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Summary for: President signs law introducing mandatory registration of EU citizens living in CzechiaPresident Petr Pavel signed a few key pieces of legislation today, his office reported, including a long-discussed bill setting out the conditions for the residence of EU citizens living in the Czech Republic.
EU citizens face mandatory registration from 2030
According to the law, which was approved by the lower house of Parliament in September by a wide majority of MPs, EU citizens staying long-term in the country – more than 90 days – will have to register to the relevant authorities starting from January 2030.
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Those who fail to comply on time to this new requirement could reportedly face a fine of up to CZK 10,000.
To this day and until 2030, registration remains voluntary for European citizens, contrary to foreigners from outside the EU.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, this could affect at least 200,000 people currently residing in Czechia.
Interior Minister Lubomir Metnar argued the change is meant to give authorities a more detailed and accurate picture of its foreign-born population – including for fiscal and legal purposes – as well as facilitate foreigners’ dealings with Czech state offices and administrative agencies.
Marriages of convenience in the crosshairs
The law was initially supposed to come into force next year but has now been postponed to take effect one year after a wider reform of Czechia’s immigration laws planned for 2029.
Among other changes, the text signed into law by President Pavel plans for the digitization of the process to grant and cancel residence permits for foreigners, gives authorities more powers to cancel residence permits for foreigners found guilty of a crime, and aims to crack down on so-called marriages of convenience between Czech and foreign nationals.
“We are responding to the new migration reality,” Metnar argued.
“The main thing for us is to increase the security of the Czech Republic thanks to the digitalized registration of foreigners. We are also strengthening the possibility of cancelling the stay of foreigners who pose a threat to internal security.”
