Czech Language Exam for Permanent Residence (A2) and Citizenship (B1): Registration, Fees, Format and Exemptions

Updated: 14 November 2026

You cannot get permanent residence or citizenship without a Czech exam. Permanent residence requires level A2; citizenship requires B1 plus a separate test on Czech civics (reálie). Here is how the exams work, what they cost, how to register and who can skip them.

A2 exam for permanent residence

The A2 certificate is required when you apply for permanent residence after 5 years. EU citizens and their family members do not need it.

• Written part — almost 2 hours, 70 points: reading (25), listening (25), writing (20).
• Oral part — about 15 minutes, 40 points.
• Pass mark — 60 %.
• New format from 11 April 2026: writing and speaking tasks and their point split changed. The level, certificate and total points did not.
• Fee — CZK 3,200. Pay no later than 8 days before the exam; cancel free of charge no later than 15 days before.
• Results arrive by e-mail or text within 9 days. The certificate is valid indefinitely.

Who is exempt from A2

• children under 15;
• people aged 60 and over;
• anyone who, in the last 20 years, attended a Czech primary or secondary school for at least one school year or studied for a year at a university in Czech;
• anyone who passed another recognised Czech language exam;
• people with a physical or mental disability that affects communication;
• certain permanent residence applicants, for example on humanitarian grounds (§ 66 and § 67 of the Foreigners Act).

How to register for A2

1. Register online at cestina-pro-cizince.cz and choose an exam school in your region.
2. The school contacts you when a place becomes available.
3. Avoid changing your registration: you may drop to the end of the waiting list.
4. A course of at least 50 hours, or the same amount of self-study, is recommended. Model tests in the new format are on the website.

Exams for citizenship: B1 and civics

For citizenship you take two exams run by the Institute of Language and Preparatory Studies of Charles University (ÚJOP).

• Czech B1, written: reading 50 minutes, listening 30–35 minutes, writing 60 minutes.
• Czech B1, oral: in pairs, about 15–20 minutes.
• Czech civics: a 30-minute written test on the state, history, geography and culture.
• Pass mark — 60 %.
• Fees: language CZK 3,700, civics CZK 2,000, both CZK 5,700. You can take both on the same day.
• Registration online on the ÚJOP website (ujop.cuni.cz/obcanstvi). You join a waiting list by city and weekday; the exact date and venue are e-mailed at least 14 days in advance.
• Cities: Prague, Brno, Olomouc, Plzeň, Liberec, Poděbrady, České Budějovice, Hradec Králové and Ostrava.
• Bring your passport, permanent residence card and proof of payment. The certificates never expire.

Exemptions: under 15 and over 65, and a disability that prevents taking the exam. A Czech maturita, a state language exam or an ALTE B1+ certificate replaces the language exam, but not the civics test.

Common mistakes

• Registering at the last minute: the wait for a place can take months.
• Practising with old A2 tests although the exam is now in the new format.
• Missing the payment deadline — your place goes to the next person.
• Confusing the adaptation-integration course with the A2 exam: the course does not replace it.

Sources

• Čeština pro cizince — zkouška A2 pro trvalý pobyt
• Čeština pro cizince — nový formát zkoušky A2 od 11. 4. 2026
• MZV ČR — doklad o znalosti českého jazyka a výjimky
• ÚJOP UK — zkoušky pro občanství 2026 (leták)
• Dostupný advokát — co obnáší zkouška pro občanství

This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Check the current rules before making a decision, or contact us.