The Czech Republic has begun denying Ukrainians temporary protection: which document is now being checked
12 August 22:57
In the Czech Republic, several dozen Ukrainians have already been denied temporary protection due to new requirements regarding proof of the legality of their departure from Ukraine. The rules took effect on August 5 and apply to new applicants. The Czech publication Novinky reported on the first denials, citing Veronika Votočková, a representative of the Czech Ministry of the Interior, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
Why Ukrainians Are Being Denied Protection in the Czech Republic
According to Votočková, in less than a week, temporary protection has already been denied to several dozen people. They were unable to confirm that they had fulfilled their military obligations to Ukraine or that their departure abroad was lawful.
The new requirements apply primarily to men of draft age who arrived in the European Union after the relevant changes took effect and are applying for temporary protection for the first time.
At the same time, this does not mean an automatic denial for all Ukrainian men. The decision depends on whether the applicant can provide documentation confirming that the Ukrainian authorities permitted him to leave the country in accordance with the legislation on military service.
What documents may be required
To verify the legality of departure, Czech immigration authorities may check the electronic military registration document. This likely refers to a document generated in the “Reserve” app .
Czech immigration officials know what information to look for in the electronic document and what the relevant entries should look like.
Another possible form of confirmation could be a Ukrainian stamp indicating the crossing of the state border. However, the Czech Ministry of the Interior has noted that it prefers an extract from the electronic military registration document, as it considers it more reliable.
Therefore, when submitting an application, you may need:
- an electronic military registration document with a QR code;
- information regarding deferment or exemption from military registration;
- documents confirming the legal grounds for departure;
- a stamp from Ukrainian border guards confirming border crossing.
The specific list of documents may depend on the circumstances of departure and the applicant’s status.
Who Is Affected by the New Rules
The restrictions apply to newly arrived Ukrainians who apply for temporary protection after the new requirements take effect.
The European Commission’s proposal states that protection should generally not be granted to individuals who cannot prove that they have received permission from Ukrainian authorities to leave in accordance with their military obligations.
However, the rule is not retroactive. It does not provide for the automatic revocation of status for Ukrainians who have already been granted temporary protection before the changes took effect.
Furthermore, a denial in the Czech Republic does not mean that a person will be automatically and forcibly returned to Ukraine. It specifically refers to the refusal to grant collective temporary protection status based on a new application.
The Czech Republic supported stricter requirements
The Czech Republic was among the European Union member states that advocated for restricting access to temporary protection for newly arrived Ukrainians subject to military service.
According to Ondřej Mahal, the Czech Deputy Minister of the Interior, the Ukrainian side also supported these changes. He explained this by Ukraine’s need for human resources both for defense and for future post-war reconstruction.
Czech authorities are also noting a shift in migration patterns. Among newly arrived Ukrainians, there has been an increase in the number of men of working age. Last year, for the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion, more men than women arrived in the Czech Republic.
How Many Ukrainians Are in the Czech Republic
Currently, more than 396,000 Ukrainian citizens who have been granted temporary protection are residing in the Czech Republic. Relative to its population, the country remains one of the EU leaders in terms of the number of Ukrainian refugees it has accepted.
Temporary protection grants Ukrainians the right to legally reside and work in the country, access medical care and social support, and—for children—attend local schools.
The European Union is extending the temporary protection mechanism for Ukrainians, but at the same time is reviewing the conditions for granting it to new arrivals. The Czech experience shows that the lack of a valid military registration document may now serve as grounds for denial.
