Czech police have stepped up checks on foreigners: why are Ukrainians at risk?

Czech police regularly detect illegal immigrants, including Ukrainians. Find out who is at risk of staying in the Czech Republic and what to do in case of problems with documents

Legal assistance on migration issues for Ukrainians in Ukraine and abroad

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The Czech Alien Police continues to monitor migrants' stay in the country. In 2024, almost 9.5 thousand people were found to have violated the conditions of legal stay, and in the first three months of 2025, 2,500 illegal immigrants were detected. The list of violations includes overstayed visas, illegal labor, forgery of documents, and exceeding the permitted period of visa-free stay.

Although the statistics of violations has decreased compared to 2023, according to Blesk.cz, Ukrainians remain the largest group among the detected illegal immigrants. This problem is much more serious than it seems, because even those who entered the country legally can lose their status due to a number of legal and procedural nuances.

Who are the Czech police looking for during inspections?

Working without official permission is one of the most common violations. Ukrainians often do this without waiting for a decision on granting a tolerance visa or other permission. But illegal labor is not only a risk of a fine, but also a real threat of deportation, as well as a possible ban on entering the EU for several years.

In many cases, if the violation is minor, the person is forced to voluntarily leave the territory of the Czech Republic. In the worst cases, the decision on administrative expulsion is accompanied by an entry ban.

Another area is document fraud. The most commonly found fakes are:

● driver's licenses;

● certificates from the criminal record

● marriage certificates

● documents for applying for a residence permit;

● documents on completion of driving courses.

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How do Ukrainians lose their legal status in the Czech Republic?

One of the biggest problems for Ukrainians is moving between EU countries. If a person has already been granted temporary protection, for example, in Poland or Germany, the Czech Republic often refuses to grant such protection again, even if the person has officially renounced the status in the previous country.

In such cases, Ukrainians are forced to apply for a tolerance visa, a special type of residence permit granted in exceptional circumstances. But its processing can take several weeks or months. During this time, the 90 days of visa-free stay in Schengen can expire, and a person automatically becomes an illegal immigrant.

The worst part is the lack of awareness: many people do not know that they are losing their status or wait for a decision without taking any action. Some try to work illegally, putting themselves at risk of deportation or administrative punishment.

What should you do if you find yourself in a difficult situation?

First of all, do not hesitate. If your visa-free stay is coming to an end and there is no decision on your documents, you need to act, not wait for luck. At the same time, it can be difficult to resolve such situations on your own. That is why it is important to contact professional migration lawyers who know the intricacies of Czech law and can protect your rights.

Legal support is not just help with paperwork. It is a way to avoid loss of status, deportation, and litigation. Visit Ukraine specialists have experience in such cases and can provide advice on the next steps, the correct submission of documents, and support in communicating with the authorities.

Remember: up-to-date information and legal support is the key to your safety in Europe. If you have any doubts, contact migration lawyers and do not be left alone with the problem.

We remind you! The Czech government is considering the possibility of terminating temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in the event of a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine. Interior Minister Vit Rakusan has announced plans to tighten the asylum procedure and introduce new approaches to the reception of war veterans. Read how this may affect Ukrainians in the Czech Republic in our previous article.

Photo: Michaela Danelová, Český rozhlas

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