The number of foreigners with a Czech residence permit is on the rise

Prague, Aug 21 (ČTK) - The Czech government has released its latest statistics on the migration and integration of foreigners. The 2020 data, which reflects a rise in foreigners with a Czech residence permit, also showed increasing numbers of illegal immigrants in the country.

Compared with the data from the end of 2019, the number of foreigners with a Czech residence permit grew by 38,909 people. At the end of June, 668,238 were registered.

Last year saw slightly more foreigners with temporary residence over those with permanent residence.

More than half of the 634,790 foreigners who legally stayed in the Czech Republic at the end of last year were citizens of Ukraine, Slovakia, and Vietnam, according to the Czech Ministry of the Interior's report.

In terms of illegal immigration, Czech police discovered 7,093 foreigners in the country illegally in 2020, a quarter more than in the previous year. A small number (448) of the migrants detained were attempting to illegally enter the Schengen Area; most (6,645) were discovered during their illegal stay. A majority of the illegal migrants detained in the Czech Republic were bound for Germany and other countries in western or northern Europe.

Illegal immigration figures were markedly influenced by those who entered Czech territory against Health Ministry anti-Covid measures which limited or even banned their stay in the country in the first six months of 2020.

This year, the number of detained illegal migrants increased, with 5,430 reported in the first half of 2021. Nationals from 103 countries immigrated unlawfully, most of them citizens of Ukraine (3,088), Moldova (778), Afghanistan, (364), and Georgia (159). 

Last year, 1,164 foreigners applied for international protection, nearly 40 percent fewer applications than in 2019. Citizens of Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, and Vietnam most frequently applied for protection.

Belarusians began appearing among applicants only in the last quarter of 2020 when Czech aid projects resumed. Dozens of people persecuted by the Lukashenko regime arrived in the Czech Republic under the Medevac program.

The Czech Republic granted asylum to 42 foreigners last year and additional protection to 72 foreigners. During the first six months of 2021, 577 people applied for international protection.