Czech government could deny visas to Russians with dual citizenship

The Czech Foreign Ministry on Wednesday will discuss a proposed amendment that would prevent visas from being issued to Russians and Belarusians who also have another state citizenship.

In the immediate aftermath of the Russian attack on Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the coalition cabinet of the SPOLU coalition and the Pirates/Mayors and Independents (STAN) ruled to halt issuing visas for Russian nationals, and shortly thereafter Belarusian citizens, except in humanitarian cases.

Now the validity of this measure, which denied residence permits filed with a diplomatic mission in the Czech Republic to Russian and Belarusian nationals, will be extended until the end of March 2024. Additionally, the measure will now bar citizens of those countries with dual nationality from attaining visas.

At the same time, the Foreign Ministry has proposed widening the exemption for the stay of Ukrainians in the Czech Republic at diplomatic offices in Ukraine.

Currently, an exemption is valid for Ukrainians who ask for a permit to stay for the purpose of studies and who were granted temporary protection in a different EU country or who asked for it. Under valid legislation, a different application for the right to stay in the Czech Republic submitted at diplomatic offices will not be accepted.

Now, the exemption may also cover applications for family reunification, academic research, and studies. This applies to permanent stays as well as blue card applications, which are for highly skilled jobs.

"The institute of temporary protection is and undoubtedly will remain to be the basic and suitable tool to allow the stay of foreigners fleeing the war in Ukraine. On the other hand, it seems right now to give a different right to stay in the Czech Republic to those foreigners who are presumed to stay in the Czech Republic even after the end of the conflict," the ministry said.

The ministry will not be renewing for the time being the acceptance of residence applications for business purposes, except for blue card applications for people who are not currently residing in Ukraine.

"For the future, the Foreign Ministry is planning further widening of the circle of the accepted applications, but taking into account the development of the security situation in Ukraine, the timing of the step cannot be specified now," it added.