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New rules affecting Ukrainian men seeking temporary protection in the Czech Republic will take effect on August 5, 2026.
Under the changes, men aged 23 to 60 applying for temporary protection will have to demonstrate that they are exempt from military service in Ukraine.
The requirement will apply to new applications and certain other applications for protection, but not to people who already hold valid temporary protection.
The Czech Interior Ministry says the new rules follow an EU Council decision published in the Official Journal of the European Union on August 4. The decision also extends temporary protection for people fleeing Russia’s war in Ukraine until March 31, 2028.
For applicants aged 23 to 60, military registration documents will be checked as part of the application process. Applicants will use Ukraine’s Reserv+ system to demonstrate their military status, with the electronic military registration document showing whether they are exempt from military service.
The rules are different for younger applicants. People aged 18 to 22 will only need to demonstrate that they are registered in the Reserv+ system.
The new requirement concerns people applying for temporary protection for the first time, as well as repeat applications and applications connected with family reunification. It does not apply to people who already have valid temporary protection.
The military-service requirement will also not be introduced as part of the regular extension process. Ukrainians whose temporary protection is already valid will therefore not have to provide this additional documentation when extending their status through March 2028.
Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar said the Czech government had pushed for stricter conditions for new applicants. According to the ministry, the change is expected to reduce the number of new arrivals and ease pressure on public services, including health care and social security.
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