Proposed Changes to Czech Visa Quotas at the Dresden Consulate: What This Draft Law Means for Applicants

(Move To Prague explanatory article – based on the official draft legislation, not yet in force)

Important Notice

This article explains a draft amendment to Czech government regulation No. 220/2019 Coll. The changes described below are proposed and expected to take effect from 1 January 2026, but they have not yet been formally approved or entered into force.

As always, real-world implementation and interpretation may evolve. Our team at Move To Prague continuously monitors legislative updates and will adjust guidance accordingly.

Simply explained

This is what changes in simple language (further in the article, we go into more details):

1. Most nationalities in the world can only submit their Czech long-term visa or residence permit applications through a Czech Embassy in the country of origin or in a country where they have been legally residing for more than 2 years.
2. In some of those countries, applying in the country of origin is basically impossible due to low yearly quotas (i.e. only 8 people a year can apply, in some cases even zero people can apply yearly).
3. Many applicants, primarily from Vietnam and Uzbekistan, have been providing falsified documents to prove that they have been legally residing in the EU for more than 2 years so they could bypass the quota in their country of origin.
4. In reaction to this practice, the government decided to use quotas for specific nationalities also at the Visa Center in Dresden, making it practically impossible for these nationalities to apply for Czech visas in Dresden.

What Is Changing?

The Ministry of the Interior has proposed a major change affecting applications submitted at the Czech Consulate General in Dresden, which has a unique position: it is competent for applications from third-country nationals residing anywhere within the EU.

Due to the growing number of low-qualified applicants using Dresden as an alternative to their home country consulates, the visa section has become overburdened. This has made it difficult to prioritize the very group the consulate was originally intended for: highly qualified professionals and strategically important applicants.

To fix this, the Czech government plans to introduce a new dual system:

• Zero quota for most third-country nationals applying for:
  • Long-term visas for business purposes
  • Employee Cards
• Unlimited quota for selected groups, namely:
  • Highly qualified applicants
  • Applicants from “safe and preferred” countries
  • Participants in specific government programs

The New “Zero Quota” Principle

Under the proposed amendment, the Dresden consulate will introduce a zero annual quota for:

• Employee Card applications
• Long-term business visa applications

This means that for most applicants, it will no longer be possible to submit these applications in Dresden.

Exceptions: Who Can Still Apply in Dresden?

The zero quota will NOT apply if the applicant:

1. Is a citizen of a country whose nationals do not need a short-term Schengen visa (90/180 rule under EU Regulation 2018/1806), OR
2. Is a citizen of a country listed in Decree No. 429/2010 Coll. (allowing exceptions to territorial jurisdiction), OR
3. Is covered under the Government Program Qualified Employee.

Additionally, regardless of nationality, the zero quota will not apply to participants of:

• Highly Qualified Employee Program
• Key and Scientific Personnel Program
• Digital Nomad Program

These categories will continue to enjoy unrestricted access to application slots in Dresden.

Stricter Territorial Jurisdiction Rules

Applicants who are not nationals of the preferred countries must also meet strict conditions to apply outside their home country. They must:

• Hold valid long-term or permanent residence in another EU Member State
• Reside there legally and continuously for at least 2 years

This change is designed to prevent systemic misuse of the Dresden consulate by low-skilled applicants using forged or manipulated documentation related to EU residence.

Why Is the Government Doing This?

According to the official explanatory report, the amendment aims to:

• Prioritize highly qualified migrants
• Reduce pressure caused by low-skilled applications
• Improve security controls
• Ensure availability of appointments for strategic sectors such as:
  • Senior managers
  • Scientists and researchers
  • Cultural professionals
  • Participants in strategic projects (e.g. Dukovany nuclear project, Czech–US defense cooperation)

The government stresses that without intervention, Dresden’s capacity would become critically insufficient by the end of 2025.

Countries Exempt from the Zero Quota

Citizens of the following countries will not be affected by the zero-quota rule in Dresden (subject to other legal conditions):

Albania, Andorra, Antigua a Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Bosnia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Macao, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Nicaragua, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, (El) Salvador, Samoa, San Marino, Seychels, Serbia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, Uruguay, United Kingdom, USA, Vatican, Venezuela, West Timor.

Note: Even if a country is listed, individual cases may still be restricted by other current Czech regulations (e.g. Belarus under Government Regulation No. 55/2024 Coll.).

The below map shows the nationalities that will not be affected by the quotas. Article continues below the map.

Practical Impact for Employers & Applicants

For Employers

• Recruitment of low-skilled foreign workers via Dresden will become significantly more difficult
• Strategic hiring of qualified staff may become smoother
• Planning workforce immigration will require earlier preparation and legal precision

For Applicants

• Relying on Dresden as a workaround will no longer be feasible
• Application strategy must align with nationality, program eligibility, and skill level
• Incorrect application routing may lead to automatic rejection

What Should You Do Now?

Since this is still a draft law, proactive planning is key.

At Move To Prague, we:

• Monitor all legislative developments in real time
• Analyze how each proposal impacts your specific situation
• Adjust your application strategy before laws change
• Help you qualify for preferential government programs

Planning an application via Dresden or unsure where to apply?

Contact our immigration specialists to build a compliant and future-proof strategy.

👉 We will find the safest and smartest route for your Czech immigration case.

Summary

The Czech government plans to limit access to the Dresden consulate for most standard Employee Card and business visa applicants, shifting priority to highly qualified migrants and nationals of selected countries. While this change aims to streamline the system and improve quality control, it will significantly affect how and where many applicants can submit their applications.

Most importantly: This is not yet law – but preparation now can prevent major complications later.

This article will be updated once the legislation is formally adopted or amended.