Czech Republic stops issuing visas to Russians and Belarusians
22 February 2024 21:30
Prime Minister Petr Fiala has said that the Czech Republic will no longer issue visas and residence permits to citizens of Russia and Belarus because of the invasion of Ukraine. This was reported by the 
with reference to Ceske Noviny.
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Czech Cabinet of Ministers decided to stop issuing visas to Russian and then Belarusian citizens, except in humanitarian cases. The resolution was in effect until 31 March, and now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has proposed a new government resolution without a specific timeframe for the simplification.
According to Fiala, it is necessary to create conditions for opposition members or students who do not want to have anything to do with the respective regimes to study, work and conduct business in the Czech Republic.
“There are a number of exceptions to the rules, but we will continue to work on this,”
– the Czech Prime Minister added.
Foreigners who already have a residence permit are not the target group of the regulation. The regulation also does not apply to applications for short-term visas if the applicant is a family member of a Czech citizen or an EU citizen whom he or she accompanies. It also does not apply to applications for a visa, long-term or permanent residence permit if the applicant’s stay is in the interest of the Czech Republic and this interest is confirmed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In addition, the provision does not apply to applications for long-term residence permits if the applicant is a family member of a foreigner who has a residence permit in the Czech Republic. Belarusians applying for a residence permit for the purpose of studying at a university on the basis of scholarships granted by the Czech Republic, the European Union or international organisations are also exempt from the ban.
