Czech Parliament Set to Pass Landmark Foreigners Residence Reform 2026 – Digital System, Mandatory EU Registration & Stricter Employer Rules

Xavi

Jul 27

5 min read

Updated: Jul 27

Czech parliament debates landmark foreigners residence law reform: digital ICAS system, mandatory EU registration, stricter employer rules, and 2029 implementation — Czech parliament debates landmark foreigners residence law reform

PRAGUE — July 27, 2026 — The Czech Republic is on the brink of its most significant immigration overhaul in over two decades. Bill No. 144, the government-sponsored Act on the Entry and Residence of Foreign Nationals, is currently in its second reading in the Chamber of Deputies and remains on the agenda of the 27th sitting .

The long-awaited reform—first introduced by the government in March 2026—has already passed its first reading on April 15, 2026, and cleared committee review on May 4, 2026 . If adopted, it will fundamentally transform how foreign nationals live, work, and study in the country.

Quick Facts: Czech Immigration Reform 2026

Feature	Current System	New System (Proposed)
Application Method	Paper-based, fragmented	Fully digital via ICAS system
EU Citizen Registration	Voluntary	Mandatory from 2027
Residence Permit Format	Biometric sticker/ID card	Digital documents
Processing Times	Long and inconsistent	Streamlined with digital system
Employer Role	Limited involvement	Strengthened "guarantor" responsibility
Target Implementation	—	1 January 2029

What's in the Bill? Key Changes Explained

1. Digitalization: The ICAS System

The cornerstone of the reform is the creation of the Integrated Foreigner Agenda System (ICAS) – a fully digital platform that will replace fragmented paper-based processes .

What This Means for Applicants:

Submit applications online from anywhere
Receive official decisions electronically
Track case status in real time
No more repeated visits to government offices

"The law from 1999 is now outdated and complex due to numerous amendments over the years. The most anticipated update is digitalization."— Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar, First Reading, April 15, 2026

Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar described the current system as "fragmented and unclear" during the first reading, emphasizing the need for a modern framework that reflects 21st-century conditions .

The new system will be fully operational by 1 January 2029, with the ICAS system scheduled to launch on the same date .

2. Mandatory Registration for EU Citizens

Currently, EU citizens residing in the Czech Republic for more than 90 days are not obliged to register . This has created a data gap—the state estimates it is unaware of approximately 200,000 EU citizens living in the country long-term .

New Rules:

Registration becomes mandatory for all EU citizens staying beyond 90 days
Implementation will be phased: voluntary until 2027, then mandatory
Data will be recorded in the Basic Register of Population (ROB)

The lack of accurate data on EU residents became fully apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for better tracking .

3. New Employer and Sponsor "Guarantor" Scheme

The reform introduces a strengthened guarantor system, shifting significant responsibility onto employers, universities, and other entities that invite foreign nationals to the Czech Republic .

What This Means for Employers:

Notification duty: Must report termination or non-commencement of employment
Purpose verification: Must confirm compliance with statutory conditions
Continuous guarantee: Foreign national must have a guarantor throughout their entire residence period
60-Day rule: If a foreign national remains without a guarantor for more than 60 days, this may lead to cancellation of residence

"Employers will now have to ensure that they have the right guarantees from employees, and they will have a number of new obligations."— Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar

The reform also introduces faster revocation of residence permits for individuals who violate the law or pose a threat to public order .

4. Strengthened Government Control: Quota System

The new law preserves and expands the system of governmental quotas for selected types of residence permits .

Key Changes:

Government can flexibly manage migration flows through quotas by country and purpose of stay
If the quota is exhausted, it will not be possible to submit further applications
Special programs remain in place for:
- Highly Qualified Employee Programme
- Qualified Employee Programme
- Key and Scientific Personnel Programme
- Digital Nomad Programme

5. Tighter Compliance: "Triple Offence" Rule

Effective 1 January 2026, repeated offences are now a reason for cancelling certain residence permits .

The Rule:

If a foreigner commits an offence three times in succession within any 12-month period
The offence must be recorded in the Register of Offences
Applies to long-term visas, Employee Cards, and Blue Cards
Does not apply to permanent residence permits or EU citizen family members

6. What's Not Changing

Interior Minister Metnar explicitly stated that the reform does not apply to:

Asylum seekers
Persons under temporary protection (including Ukrainian refugees)
The basic conditions for obtaining a residence permit

Family Members of Czech Citizens: A Controversial Provision

A particularly debated aspect of the reform concerns non-EU family members of Czech citizens .

The Controversy:The Ministry of the Interior proposes returning to the EU Free Movement Directive (2004/38/EC) framework. This means:

Only family members of EU citizens moving to another EU country automatically qualify for residence rights
For EU citizens who remain in their home country (Czech citizens), the right to family reunification does not apply on its own
Non-EU family members of Czech citizens could face more paperwork and more restrictive conditions than non-EU relatives of other EU citizens living in Czechia

Critics describe this as "reverse discrimination" . Czech Radio analyst Viktor Daněk suggested this provision may eventually be tested in court :

"It's quite possible that, if the law is approved and applied, there might be cases where this would be contested in front of courts."— Viktor Daněk, Czech Radio Analyst

Timelines and Next Steps

Stage	Status
Submission	March 25, 2026
Committee Assignment	April 2, 2026
First Reading	April 15, 2026
Committee Review	May 4, 2026
Second Reading (Started)	June 24, 2026
Amendments Submitted	June 25, 2026
27th Session Debates	July 10–27, 2026
Senate Review	After Chamber vote
Target Implementation	1 January 2029

The government expects the bill to pass, as the governing coalition holds a comfortable majority .

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

For Employers

Action	Why It Matters
Prepare for digital system	Electronic accounts and ICAS will replace paper forms
New reporting obligations	Must notify authorities when employment ends
Guarantor responsibility	Employers bear increased liability for foreign employees
Check internal processes	HR teams need to adapt to new legal framework

For Foreign Nationals

Action	Why It Matters
Create an electronic account	Required for all future applications
Maintain accurate records	Digital submissions require careful documentation
Understand guarantor obligations	Your employer or sponsor has new responsibilities
EU citizens: prepare to register	Registration will become mandatory from 2027