PRAGUE - From January 2026, significant changes to the Czech asylum and migration system will come into force. President Petr Pavel has signed an amendment to the law which, according to its coalition MPs, will speed up the international protection procedure, limit its abuse and improve the overview of the movement and stay of asylum seekers and migrants.
The signing was announced by the Castle.The draft is based directly on the EU migration pact and responds to measures against illegal migration adopted or planned by other Member States. The reform represents a key step towards harmonising Czech law with European standards, but it has also sparked debates about its impact on human rights and the economy.
The amendment, designated as Parliamentary Print 931, was submitted by a group of MPs led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Interior Minister Vít Rakušan as early as March 2025. The legislative process proceeded quickly: the government approved it in April, the Chamber of Deputies debated it in fast-track mode despite criticism from the opposition, and the Senate approved it in July.
It was delivered to the President on August 11, 2025, and his signature today completed the process. Key changes include amendments to several laws, including the Asylum Act (No. 325/1999), the Aliens Residence Act (No. 326/1999), the State Border Protection Act and the Employment Act. Specifically, faster deportation procedures, stricter security checks on applicants, restrictions on access to work and social benefits for asylum seekers during the procedure and better monitoring of their movements through central registers are introduced.
It also increases migrants' obligations, such as mandatory integration and language courses, and introduces the principle that repeated violations can lead to immediate deportation.
These measures are a direct implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which entered into force on 11 June 2024 and will be fully applied from mid-2026. The Pact establishes a single system for managing migration, including robust border controls, an enhanced Eurodac database for identification, mandatory border procedures for certain applicants and a solidarity mechanism between Member States - countries can choose between relocating migrants, financial contributions or operational support.
For the Czech Republic, this means better coordination with partners such as Germany and Italy, which have already tightened their borders, and preventing "secondary movements" migrants. According to the European Commission, the pact is a response to the growing pressures of migration, with the aim of normalising it in the long term while preserving European values.
In January 2025, the Czech Republic already presented a national action plan for implementation, including strengthening border protection and accelerating returns.
Reactions to the amendment are mixed. In its comments, UNHCR recommended maintaining protection for vulnerable groups such as Ukrainians, whose temporary protection has been extended until March 2027, but with stricter conditions after March 2025.
Concerns are being raised on social media about the wider impact of the EU pact, including a potential increase in migrants from third countries, which they link to economic pressures on the labour market.
Critics also warn of the risk of dehumanisation and extremism, while supporters see the reform as strengthening sovereignty.
As the 2025 elections approach, migration is becoming a key issue where security priorities and humanitarian commitments collide. This reform shows how the Czech Republic is balancing between national interests and European solidarity, with the expected impact on society as a whole.
Hrad.cz/gnews.cz - GH
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