Legal foreign population in Czechia surpasses 1.1 million, new data shows

The number of legally residing foreigners in the Czech Republic reached 1,107,403 at the end of September, the Ministry of Interior reports, marking an increase of about 16,000 since June and more than 28,000 compared with the same period last year. Ukrainians remain the largest group, followed by Slovaks, Vietnamese, and Russians.

This continued growth shapes access to public services, the labor market, and local infrastructure. Cities and municipalities are adapting to rising demand for healthcare, schools, and housing, while government agencies coordinate integration and social support programs to manage the increasing population.

A key factor in the rise is the temporary protection program for Ukrainian war refugees, which grants access to public health insurance, education, and the labor market. As of Oct. 5, 391,009 people were registered under the program, representing nearly 36 per 1,000 inhabitants in the country.

September alone saw about 13,500 new registrations, linked to Ukrainian government rules allowing young men aged 18–22 to travel abroad without restriction.

By early November, the total under temporary protection reached 397,421, with more than 6,400 Ukrainians gaining protection in the previous month. Children under 18 make up almost 24 percent of this group, while women account for nearly 60 percent. Most reside in Prague, and the Central Bohemian and South Moravian regions.

Overall, Czechia is home to nearly 594,000 Ukrainians, 124,000 Slovaks, 69,000 Vietnamese, and 38,000 Russians. Citizens of non-EU countries make up roughly 80 percent of legal foreign residents, with EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals representing about one-fifth. The Ministry of Interior’s statistics exclude short-term Schengen visa holders and unregistered EU citizens.

While legal migration rises, illegal migration has also increased slightly. Authorities detected 7,823 people living in Czechia without authorization from January through September, and 305 attempted to cross international Schengen borders illegally, representing a modest year-on-year increase.

From January to September, 347 integration courses were organized for over 6,000 participants, and nearly 62,000 foreigners received support from integration centers nationwide. Municipal and government agencies continue to expand these programs to ensure access to language instruction, employment services, and local resources.

Asylum applications have declined in recent years. Between January and September, Czech authorities recorded 884 asylum requests, most frequently from Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Uzbek, and Moldovan citizens. Only 57 individuals were granted asylum, with 96 receiving complementary protection.

Experts expect the legal foreign population to continue growing in line with temporary protection renewals and broader migration trends in Europe. Residents applying for temporary protection must renew their status annually, with 351,000 requests submitted this year for extensions through March 2026.

The trends underscore the ongoing influence of international events and domestic policy decisions on Czech demographics. The Interior Ministry advises staying informed about registration deadlines, integration programs, and local service availability as the population landscape evolves. Their full Q3 2025 report can be found here.