Information for citizens of Ukraine
Considering the significant deterioration of the security situation in Ukraine and the unpredictable further development of the resulting military conflict, we bring you updated information from official sources and channels in English and ways how to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy in Europe.
Information for citizens
We highly recommend that you source information only from official channels – which are the state authorities of the Czech Republic. There is a number of non-governmental organizations focused on helping foreigners and their services are offered free of charge. Definitely avoid suspicious paid mediation services, some of which may exploit your vulnerable situation for their own enrichment. The help system is set up for you in the Czech Republic and we are ready to help you manage everything in these unprecedented times.
Ministry of Interior:
If you are in the territory of the Czech Republic:
Long-term residents:
- If you have a valid long-term residence permit in the Czech Republic, which needs to be extended, follow the standard procedure.
Short-term residents:
- If you have a valid residence permit in the Czech Republic, which cannot be extended and whose validity expires in less than 14 days, it is necessary to visit the OAMP office. You can use the Foreigners reservation system to make an appointment.
If your short-term residence permit expires and cannot be further extended, you can still stay in the territory of the Czech Republic on a special visa. The application is submitted on the official form (application for a long-term visa) and only in the territory of the Czech Republic. To submit the application, it is necessary to submit a travel document, a photograph, and an application fee of CZK 300.
Without valid residence permit:
- If you do not have a valid residence permit in the Czech Republic, it is necessary to resolve the situation with the Police of the Czech Republic (at the Department of Residence Agencies of the Foreign Police Department – in Prague, the address is Olšanská 2176/2, 130 51 Praha 3).
IMPORTANT:
- It is the duty of every foreigner who comes to the Czech Republic to register with the Police of the Czech Republic. In the case of hotels or other accommodation facilities, this obligation is handled by the landlord (however, it is recommended that you make sure that the landlord has actually done so). In Prague, the address is Olšanská 2176/2, 130 51 Praha 3 – use the Foreigners reservation system to make an appointment.
- To stay in the Czech Republic, you must have health insurance. If you are employed, you are legally insured with the public health insurance system. If you are not employed in the Czech Republic, you must have your own health insurance (which can also be bought online).
If you (or your family members) are in Ukraine and want to travel to the Czech Republic:
- Citizens of Ukraine who have a biometric passport can travel to the Czech Republic without a visa.
- If you have submitted an application for long-term residence, it is possible to complete the proceedings in the Czech Republic. As soon as your procedure is decided, you will normally visit the OAMP office and collect your permit.
- If you have submitted an application for a long-term visa, it will be possible to collect this visa at the designated embassy, which will be available at the time of the closure of the embassies in Ukraine. More information can be found on the website of your embassy.
Other cases:
- The Czech Republic suspends the issuance of visas to Russian citizens at all its embassies, except for humanitarian causes.
Contacts:
Infoline set up for Ukrainian citizens:
Telephone number: +420 974 801 802
Email: ukrajina@mvcr.cz
Further information will be published on the dedicated website of the Ministry of Interior.
Ministry of Health:
- The Czech Republic drops the Covid-related entry rules: Ukrainian citizens have an exemption from the obligation to fill in the Arrival Form before entering the Czech Republic. If you are travelling from Ukraine, you do not need to prove a negative test result, national certificate of vaccination, or certificate of recovery from COVID-19.
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
Information for employers and foreigners:
Employers:
Foreign nationals who have been issued a special visa may apply for a work permit in the Czech Republic. If you want to employ a foreigner with a special visa, first, it is necessary to report the open position to the regional branch of the Labor Office according to the place of work and express an interest in employing foreigners with a work permit. It is necessary to sign an employment contract with the future employee as soon as possible – the contract will be a part of their work permit application.
You can report an open job position suitable for foreigners here: https://www.mpsv.cz/web/cz/-/oznameni-volnych-pracovnich-mist-up-cr
Foreigners:
In order to work in the Czech Republic, you will need a work permit. Foreign nationals who have been issued a special visa may apply for a work permit at the regional branch of the Labor Office according to the place where the work is to be performed. You can apply for the permit for up to two years with the possibility of repeated extension for another two years.
Before applying for a work permit, you must already have or find a job and sign an employment contract with your employer. The contract will be a part of the application. The next step is to submit the application, either by yourself or through the employer. To issue the work permit, you need to apply in writing at the regional branch of the Labor Office according to the place of work.
You can download the application form here: https://www.mpsv.cz/-/zadost-cizince-o-povoleni-k-zamestnani-o-prodlouzeni-povoleni-zamestnani-na-uzemi-ceske-republiky
Labor Office vacancy database: https://www.uradprace.cz/web/cz/volna-mista-v-cr
Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
- The Ministry warns against any trips to Ukraine.
- The Ministry calls on the citizens of the Czech Republic to leave Ukraine immediately. The Czech Embassy in Kyiv was temporarily closed. Consular assistance to citizens is provided by the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Lviv.
- In case of an emergency situation of Czech citizens, contact the emergency line of the Consulate General in Lviv at +380676732811 or +380673749701.
City of Prague:
- The Prague City Council approved an immediate humanitarian donation of CZK 10 million to the People In Need organization that helps the Ukrainian population affected by the armed conflict. All the chairmen of the coalition and opposition clubs have expressed their unequivocal support and solidarity with Ukraine.
- Mayor Zdeněk Hřib is discussing other possibilities for humanitarian aid with the relevant ministries.
- The Prague City Council wants to end the partnership between Prague and the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg
Organization for Aid to Refugees (OPU):
- Lawyers and social workers are available for Ukrainian refugees and immigrants on daily basis in their offices in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň and Hradec Králové.
- OPU is ready to promptly react to the possible arrival of refugees from Ukraine and within a few days open an accommodation facility for 250 refugees located at Prague 2 (in cooperation with Pale Fire Capital).
More information and contacts can be found on OPU websites.
How to help
Watch out for fake news and misinformation about Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Don’t share anything you don’t have from a trusted source. Talk to people around you about the conflict and recommend only serious and verified sources of information.
Trusted sources of information
President of Ukraine
- Web: https://www.president.gov.ua/en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zelenskiy.official
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
- Web: https://mfa.gov.ua/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MFA_Ukraine
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UkraineMFA
Embassy of Ukraine in Prague:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/UKRinCZEhttps://www.facebook.com/UkraineEmbassyinCzechia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UkraineEmbassyinCzechia/
Help financially
Here are some of the options:
- Come back alive – a fund to help Ukrainian soldiers
- Ukrainian Red Cross
- People In Need‘s Ukraine Emergency Appeal
- Caritas of the Czech Republic
- Post Bellum‘s collection Help for Ukraine
Events in support of Ukraine
- We stand with Ukraine 2 Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/36KJfgAHz (Sunday 2PM, February 27, Wenceslas Square)
- Prague stands with Ukraine! #StopRussianAggression Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/1ueaB4SdG (February 24, Wenceslas Square)
