Prague, Jan 23 (CTK) – The number of foreigners with legal residence in the Czech Republic crossed a half million for the first time last year, reaching more than 524,000, two fifths coming from Slovakia and Ukraine, according to the annual report on illegal migration the immigration police released on Tuesday.
There were 14 refugees defined by international conventions.
In the past decade, the number of foreigners rose by 132,000 or one-third.
Migration is one of the hot topics of the campaign before the second round of the presidential election, mainly stressed by incumbent President Milos Zeman, challenged by academic Jiri Drahos.
Most immigrants to the Czech Republic have come from EU countries. At the end of last year, there were over 111,500 Slovaks, over 20,300 Poles, almost 21,300 Germans, 12,400 Bulgarians, over 11,000 Romanians, 4600 Italians, about 3800 French, 3600 Austrians and 5300 Britons.
However, Ukrainians constitute the biggest group of foreigners with almost 118,000 of them having a permit to stay. There were also over 59,700 Vietnamese and 36,000 Russians.
In the Czech Republic, there were almost 8,500 people from the USA, around 3,400 people from North Africa and 1,300 Syrians.
Over one-half of the foreigners with legal stay can stay here forever.
At the end of last year, 282,161 men and women, or around 54 percent of foreigners had the permit for permanent stay.
The number of immigrants is growing in the Czech Republic. Last year, it rose by over 27,700. Experts say migration to the Czech Republic is primarily economic. People come here for jobs and good living conditions, often taking their families along with them.
Experts warn that the Czech Republic will need foreigners in the future. Due to population ageing, the manpower will shrink.
According to the report on illegal migration, immigration police detained 4,738 foreigners without the appropriate documents. The police also detained 172 displaced people.
The total number of foreigners and those having permit for permanent stay
Year Number Number with permit for permanent stay
2007 392,087 158,018
2008 438,301 172,927
2009 433,305 181,161
2010 425,301 189,962
2011 430,137 190,058
2012 438,213 214,027
2013 441,536 238,904
2014 451,923 251,342
2015 467,562 261,553
2016 496,413 273,399
2017 524,132 282,161
Source: Interior Ministry statistics
