I have just arrived

First check the conditions for your stay

You have just arrived — take a breath. The first thing to understand is that arriving from Ukraine does not by itself give you Czech temporary protection. It is granted by the Ministry of the Interior under the current conditions, and those conditions change. Open the official conditions page (link below) and compare it with your own situation: when and from where you entered, whether you hold protection in another EU country, whether you hold another residence status.

Important news as of 5 November 2026: for applications submitted from 5 August 2026, persons liable to military service in Ukraine aged 18 to 59 (inclusive) must prove they have met their military obligations. Per ipc.gov.cz: ages 18–22 — registration in the Reserv+ app plus a paper eVOD; ages 23–59 — a paper eVOD recording full release. The eVOD comes from Reserv+ but is accepted only on paper (screenshots are not): certified by a Ukrainian consulate no more than 3 working days before filing, or together with a Ukrainian exit stamp in a valid passport. According to the Ministry, this condition does not apply to people who already hold valid protection and keep it continuously, nor to the extension of protection.

Protection is currently valid until 31 March 2027. The Ministry has announced an extension to 31 March 2028 (procedure: online registration, then an in-person visit to a Ministry office for a new visa sticker). Watch ipc.gov.cz for the registration opening date — do not rely on chat rumours.

Tip: this site does not decide whether you are entitled to a status, and we never ask you to send us documents. Only the Ministry of the Interior decides.

The first 72 hours: safety, connection, rest

The first days are not about paperwork, they are about getting back on your feet. Sort out a place to sleep, food, a charged phone and contact with family. Save the emergency numbers: 112 (the single European number), 155 (ambulance), 158 (police), 150 (fire brigade). 112 works without a SIM card and without any Czech — the operator will find an interpreter.

Get a Czech SIM or eSIM from any operator (airports and stations are pricier; tariffs are better in the city). You will need stable internet and an e-mail address you can read every day for documents and appointment bookings.

Keep your key documents with you: your passport (a copy is not a substitute for the original) and anything that proves your entry date. Photograph every page and store the images in a secure cloud. Never hand over your passport original as a "deposit" to an employer or landlord — it is a common trap.

Tip: if you have no accommodation yet, note the address and phone of the nearest KACPU help centre (list linked below) — they handle this every day. Do not accept "accommodation in exchange for services" from strangers without a written agreement.

Find the relevant office

Use the official KACPU directory (the regional Ukraine assistance centres). This is the main place to go with questions about temporary protection. Before travelling, check the centre's page for its address, services and opening hours: centres move (for example KACPU Brno changed address in autumn 2026) and chat rumours go stale fast.

Appointments are booked online (the "Booking" section on ipc.gov.cz) or through the Interior Ministry's Client Centre for Foreigners: +420 974 801 801, choose option 1 in the voice menu to book a visit. The temporary protection information line is +420 974 801 802, ukrajina@mv.gov.cz; open Mon–Thu 8:00–16:00, Fri 8:00–14:00. Calls are charged at your operator's rate.

What to bring: your passport, proof of accommodation (see the "Housing and moving" guide), and where relevant your children's documents and birth certificates. Check the exact list on the application conditions page — it depends on your situation.

Typical mistakes: arriving without a booking; bringing a copy instead of the original; not checking that this particular centre handles your matter. Tip: if you cannot get through, try Tuesday to Thursday morning — the line is usually less busy than on Monday.

The first two weeks: address, insurance, doctor, school

The second week is the time to settle in. Checklist: - Address. Register your residence by the rules: if you live at a new address for more than 15 days, report the change within 3 working days. Keep proof of accommodation (a lease or the owner's confirmation). - Insurance. Apply to a health insurer (VZP, VoZP, OZP, ZP MV ČR, ČPZP and others) and keep the insurance document. The state pays for the first 90 days — details in the "Health insurance" guide. - Doctor. Register with a general practitioner (praktický lékař) and, if you have children, a paediatrician. Without registration you will depend on a private clinic or the ambulance. - Children. Compulsory schooling: your child should start school within 90 days of the visa being granted. Contact the nearest school or the education department of your city district.

Tip: keep one folder (paper and on your phone) with your passport, visa/sticker, proof of accommodation, insurance card and children's documents. It will save you hours in queues.

The first month: work, language, bank, community

Holders of temporary protection have free access to the labour market and to education — no separate work permit is needed. If you are looking for work, register with the Labour Office (Úřad práce) as a jobseeker: it opens up vacancies, courses and, depending on your situation, state-paid health insurance. Details in the "Work: where to start" guide.

Czech is your strongest tool. Start with free courses (integration centres, NGOs, the Labour Office) — the "Czech for work" guide shows where to look. Even level A1 makes daily life and dealings with doctors and officials much easier.

Open a bank account: many banks open one on a passport and visa/sticker; compare account fees. With a Czech account you can receive wages and pay insurance.

Community: Prague has the Integration Centre (ICP), offering legal, social and career consultations, Czech courses and accompaniment to offices. Do not hesitate to ask for help — it is their job. Tip: never sign a contract if you do not understand a clause; ask for an interpreter or a consultation at the centre.

If conditions are unclear, check before acting

Czechia has several different statuses (temporary protection, visas, long-term residence, special long-term residence) and the rules differ. If your situation is non-standard, do not rely on a general guide — including ours. Contact the Interior Ministry Client Centre (+420 974 801 801) or a KACPU, and for legal questions use the free consultations of an integration centre or an NGO.

Special long-term residence (ZDP) is a separate programme for temporary protection holders who meet the criteria. Registration for those who expressed interest in April 2026 runs from 1 October to 31 December 2026; the evaluation results are available in your ipc.gov.cz user account after logging in with an electronic identity. The programme does not cancel temporary protection. If you missed it, later rounds depend on a government decision.

Beware of scammers: official portals end in .gov.cz or are authority websites; no authority asks for money for "speeding up" or a "place in the queue" via a messenger. Never share your account login.

Tip: keep screenshots and the registration number of every online step — they help prove you completed it.

For existing protection, identify the action you need

If you already hold temporary protection, do not treat the first-application procedure as a universal guide. First identify what you need: extend protection, change an address or surname, replace a passport, report a lost document, change marital status or something else. Each action has its own page and deadlines on ipc.gov.cz.

As of 3 November 2026: current protection is valid until 31 March 2027. The extension to 31 March 2028 takes two steps — online registration and an in-person visit to a Ministry office for a new visa sticker. Protection is extended only after both steps. Last year people who did not register by 15 March 2026 lost protection on 31 March 2026, and those who registered but did not collect the sticker lost it on 30 September 2026. A missed step is costly: set a calendar reminder as soon as ipc.gov.cz announces the date.

Always carry your passport with the sticker — a copy is not accepted as proof. Check your address in the Citizen Portal (Portál občana) and your status on the Ministry portal.

Tip: if protection has expired you can apply again, but under the current conditions, and the earlier stay is not counted as continuous. It is best not to allow a gap.

The first two weeks: address, insurance, doctor, school

The second week is the time to settle in. Checklist: - Address. Register your residence by the rules: if you live at a new address for more than 15 days, report the change within 3 working days. Keep proof of accommodation (a lease or the owner's confirmation). - Insurance. Apply to a health insurer (VZP, VoZP, OZP, ZP MV ČR, ČPZP and others) and keep the insurance document. The state pays for the first 90 days — details in the "Health insurance" guide. - Doctor. Register with a general practitioner (praktický lékař) and, if you have children, a paediatrician. Without registration you will depend on a private clinic or the ambulance. - Children. Compulsory schooling: your child should start school within 90 days of the visa being granted. Contact the nearest school or the education department of your city district.

Tip: keep one folder (paper and on your phone) with your passport, visa/sticker, proof of accommodation, insurance card and children's documents. It will save you hours in queues.

The first month: work, language, bank, community

Holders of temporary protection have free access to the labour market and to education — no separate work permit is needed. If you are looking for work, register with the Labour Office (Úřad práce) as a jobseeker: it opens up vacancies, courses and, depending on your situation, state-paid health insurance. Details in the "Work: where to start" guide.

Czech is your strongest tool. Start with free courses (integration centres, NGOs, the Labour Office) — the "Czech for work" guide shows where to look. Even level A1 makes daily life and dealings with doctors and officials much easier.

Open a bank account: many banks open one on a passport and visa/sticker; compare account fees. With a Czech account you can receive wages and pay insurance.

Community: Prague has the Integration Centre (ICP), offering legal, social and career consultations, Czech courses and accompaniment to offices. Do not hesitate to ask for help — it is their job. Tip: never sign a contract if you do not understand a clause; ask for an interpreter or a consultation at the centre.

If conditions are unclear, check before acting

Czechia has several different statuses (temporary protection, visas, long-term residence, special long-term residence) and the rules differ. If your situation is non-standard, do not rely on a general guide — including ours. Contact the Interior Ministry Client Centre (+420 974 801 801) or a KACPU, and for legal questions use the free consultations of an integration centre or an NGO.

Special long-term residence (ZDP) is a separate programme for temporary protection holders who meet the criteria. Registration for those who expressed interest in April 2026 runs from 1 October to 31 December 2026; the evaluation results are available in your ipc.gov.cz user account after logging in with an electronic identity. The programme does not cancel temporary protection. If you missed it, later rounds depend on a government decision.

Beware of scammers: official portals end in .gov.cz or are authority websites; no authority asks for money for "speeding up" or a "place in the queue" via a messenger. Never share your account login.

Tip: keep screenshots and the registration number of every online step — they help prove you completed it.