400,000 Ukrainians on temporary protection in the Czech Republic - and every year it’s the same drill: online registration, queuing for visa stickers, the fear of missing a deadline. In 2026, the renewal process has launched again, but there’s also a new option - a special 5-year long-term residence permit. Let’s break down what to do right now, which documents need translation, and how not to lose your status.
What is temporary protection in Czechia and when does it expire¶
Temporary protection (dočasná ochrana) is a special status that Czechia has been granting Ukrainians since spring 2022 based on an EU decision. It’s basically permission to live and work in the Czech Republic without going through the standard asylum process. You get a visa sticker (vízový štítek) in your passport, and with it you have the right to:
- Live in Czechia
- Work freely (no separate work permit needed)
- State health insurance (VZP)
- Free education for kids - from kindergarten to university
- Social assistance (humanitární dávka) if needed
The current visa sticker is valid until March 31, 2026. If you don’t renew, the status disappears. Just disappears. No warnings, no grace period.
Extending temporary protection for 2026-2027: step by step¶
The extension has two stages. Both are mandatory.
Stage 1: Online registration (January 8 - March 15, 2026)¶
Go to the Information Portal for Foreigners and register online. During registration, you pick a date and time for your in-person visit to the Ministry of the Interior (Ministerstvo vnitra) office.
What you need for registration: - A valid passport (or other identity document) - Your current temporary protection visa sticker
After completing online registration, your temporary protection is automatically extended to September 30, 2026 - even before your in-person visit.
The deadline is hard: if you don’t register by March 15, 2026, your temporary protection ends on March 31, 2026. Getting it back after that is much harder.
Stage 2: In-person visit to the Ministry¶
Show up on your assigned day at the Ministry office. They’ll put a new visa sticker in your passport, extending your temporary protection until March 31, 2027.
What to bring: - Valid passport - If you’re representing a child under 15 - a document proving your right to represent them (birth certificate, court custody decision)
If you don’t speak Czech, the Ministry recommends bringing someone who can translate. They don’t provide interpreters on site.
Which documents need translation¶
For the temporary protection extension itself, you usually don’t need translations - a passport with the visa sticker is enough. But for actually living in Czechia - working in your profession, enrolling kids in school, getting your diploma recognized - you’ll definitely need translations.
| Document | When translation is needed | Translation type |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | No - for temporary protection extension | - |
| Birth certificate | Yes - for marriage registration, child registration | Court translation (soudní překlad) |
| Marriage certificate | Yes - for matrika, family reunification | Court translation |
| Diploma / school certificate | Yes - for nostrification, qualification recognition | Court translation |
| Diploma supplement (transcript) | Yes - for nostrification | Court translation |
| Employment record / work references | Yes - for employer | Court translation |
| Criminal record certificate | Yes - for special long-term residence | Court translation + apostille |
| Medical documents | Yes - for doctor, insurance | Court translation |
| Driver’s license | Yes - for exchange to Czech license | Court translation |
| Child’s school documents | Yes - for school enrollment | Court translation |
| Income statement | Yes - for special long-term residence | Court translation |
Here’s the thing: the translation language is always Czech. Unlike Switzerland where the language depends on the canton, Czechia has one official language and all documents must be translated into Czech.
Who can do translations for Czech authorities¶
In the Czech Republic, there’s a concept of “soudní překladatel” - a court translator. This is a translator appointed by the Czech Ministry of Justice under Act No. 354/2019 Coll., registered at a regional court (krajský soud).
A court translation isn’t just text in another language. It’s a document where: - The translation is physically bound to the original or a notarized copy - It bears a round seal with the lesser coat of arms of the Czech Republic - It includes a translator’s clause (doložka) confirming the translation accurately corresponds to the original
You can find a court translator from Ukrainian to Czech through: - Ministry of Justice registry - the official list of all court translators in Czechia - Integration centres for foreigners (Integrační centra) - there’s one in every region - Recommendations from Ukrainian communities in Czechia
Translations done in Ukraine by a Ukrainian notary aren’t accepted in Czechia. You need a Czech court translator specifically. Even if you have a translation from Germany by a sworn translator (vereidigter Übersetzer), Czech authorities won’t accept it because it doesn’t meet Czech court translation requirements.
If you need a draft translation of documents from Ukrainian to Czech, ChatsControl can prepare a first version that a court translator can then finalize and certify. This speeds up the process and reduces the cost, since the translator spends less time on the actual translation.
How much does document translation cost in Czechia¶
Court translation prices in Czechia are calculated per standard page (normostrana) - that’s 1,800 characters including spaces in the translated text.
| Service | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Court translation UK→CZ - per standard page | 450-550 CZK |
| Notarized copy of original | 300 CZK (or 200 CZK via CzechPoint) |
| Birth certificate translation (1-2 pages) | 900-1,500 CZK |
| Diploma with supplement translation (3-6 pages) | 2,000-4,500 CZK |
| Criminal record certificate translation | 900-1,200 CZK |
| Driver’s license translation | 600-900 CZK |
| Employment record book translation (10-20 pages) | 4,500-11,000 CZK |
For reference: 1,000 CZK is roughly 40 euros. So translating a single certificate runs you 36-60 euros - noticeably cheaper than Germany or Switzerland, where the same job costs 50-100 euros.
Turnaround: regular translation takes 1-3 business days. Rush translation (express) usually costs 50-100% more, but many translators don’t charge extra for urgency if the document is short.
One user on a forum for Ukrainians in Czechia shared: “I had my diploma and supplement translated - it came to 3,200 crowns. But a friend was recommended a translator who did the same for 2,500. The difference adds up, so it’s worth comparing prices.”
Diploma nostrification: when you need it and what to translate¶
Nostrification (nostrifikace) is the recognition of your Ukrainian diploma or school certificate in Czechia. Without it, you can’t work in your field in regulated professions (doctor, teacher, engineer) and you can’t enroll in a Czech university.
For nostrification, you’ll need: - Original diploma + court translation into Czech - Diploma supplement (transcript) listing all subjects and grades + court translation - Apostille on the original diploma (if available)
Important detail: Ukrainians with temporary protection who’ve lost documents due to the war have a simplified option. You can replace missing documents with a sworn statement (čestné prohlášení). But this is an exception, not the rule, and each case is reviewed individually.
Nostrification is handled by Czech universities (for higher education) or regional education departments (for secondary education). The process takes 30-60 days and costs 3,000 CZK (fee for higher education nostrification) or 1,000 CZK (secondary education). More details at the Czech Ministry of Education website.
Special long-term residence: an alternative to temporary protection¶
Since 2025, Czechia offers the “zvláštní dlouhodobý pobyt” - a special long-term residence permit for those who want to move from temporary protection to a more stable status. It’s a 5-year biometric card with full labour market access and the ability to travel across the Schengen area.
Requirements for 2026¶
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration of temporary protection | At least 2 continuous years as of April 1, 2026 |
| Annual income | 440,000 CZK (≈18,000 euros) for 2025 + 110,000 CZK per dependent |
| Continuous health insurance | No outstanding payments |
| Housing | Lease or property ownership for the full permit duration |
| Clean criminal record | Based on Czech authority data (not applicable to those under 15) |
| No humanitární dávka | During a certain period before application |
| Children aged 6-14 | Must attend school in Czechia |
How to apply in 2026¶
- April 2026 - submit an “expression of interest” (vyjádření zájmu) through the Information Portal for Foreigners
- Review - the Ministry checks if you meet the conditions (income is verified through Czech tax data)
- October 2026 - if approved, you’re invited for biometric capture
- By end of 2026 - you receive your biometric residence card
Stats from 2025: out of 80,000 applicants, only 15,000 received the special residence permit. The main reason for rejections was insufficient income. 440,000 CZK per year is roughly 36,700 CZK per month - above minimum wage but below average salary.
Documents for the special residence permit and what to translate¶
For the special long-term residence application, you’ll likely need: - Valid passport - Criminal record certificate with an apostille - needs a court translation into Czech - Income verification (checked through Czech tax data, usually no separate translation needed) - Lease agreement or property ownership proof
If you have education documents from Ukraine, their translation may be needed for qualification confirmation - though it’s not a mandatory requirement for the residence permit itself.
Common mistakes Ukrainians make in Czechia¶
Missing the online registration deadline. This is the most common and most painful mistake. If you don’t register by March 15, 2026, your temporary protection ends on March 31. Period. Set a phone reminder right now.
Translation not done by a court translator. A regular translation, even a good one, won’t be accepted by Czech authorities. You specifically need a soudní překlad from a registered court translator with the seal and translator’s clause.
Translation from Germany or Ukraine. Translations certified by a Ukrainian notary or a German sworn translator (vereidigter Übersetzer) don’t have legal validity in Czechia. Only a Czech court translator will do.
Not starting nostrification early enough. The process takes 1-2 months, sometimes longer if additional exams are required. If you’re planning to work in your field, start the nostrification process right away. Don’t wait for the “perfect moment.”
Not keeping copies of documents. The court translator binds the translation to the original or a notarized copy. If the original is with the translator, make a copy beforehand. If originals are lost due to the war, look into getting replacements through the consulate or read our article about lost documents.
Ignoring the special residence permit. If you’re working and earning more than 440,000 CZK per year, apply for the special long-term residence. It’s a far more stable status than renewing temporary protection every year.
FAQ¶
How much does document translation cost for temporary protection in Czechia?¶
For the temporary protection extension itself, you don’t need translations - a passport is enough. But for working in your profession, diploma nostrification, or applying for special long-term residence, translating a single document (certificate, reference) costs from 900 CZK (≈36 euros). A full document package (birth certificate, diploma with supplement, criminal record) will run you 4,000-7,000 CZK (160-280 euros).
What happens if I don’t register by March 15, 2026?¶
Your temporary protection will end on March 31, 2026. This isn’t a joke or an exaggeration - the Czech Ministry of Interior clearly states that extension is impossible without online registration. If you missed it, you’ll need to contact the Ministry individually, but that’s a much more complicated process.
Will Czech authorities accept a translation done in Ukraine or Germany?¶
No. Czech authorities require a court translation (soudní překlad) done by a court translator (soudní překladatel) registered at a Czech regional court. Translations from a Ukrainian notary or a German vereidigter Übersetzer don’t have legal validity in Czechia. You need to order a new translation in the Czech Republic.
What are the requirements for the special long-term residence permit in 2026?¶
At least 2 years of continuous temporary protection, annual income of at least 440,000 CZK (plus 110,000 CZK per dependent), continuous health insurance, housing for the full permit duration, and a clean criminal record. Expression of interest - April 2026, biometric capture - October 2026.
How long does diploma nostrification take in Czechia?¶
The nostrification process usually takes 30-60 days from submitting a complete document package. Fee: 3,000 CZK for higher education, 1,000 CZK for secondary. You’ll need a diploma with an apostille and court translation into Czech, plus the diploma supplement (transcript) with translation.
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