The Czech Republic is becoming a future living location for many foreigners who are looking to live and work in Europe. Philippines workers (OFW) are getting attracted by many factors and future potential of family reunion in the Czech Republic, that numbers of Philippines workers in the Czech Republic are rising.

Strict policies may slow down the process of acceptance and protection of labour market, but it is to the advantage of all. Workers are granted the safe and fair work opportunities and employers are keen to fulfil the regulations to gain the qualified workers. There is over 12 000 Philippine nationals working and living in the Czech Republic. CzechTrade Philippines is in a close contact with many certified HR agencies as well as employers, to support the future successful collaboration. 

By Ondrej Puchinger - CzechTrade Philippines

Over 1.09 million foreigners now live in Czechia, with Ukrainians making up more than half, according to new Interior Ministry data through Q2 2025.

Czechia’s foreign-born population now represents more than 10 percent of the country’s total, according to new data released by the Interior Ministry. As of the end of June 2025, there were 1,091,409 legal foreign residents in the country, an increase of roughly 35,000 compared to the same time last year.

The growth is largely driven by continuing arrivals from Ukraine, now more than three years into a full-scale war with Russia. Over 581,000 Ukrainians are currently living in Czechia, comprising more than half of the total foreign population. Other major nationalities include Slovaks (123,000), Vietnamese (69,000), and Russians (38,000).

About one-third of all foreigners in Czechia reside in Prague, and their numbers continue to climb steadily. The capital, which already had 354,000 registered foreign residents at the end of 2024, remains the country’s most concentrated hub for international migration.

Temporary protection drives foreign population growth

The most significant factor behind the sharp rise in foreign residents over the past three years is the war in Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022, more than 378,000 Ukrainian nationals have registered for temporary protection status in Czechia. This status grants access to public health insurance, education, and the labor market. Interior Ministry officials attribute the majority of the population growth to this humanitarian program, which continues to serve as a key part of Czechia’s migration policy. At the end of June, about 385,000 foreigners had permanent residency, while another 328,000 were registered as temporary residents.

Despite the size of the foreign-born population, asylum requests in the country remain relatively low. In the first half of 2025, 429 people applied for asylum: 83 of them from Vietnam, followed by applicants from Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Moldova, and Turkey.

While temporary protection is designed for large-scale emergencies, asylum claims are processed under separate criteria and involve long-term legal stays under international refugee agreements. Voluntary and forced returns also continue. In the first six months of 2025, 480 foreigners returned home through the assisted voluntary return program, mostly to Vietnam. Another 91 were deported through forced returns handled by the police.

Diverse origins reflect changing migration patterns

While the sharp increase in foreign residents is primarily tied to the war in Ukraine, Interior Ministry data shows a broader diversification in long-term migration patterns. Over the past decade, the number of foreigners living legally in Czechia has grown by more than 150 percent. In addition to traditional sources of labor migration such as Slovakia and Vietnam, the country is now home to residents from nearly every continent.

At the end of 2024, Czechia had several hundred Chilean nationals, more than 1,600 Syrians, over 2,000 Japanese residents, and a handful of individuals from countries as far-flung as East Timor, Malawi, Barbados, and Qatar. Although these numbers are small, they reflect an increasingly global demographic footprint.

Compared to Western European countries, Czechia still sees fewer economic migrants overall, but that trend may be shifting. With a tight labor market, growing international business presence, and ongoing refugee flows, the role of foreign residents is becoming more central to the country’s economic and demographic outlook.

The number of people from the U.S. legally living in Czechia now numbers 10,122, a slight decrease compared to the end of 2024, and there are 7,825 people from the UK officially residing in the country. Further data on the number of foreigners in Czechia can be found in the Interior Ministry's latest report.

Written by: Expats.cz (staff)