All it takes is a minor administrative error – for example, an incorrectly reported address – and the holder of temporary protection can suddenly lose the right to work legally in the Czech Republic. This can lead to illegal employment, fines for employers, and complications in the running of the company. However, these problems can be avoided if both parties know what to look out for and how to react in time.
Temporary protection for Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war was introduced in the Czech Republic in 2022. This status allows for legal residence, free access to the labour market and inclusion in the public health system. In mid-2025, over 374 thousand refugees with this status were registered in the Czech Republic. Holders who applied for its extension earlier this year received new visa stickers valid until 31 March 2026.
Currently, a common reason for cancelling temporary protection is discrepancies in the declared address of residence. The Ministry of the Interior is now strictly checking whether the address given is really the place where the foreigner lives. The Foreign Police carries out residence checks, visiting the listed addresses, verifying the presence of people and collecting information from neighbours or landlords. If the address is invalid or unverifiable, the Ministry issues a call for rectification without prior notice with a period of 90 days and the foreigner is registered at an alternative address of residence during this time, usually the address of the registered office of the administrative body of the Ministry of the Interior. If the foreigner fails to complete the data within the specified period and does not prove proper residence, the temporary protection under the law expires after the expiry of 90 days, and thus the loss of free access to the labour market.
However, a recent judgment of the Municipal Court in Prague of October 2025 (file no. 10 A 81/2025-34) called into question the current practice of automatic termination of temporary protection after 90 days of stay at the address of the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. The court also stated that the accommodation of the holder of temporary protection does not have to be approved for housing, but it is sufficient that it meets the requirements for adequate accommodation under the Temporary Protection Directive itself. The Ministry of the Interior should thus adjust the methodology and practice and allow the renewal of the status of persons whose protection has been revoked for this reason. However, it is not at all clear whether and when the Ministry of the Interior will accept this complaint.
Loss of temporary protection means loss of the right to work legally. An employee without a valid status is considered illegally employed, which can lead to hefty fines and penalties for both him and the employer. The State Labour Inspection Office often detects these cases during inspections, which brings not only financial but also reputational risks. The period from the loss of temporary protection to the processing of a new authorization also brings large financial losses on the part of the foreigner, who often loses his only income.
For the above reasons, temporary protection holders should regularly verify the correctness of their address in the records of the Ministry of the Interior and, in case of any doubt, contact the Ministry’s infoline or check on the Citizen’s Portal whether they have correctly entered their current address of residence in the Czech Republic. If a foreigner has a user account on the Information Portal for Foreigners, they will receive a notification to the e-mail address linked to this user account in the event of the termination of temporary protection. Employers should motivate their employees to do so and require confirmation of the correctness of the reported data.
And what options do temporary protection holders have at present? In 2025, the institute of the so-called special long-term residence was introduced, which can be granted to holders of temporary protection who meet the specified conditions for a period of up to five years. This status brings a more stable residence with free access to the labour market and the possibility of applying for permanent residence in the future. About 80,000 refugees have expressed interest in this special long-term stay, but only about 15,000 of them have met the conditions. The others can remain in the Czech Republic under extended temporary protection until March 2027, with further solutions coordinated at the EU level.
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