Publication date: 22.05.2024
Lawyer
Registration of residence permit in EU countries : how to get temporary protection in the Czech Republic?
Rules of entry to the Czech Republic for Ukrainians in 2024
Citizens of Ukraine can enter the Czech Republic without a visa if they have a biometric foreign passport. This eliminates the need for a coronavirus test or vaccination certificate upon entry.
For persons without a biometric passport, the entry process is more complicated. The Czech authorities will evaluate each case individually, which may lead to refusal. Documents accepted include a foreign passport of a citizen of Ukraine, an internal passport (including an ID card) or a pension certificate.
Men aged 18 to 60 can leave Ukraine if:
Recognized by the military medical commission as disabled or temporarily unfit for military service.
A dependent mother of three or more children under the age of 18.
Single parents raise children up to 18 years of age.
They have other grounds provided for in Article 23 of the Law on Mobilization.
Health insurance and where to buy it
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is essential to ensure access to medical care in the event of an accident or illness while traveling. This can prevent high medical costs abroad. Insurance can be purchased online through services such as Hotline.finance, which offers options from 35 Ukrainian insurance companies.
Medical Insurance
Having received temporary protection in the Czech Republic, you are automatically included in the state health insurance system for a period of up to 150 days. After this period, you must take out health insurance yourself. It's important for people ages 18 to 64 to tell their health insurance company about their benefit plans.
For employees, health insurance is covered by the employer. For health issues, contact the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic on the hotline (+420 226 201 221) or visit their official portal. The VZP website also contains resources on health insurance-related issues.
In addition, the portal ulekare.cz offers online consultations of specialists in Ukrainian.
How to obtain temporary protection status for Ukrainians in the Czech Republic
Requirements and services
All citizens of Ukraine and foreigners permanently residing in Ukraine, affected by the war, can receive temporary protection in the Czech Republic. This can be done by visiting the Regional Help Center in Ukraine (KACPU). The addresses of these centers are available on the portal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Czech Republic.
KACPU provides temporary protection for one year along with various services such as free health insurance and assistance with other matters.
Registration process
To register at KACPU, it is necessary to provide an identity document. This can be a foreign or domestic passport, an identity card, a birth certificate for children or a pension certificate for the elderly.
It is important to note that a visa with temporary protection is not equivalent to refugee status, so you can return to Ukraine at will. With temporary protection, you also gain access to the Czech labor market.
Conclusion
The Czech Republic offers a structured support process for Ukrainians seeking temporary protection. For those who have biometric passports, the entry rules are simple, other cases are considered individually. Health insurance is mandatory, with initial government coverage and private coverage after 150 days. Temporary protection status not only provides safety and health care, but also opens employment opportunities, helping Ukrainians to maintain stability during these difficult times.
