Problematic Transition from Residence Permit for the Purpose of Studies to Having Employment: Non-EU International Students from Post-Soviet Countries and Czech Immigration Policy

Abstract

The Czech Republic introduced a migration policy in 1999, and one of the newly emerged residence permits was for the purpose of studies. It allowed non-EU foreign nationals to study in the Czech Republic. However, its rationale was also associated with restricting the permanent settlement of non-EU international students in the country. The policy changed in 2006. However, even up to 2019, it remained challenging for international students to secure permanent residency. In particular, students from post-Soviet countries wanted to settle permanently and had to find a job before graduation to secure their stay. In 2019, the Czech Republic introduced a transitional period for non-EU foreign graduates, enabling them to stay in the country for nine months to find a job. However, despite the advantages, this was late compared to other European countries. This article discusses the situation of non-EU international students before 2019 and the difficulties they experienced due to the complicated transition process from residence permit for the purpose of studies to employee status.