According to Eurostat, the Czech Republic has the highest number of refugees with temporary protection status per population compared to other European Union (EU) countries. The data shows that at the end of 2022, more than 432,000 Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic held temporary protection visas, accounting for 11% of the total number of Ukrainian refugees in the EU. Germany and Poland hosted the highest number of Ukrainian refugees, with roughly half of them, around 968,000 and 961,000 respectively, while Spain, Bulgaria, and Italy followed behind the Czech Republic in terms of the number of temporary protection holders.

The EU introduced temporary protection visas, which allow refugees to have access to public health insurance, education, and the labor market, for one year initially. The status was extended until March 2024 due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Czech Republic has been providing temporary protection visas to Ukrainian refugees since the EU activated the rules enabling refugees to get temporary protection last year. The visas will expire in March, but refugees may apply for an extension by the end of the month.

The Interior Ministry estimates that approximately 500,000 war refugees from Ukraine have received temporary protection visas in the Czech Republic, and around one-fifth of them have already returned home. However, it is difficult to determine the exact number of refugees currently in the country due to the high number of requests for temporary protection extension. As of February 20, 230,000 refugees from Ukraine had asked for a temporary protection extension in the Czech Republic.

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has led to a significant number of Ukrainians fleeing their country and seeking refuge in the EU. The war has been ongoing for approximately one year, and the situation remains unstable. The EU’s decision to activate temporary protection rules has enabled refugees from Ukraine to have access to vital services in the countries hosting them. The Czech Republic, like other EU countries, has been providing temporary protection visas to refugees from Ukraine, and the current extension will allow refugees to continue accessing vital services while the conflict in Ukraine remains unresolved.

Number of active temporary protection holders in EU at the end of 2022*:

Source: Eurostat, data as of Dec 31, 2022,

*Final data on the number of temporary protection holders may still change.

Article by Prague Forum