The number of people registered in the Czech Republic without valid residence documents fell significantly in 2024. Illegal transit migration, in particular, saw a sharp decline—thanks to effective measures and increased international cooperation. This is according to the latest figures published by the Czech police yesterday.
A total of 9,461 people without valid residence documents were registered in the Czech Republic—a decrease of 4,437 people, or 31.9%, compared to the previous year. This decline affected all forms of illegal migration, with transit migration through the Czech Republic showing the most significant drop.
Of the total number, 9,159 individuals (-32.3% compared to the previous year) were illegal residents, while 302 individuals (-17.9%) were illegal migrants crossing the Schengen external border. The nationalities most frequently represented in 2024 were those of Ukraine, Moldova, and Vietnam, who together accounted for nearly two-thirds of all registered individuals. Nationals from Georgia, the United Kingdom, and Turkey were also frequently detected in irregular migration across the Schengen external border.
Illegal Migration in Transit
A total of 420 people were registered for irregular transit migration, marking a decrease of 4,322 people, or -91.1%. Most of them were Syrian and Turkish nationals.
This significant decline highlights the effectiveness of the measures introduced and underscores the importance of international cooperation in border surveillance. These efforts have helped reduce migratory pressure along the entire Western Balkans route to 21,520 people (-72%). As a result, the use of the transit route through the Czech Republic dropped considerably. Unlike in 2022 and 2023, there was no need to temporarily reintroduce border controls with Slovakia in 2024.
Germany remained the most frequent destination for illegal transit migration. The Czech Republic continues to serve primarily as a transit country for these individuals, where they rarely apply for international protection. Germany has, therefore, maintained border controls at the Czech-German border.
