New mandatory Czech Republic registration affects EU stays longer than 90 days

EU citizens can currently obtain Czech temporary residence certificates voluntarily, but registration will become mandatory for stays longer than 90 days from Jan. 1, 2030.

Optional status becomes mandatory

EU, European Economic Area and Swiss citizens may now live and work in Czechia without a residence permit. Those staying more than 30 days generally must report their address to the Foreign Police, though accommodation providers often handle that step. A temporary residence certificate remains optional.

The planned system tightens Czech Republic’s residency rules. EU citizens staying longer than 90 days will have to register and their details will enter the country’s Basic Register of Population alongside other long-term foreign residents.

Short tourist stays remain outside the change. EU citizens visiting for 90 days or less won’t face the long-stay registration requirement, while separate Schengen rules continue to govern short visits by non-EU nationals.

ICAS moves residence procedures online

The Czech Republic plans to run long-term immigration procedures through the Information System for Foreigners, known as ISCI. Full operation is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2029, according to the reform timeline cited by Czech legal and tax advisers.

Foreign residents will receive electronic accounts for applications, document uploads, fee payments and case tracking. Digital communication is expected to become compulsory for foreigners staying more than 90 days no later than 2030, replacing many paper submissions and in-person administrative steps.

Non-EU residents already need residence authorization, so ICAS mainly changes how their applications are filed and processed rather than creating a new registration threshold.

Current EU residents get until the end of 2031

EU citizens already living in Czechia when mandatory registration starts are expected to receive a two-year transition period. That group will need to create or use an ICAS account and complete registration by Dec. 31, 2031, rather than treating temporary residence documentation as optional.

The reform doesn’t directly cover Ukrainians holding temporary protection. It will matter if they later move into standard Czech residence categories after temporary protection ends. Detailed fees and supporting-document rules still depend on implementing regulations.