On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Czechia LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Czech Republic country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit ourCzechia COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by the Czech Republic.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which the Czech Republic is a signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Czechia is party to the following:
- 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which provides the internationally recognised definition of a refugee and outlines the legal protection, rights and assistance a refugee is entitled to receive
- 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, which expanded the Convention to apply universally and protect all persons fleeing conflict and persecution.
- 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, which established a framework for the international protection of stateless persons.
- 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, which set rules for the conferral and non-withdrawal of citizenship to prevent cases of statelessness from arising.
- 1997 European Convention on Nationality, which establishes principles and rules on nationality.
In addition to these international protection frameworks, and as part of the European Union (EU), Czechia is bound by the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) which aimed at introducing EU-wide standards for the equal treatment and protection of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers entering the EU. The system is governed by five legislative instruments and one agency:
- Asylum Procedures Directive, aiming at setting out the conditions for fair, quick and quality asylum decisions;
- Reception Conditions Directive, providing common standards for reception conditions across the EU;
- Qualification Directive, clarifying grounds for granting international protection;
- Dublin Regulation, establishing the State responsible for examining the application;
- EURODAC Directive, governing the EU database of asylum seekers fingerprints;
- European Union Agency for Asylum, providing operational and technical assistance to EU Member States in the assessment of applications for international protection.
The CEAS has been reformed by the New Pact on Migration and Asylum (the Pact), approved in 2024 and set to take effect in 2026. The Pact presents a complex package of ten legislative files intended to reform the EU’s migration and asylum system by establishing new EU-wide solutions to long-standing migration challenges.
While the Pact has been presented by EU institutions as delivering the intended results while remaining grounded in European values, human rights organisations and migration experts have long opposed and criticised its reforms. Here you can find a point by point analysis of the Pact by the European Council on Refugees and Exiles.
In addition to its obligations under the aforementioned international instruments, Czechia is obligated to respect the international customary legal principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits any country from deporting any person to a country where they face the threat of persecution.
Czechia provides for political asylum as guaranteed by the Czech Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.
In Czechia, Refugee Status Determination (RSD) is undertaken by the Department for Asylum and Migration Policy (DAMP) of the Ministry of the Interior. Applications for international protection can be submitted at border crossings, police stations, or designated reception centres. DAMP is responsible for all aspects of the RSD process, including registration, interviews, and decision-making. UNHCR does not conduct RSD in Czechia, but supports the process through oversight and collaboration with local legal aid organizations.The 1999 Act on Asylum (Act No. 325/1999 Coll.), as amended, defines conditions of entry and stay for refugees, proceedings on international protection, right and obligations of refugees, powers of the Czech Ministry and Police, the state integration programme, and asylum facilities.
The 1999 Residence of Aliens in the Czech Republic Act (Act No. 326/1999 Coll.) defines conditions of entry, residence and exit for refugees, powers of the Czech Police and Ministries, as applicable both to EU and non-EU nationals. This Act was amended heavily by Act No. 274/2021 Coll. (note this legislation is only available in Czech), which has been heavily criticised for erosion of rights and a lack of clarity. It primarily addressed stateless determination, decision deadlines, refugee provisions, stateless support measures, application of refugee case law, and health insurance.
Depending on where a refugee is in Czechia, if they need international protection and they fear returning to their home country, they can make an asylum application
- at a land border crossing point (if you are at a border with Czechia);
- at an international airport like Václav Havel Airport Prague; or
- from within Czechia at Foreign Police Offices if you have already entered the country.
Applications lead to registration at the Zastávka u Brna Reception Centre or in the Airport Reception Centre, where applicants undergo identification and medical checks. Applicants have the right to free legal aid and interpreters.
During the procedure, refugees can stay in state-provided accommodation centers, receive financial support for essential needs, and access public healthcare and education for children. They can work six months after registration.
The process includes two interviews to understand applicants’ situations, with provisions for interpreters, interview recordings, and transcript reviews. Decisions are generally issued within six months, with pathways for appeal within 15 days in case of rejection. Approved applicants gain asylum (permanent) or subsidiary protection (long-term, typically one year but able to be renewed), enabling integration support, residence permits, and other assistance in Czechia.
See UNHCR Help Czechia for more detail on the asylum application process. The Organization for Aid to Refugees (OPU) can provide free legal aid.
Legal aid organisations
Website
Address: Senovážná 2, 110 00 Prague 1
Tel: +420 22 42 24 379 or +420 60 32 53 994
Email: poradna@migrace.com
Association for Integration and Migration is a non-profit organisation helping foreigners in the Czech Republic, with special focus on asylum seekers and refugees. It has a well established tradition of providing legal and social counseling to foreigners, such as asylum seekers, refugees, labour migrants, undocumented migrants and their families. As integral part of its activities it is working with the broader public on cultivating tolerance and combating xenophobia and racism. They are involved in several projects with the focus on migration and immigration issues and we frequently co-operate with international, national or regional governments; non-profit organisations and academic bodies.
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Address: Štefánikova 21, 150 00 Prague 5, Czechia
Tel: +420 739 037 353 (Monday–Thursday)
Email: info@inbaze.cz
InBáze promotes integration into Czech society through community-building programs. It conducts workshops, events, and other activities to foster social inclusion. InBáze also provides legal and social services, including assistance with residency, mediation, and preparation of legal filings.
Address: Štefánikova 21, 150 00 Prague 5, Czechia
Tel: +420 257 221 142
Email: info@helcom.cz
The Czech Helsinki Committee provides free legal aid to refugees. They assist with orientation in administrative and judicial proceedings and promote human rights awareness in the Czech Republic. Please note their website is only in Czech.
Address: Poděbradská 173/5, 190 00 Prague 9, Czechia
Tel: +420 730 158 779 (general), +420 739 413 983 (social), +420 730 158 781 (legal)
Email: opu@opu.cz (Prague)
A partner of UNHCR, OPU provides comprehensive legal and social assistance to refugees, support for integration, and education programmes for the public. Their services include guidance on asylum applications, family reunification, and appeals. They operate offices in Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Pilsen and Hradec Králové – you can find regional office details on their Contact Us page.
Brno Address: Josefská 8, 602 00 Brno, Czechia
Brno Tel: +420 731 448 938, +420 731 928 388
Brno Email: opu.brno@opu.cz
Ostrava Address: Čestobratrská 2227/7, 702 00 Ostrava, Czechia
Ostrava Tel: +420 604 221 035, +420 731 502 661
Ostrava Email: opu.ostrava@opu.cz
Plzeň Address: Door 303, Floor 2, Pětařicátníků 33, 301 00 Plzeň, Czechia
Plzeň Tel: +420 604 809 165
Plzeň Email: opu.plzen@opu.cz
Hradec Králové Address: Floor 3, Nerudova 18/39, 500 02 Hradec Králové, Czechia
Hradec Králové Tel: +420 733 278 174
Hradec Králové Email: opu.hradeckralove@opu.cz
Address: Opletalova 921/6, 110 00 Prague, Czechia; Velká Hradební 33, 400 01 Ústí nad Labem, Czechia
Tel: +420 603 281 269 (Prague); +420 475 216 536 (Ústí nad Labem)
Email: praha@p-p-i.cz (Prague); usti@p-p-i.cz (Ústí nad Labem)
PPI offers free legal and social counselling, as well as other activities and courses aimed at integration, to legally residing foreigners. Their services include advice on residency status,citizenship, and asylum applications, as well as representation in administrative proceedings when justified.
Tel: +420 602 586 092
Address: Havlíčkovo Square 2, 130 00 Prague 3, Czechia
Tel: +420 224 224 379
Email: poradna@migrace.com
SIMI provides free legal and social counseling to foreigners in Czechia, with a special focus on refugees. Its services include advice on asylum procedures and navigating Czech administrative processes. It has a well-established tradition of providing this to foreigners, such as asylum seekers, refugees, labour migrants, undocumented migrants and their families. It is involved in advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and work aiming to influence legislation.
Website
Address: Za Poříčskou bránou 365/21, Prague 8, 186 00
Email: info@ua.support
UA.SUPPORT is a distribution platform that allows to connect a request from Ukrainian refugees for legal support related to migration to different countries with a lawyer who has decided to provide pro bono legal support in this field.
They operate in in Argentina, Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Israel, Spain, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, France, Finland, and in the Czech Republic.
For more detailed information about UA Support, visit: About the Project – UA.SUPPORT.
Website
Email: contact@w2eu.info or w2eu_info@yahoo.com
The Welcome to Europe website is an independent source of information for refugees coming to Europe. It might be useful on their journey to and through Europe by giving access to counseling and useful contacts in different European countries. Their Czech Republic country page provides information on the Czech asylum application process and provides useful contacts.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Address: Londýnská 44, Prague 2 (currently under reconstruction) or P. O. Box 35, 120 00 Prague 2
Email: migrace@praha.charita.cz
Charita Česká republika, or the Czech Ecumenical Council of Churches, helps foreigners in the Czech Republic who find themselves in difficult situations. This group includes refugees, those displaces by war, persecution and poverty, among many others. Their services are offered free of charge to refugees their social services center headquarters in Prague. Based on the individual needs of each client, they also provide services outside of their headquarters, within the region of Prague and Central Bohemia.
Their work is focused mainly on psychosocial assistance and on supporting migrants’ integration into society. Specialised assistance is also given to unaccompanied minors and to those with physical disabilities.
Address: Rozdělovská 2467/63,169 00 Prague 6, Czechia
Tel: +420 251 104 111
Email: info@cervenykriz.eu
The Czechia Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world’s largest humanitarian network. The Movement is bound by seven fundamental principles, including humanity, impartiality, and neutrality, so they help people according to need and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality, sex, gender, or disability. All national societies in the Movement can help you to trace family members who you have been separated from or who have gone missing due to conflict or natural disaster. Please note their website is only in Czech.
Website
Address: Ekumenické rada církví v ČR Donská 370/5 101 00 Praha 10
Tel: +420 271 742 326, or +420 734 641 687
Email: erc@ekumenickarada.cz
Contact person: ThDr. Petr Jan Vinš (generální sekretář a tiskový mluvčí ERC)
Ekumenická Rada Církví v České Republice, or the Czech Ecumenical Council of Churches, offers pastoral care, social counselling and assistance, legal counselling, integration, spiritual guidance.
Visit their Accommodations page to learn more about their housing support.
Czech Republic LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in the Czech Republic.
Czech Republic COI
Find the Czech Republic's country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
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Last updated March 2025
