Legal services in Prague
Comprehensive legal services in Prague cover extension of temporary protection, arrangement of the humanitarian benefit, family reunification, a trade licence for business, and court representation. All of these matters can be handled through a single representative office.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has a representative office in the Czech Republic and has for many years assisted Ukrainians in Prague with legalisation and protection of rights. Our experience shows that clients who seek advice immediately after relocation face OAMP refusals less often than those who try to navigate the procedures on their own.
Extension of temporary protection: status valid until 31 March 2028
Temporary protection for Ukrainians has been extended until 31 March 2028; however, the specific extension procedure in 2026 takes place in two separate stages.
The first stage is online registration with an appointment for an in-person visit to a Ministry of the Interior office, which in itself extends the status until 30 September 2026.
The second stage is affixing the visa sticker at the in-person visit, after which the status is valid until 31 March 2027 and then automatically until the final date of 31 March 2028.
Humanitarian benefit (humanitární dávka) in 2026
The humanitarian benefit is intended for citizens of Ukraine with temporary protection who lack sufficient funds for basic needs and housing costs, and is granted after an assessment of the applicant’s income and assets.
| Period and category | Amount per month |
| First 150 days, adult | CZK 4,860 |
| First 150 days, child | CZK 3,490 |
| After 150 days, adult | CZK 3,130 |
| Vulnerable category | CZK 6,000 |
Our experience shows that clients who gather documents on income and family composition in advance receive a decision on the benefit significantly faster than those who submit an incomplete package.
Trade licence and business for Ukrainians
For the purposes of business law, holders of temporary protection are treated as equivalent to EU citizens and may obtain a trade licence on the same terms as Czech citizens, without a separate long-term residence permit.
An electronic application for a trade licence is processed within a few days and costs about CZK 800, which is markedly simpler than the standard business registration for other categories of foreigners.
An important nuance is that the trade licence must be extended together with each extension of temporary protection; otherwise the authorisation to conduct business ceases to be valid.
Employment through the labour office
Holders of temporary protection have the right to work in the Czech Republic without a separate work permit, and registration with the labour office (Úřad práce) helps find a vacancy faster and obtain advice on labour law.
Our experience shows that clients who register with the labour office immediately after obtaining status, rather than postponing this step, find suitable work noticeably faster.
Recognition of Ukrainian diplomas: nostrification
Citizens of Ukraine are exempt from the fee for filing an application for nostrification—the recognition of foreign secondary or higher education in the Czech Republic.
Certificates and diplomas issued on the territory of the former USSR between 6 June 1972 and 27 February 2000 are automatically equated with Czech education documents without a separate recognition procedure.
From March 2026, apostille of certain Ukrainian documents is available directly in Prague through the state company Dokument, without the need to send documents to Ukraine.
Family reunification in the Czech Republic
Family members include a spouse, a registered partner, the minor unmarried children of the applicant or of his or her spouse, as well as other close relatives who are dependants and live in the same household.
A holder of temporary protection may apply for long-term residence for the purpose of family cohabitation no earlier than six months after obtaining protection—this concerns a spouse, a minor child, or a relative over 65 years of age.
Transition to long-term or permanent residence after temporary protection
Temporary protection is designed for a limited period, so clients with stable employment and a family in the Czech Republic should in good time explore a transition to long-term residence—employment-based or on the grounds of family reunification.
A change of status usually requires meeting the conditions of the specific residence category, so document preparation should begin several months before the current status expires.
Court representation and protection of Ukrainians’ rights in Prague
An OAMP refusal to extend status, a dispute with an employer, or a refusal of the humanitarian benefit can be challenged in administrative proceedings and then, if necessary, in court.
We have helped close dozens of such cases, and our experience shows that clients who seek representation immediately after receiving a refusal achieve a review of the decision significantly more often than those who delay seeking help.
Which documents to prepare in advance
For most applications—status extension, a humanitarian benefit claim, or family reunification—the same basic set of documents is useful.
- A valid international passport and a visa sticker or confirmation of temporary protection registration.
- Proof of residential address in Prague or another region of the Czech Republic.
- Documents on family composition with a translation into Czech.
- Income certificates when applying regarding the humanitarian benefit or business.
Translations and certified copies prepared in advance significantly shorten the processing time of an application at OAMP or the labour office.
Health insurance upon status extension
A health insurance document is issued for a period corresponding to the current residence permit date registered with OAMP.
After completion of online registration, insurance is valid until 30 September 2026, and after the visa sticker is affixed—until 31 March 2027, which is important to take into account for planned medical visits.
Specifics of qualification recognition for regulated professions
General nostrification confirms the level of education but does not replace a separate authorisation to practise a regulated profession—doctors, lawyers, and architects require additional recognition by the relevant chamber or authority.
Our experience shows that clients in regulated professions should clarify the requirements of the specific authority before filing documents for nostrification, so that both stages of recognition can be planned at the same time.
Typical mistakes of Ukrainians in Prague
The most common mistake is forgetting the need to extend the trade licence separately from temporary protection, as a result of which business activity formally ceases.
Another widespread problem is filing a nostrification application without checking whether the diploma falls under automatic recognition, which leads to unnecessary time spent on a procedure that was not required.
Our experience shows that clients who clarify the conditions with a lawyer in advance, rather than relying on acquaintances’ advice, complete all procedures faster and without unnecessary corrections.
Housing and residence registration in Prague
Proof of residential address is required for most applications to OAMP, so a tenancy agreement or a certificate of accommodation should be in order before filing an application to extend status.
Due to high demand for rental housing in Prague, finding one’s own accommodation often takes longer than in other regions of the Czech Republic, so many Ukrainians continue to use state or charitable accommodation programmes for longer.
Our experience shows that timely updating of the address in the OAMP system with each move helps avoid delays with benefits and confusion at the next extension.
School and children’s adaptation in Prague
Children of Ukrainian refugees are required to attend school on an equal footing with Czech children, and for children who do not speak Czech, many schools in Prague provide adaptation groups with intensive language study.
Enrolment in school is handled through the education department of the relevant Prague district, and due to high demand for places it is advisable to apply immediately after obtaining status.
An expert view on long-term status planning
An analysis of our cases shows that clients with stable employment and a family in Prague should in good time apply for long-term residence for family reunification, without waiting for temporary protection to expire.
We recommend reviewing your strategy at least once a year and carefully following OAMP announcements, as the rules for extending status have changed several times in recent years.
International Law Firm "Zahist" has a representative office in the Czech Republic and provides legal services in Prague across a full range of matters — from status extension to business incorporation and court representation.
Each situation has its own specifics — family composition, source of income, and plans for long-term residence in the Czech Republic — so a preliminary consultation helps select the right strategy from the outset.
The earlier a client seeks legal services in Prague, the less time is spent correcting errors and making repeated applications to Czech authorities.
