 032 678, [email protected] (within the specified working hours of KACPU): Mon-Thu – from 08:00 to 15:00, Fri – from 8:00 to 14:00 (except holidays). Facebook page.
If you are outside the country, you can contact the Counselling Centre by email [email protected] or by phone at +420 722 032 678
I am of a nationality other than Ukrainian, and I have benefited from temporary protection in the Czech Republic. Can I return to Ukraine?
If you are not a citizen of Ukraine and you are staying in the Czech Republic under temporary protection, you can return to Ukraine using your residence permit in Ukraine. If your residence permanent permit in Ukraine has expired, you should extend this document by contacting Ukraine consular services in the Czech Republic. Otherwise, to enter Ukraine, you will need to obtain a visa at the Ukrainian consulate.
You can also contact the Ukraine embassy in Czechia: Charlese de Gaulla 916/29 160 00 Praha 6-Bubeneč, Czechia.
Contacts:
Email: [email protected] Phone: +420 227020200 +420 227020212
Education and child protection
My child is enrolled in a Czech school. Do we need to take any specific steps before returning to Ukraine?
It is recommended that you notify the school that you would like to cancel your child’s enrolment. I’m leaving the Czech Republic | nasiukrajinci.cz
Ask for an official document acknowledging your child’s educational attendance in the Czech Republic that will facilitate recognition of the qualifications in Ukraine. More information can be found here.
For subjects that were not covered in the Czech school, your child will be given an opportunity to take an assessment test in Ukrainian schools.
Will my educational progress in the Czech Republic be accepted in the Ukrainian educational system?
If your child was attending school in the Czech Republic, it is recommended to ask the school for an official document acknowledging your child’s studies and educational achievements, which will facilitate the recognition of your child’s education back in Ukraine. More information on what information the document should include can be found on the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science’s webpage.
Can an unaccompanied child (below 18) return to Ukraine on their own?
Citizens of Ukraine cannot be denied entry to Ukraine under no circumstances. Children are subject to the same entry and exit control as adults. Please refer to State Border Guard Service of Ukraine for detailed information. Those crossing the border should have a passport or other document confirming their identity or at least a birth certificate. Children can cross the border with a birth certificate issued abroad.
In case there are no documents, in all countries apart from those where consular relations are ceased (i.e. Russian Federation), children would need to be assisted in obtaining a return certificate based on any documents that can confirm connection to Ukraine (and possessing its citizenship). Consulates may issue a return certificate based on copies of documents.
If a child is entering alone or with a non-parent adult, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine shall contact local child protection services, unless they have information about parents awaiting the child. It is advised to inform the Border Guard post that the parent is expecting the child on the Ukrainian side of the border in advance.
Please note that a child should also meet the exit requirements of the host country – please contact your local Ukrainian consulate to ask for information and get the required documents for return. In some cases, a birth certificate cannot be used as a travel document.
Livelihoods
Where can I find information on services available upon arrival in Ukraine?
Please visit UNHCR Ukraine Help website for information on services available in Ukraine.
How to sort out my banking and social insurance affairs in the Czech Republic if I decide to return to Ukraine permanently?
When planning your return to Ukraine, there are a few steps to consider regarding your bank accounts and social insurance in the Czech Republic:
- Informing the Health Insurance Company. You must notify your health insurance company of the termination of temporary protection. It is possible to notify the health insurance company in person, by e-mail or via an online form. In this case, it is necessary to provide (attach) a document confirming the expiration of the visa and return the insurance card. Check with your health insurance company about the most appropriate method of notification or on the website of the Ministry of Health. Before leaving, you should check with your health insurance company if you have a debt, otherwise there might be a penalty fee.
- Informing Urad prace (Labour office) : if you are registered at Urad prace as employee seeker or you receive any benefits.
- Closing bank accounts. While closing a bank account is not mandatory, it’s worth considering if you don’t plan to use banking services in the Czech Republic. Depending on the specific bank and the type of account, there may be associated fees. These fees can vary based on the corresponding tariff for servicing an open account. Common reasons for account maintenance fees include keeping a balance below the specified minimum amount, ceasing to use the associated debit or credit card, or exceeding the grace period for account servicing. Czech banks typically offer several methods for closing an account: personal visits, online procedures, registered letters, or telephone requests.
- Dealing with tax issues.
- Terminating your contracts with mobile service or internet providers in the Czech Republic.
- Terminating your rental contract.
- Terminating your labour contract.
For more information I’m leaving the Czech Republic | nasiukrajinci.cz