Czechia prepares to cut financial support for Ukrainians by 50% and tighten controls

The Czech government coalition has reached an agreement on a significant reduction in financial aid for Ukrainian citizens residing in the country under temporary protection status. This was announced by Chamber of Deputies Speaker Tomio Okamura at a press conference on 20 October. According to him, the decision was the result of negotiations between the three coalition partner parties.

Compromise between political forces

Tomio Okamura, who leads the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, explained that his political force advocated for the complete cessation of payments. However, other coalition members — the ANO party and the Automobilists — did not support such a proposal. As a result, a decision was made to reduce aid by at least half.

It is expected that the implementation of these measures will allow the state to save approximately 4 billion Czech crowns. Currently, according to the speaker, around 8 billion crowns are allocated for payments to Ukrainians, while another 4 billion is spent on health insurance for those among them who are not employed.

Tightening residency requirements

In addition to financial changes, amendments to the Lex Ukrajina bill are being prepared in Czechia, which provide for stricter rules for foreigners. SPD deputy Radek Koten announced the intention to cancel humanitarian aid for Ukrainians who do not have a job. It is also proposed to introduce stricter control over actual residence in the country.

One of the key points of the initiatives is the cancellation of temporary protection status in case of departure from the Schengen area for a period exceeding 30 days. The authors of the amendments explain this by the desire to counter so-called "benefit tourism," when people allegedly regularly cross the border between Ukraine and Czechia to receive cash payments.

To improve control, plans are being made to merge the registers of the Ministry of the Interior, the police, and other state bodies. This will allow for faster verification of the legality of foreigners' residence. If violations are detected, the cancellation of the residence permit or administrative expulsion is envisaged.

New rules for vehicles with Ukrainian registration

Changes will also affect the transport sector. From mid-2027, owners of vehicles with Ukrainian registration will be required to regularly undergo technical inspections and emissions tests at Czech stations. These requirements must be equal to those applicable to vehicles with Czech registration.

According to Radek Koten, if a driver does not comply with the new norms, the police will have the authority to detain the vehicle on the spot. In such a case, the owner will be required to pay a bail or a fine ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 Czech crowns.

Status of legislative changes

Amendments to the Lex Ukrajina bill are still at the preparation stage, but the document has already been included in the agenda of the parliamentary session. Representatives of the majority hope for its earliest possible adoption. The planned reduction in spending has already been factored into the draft state budget of Czechia.

Final conditions, effective dates, and the full list of changes will depend on the further course of the legislative process. Currently, these are plans and preparatory measures, not enacted laws. Ukrainians residing in Czechia are advised to monitor official announcements from Czech authorities to obtain up-to-date information.