Czech A2 Exam for Permanent Residence: The Complete 2026 Guide
If you have lived in the Czech Republic for five years and want permanent residence, you will most likely need the Czech language exam at level A2. This guide brings together everything you need to know, based on the official information from the National Pedagogical Institute (NPI ČR) and the Ministry of the Interior.
Who needs the exam
The certificate of Czech language knowledge is a required document when you apply for permanent residence after five years of continuous stay (§ 68 of the Act on the Residence of Foreigners). The details are set by Government Regulation No. 31/2016 Coll. The required level is A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Some applicants are exempt — for example people younger than 15, people aged 60 and over, and people who studied at a Czech-language school. See the full list in Who doesn't need the Czech exam for permanent residence.
What the exam looks like
The whole exam takes place on one day and has two parts:
- Written part (about 110 minutes): Reading (40 minutes) and Writing (25 minutes) without a break, then a 15-minute break, then Listening (about 40 minutes).
- Oral part (15 minutes): you answer questions, talk about pictures and hold short conversations with the examiner.
The oral part can be scheduled at any time after the written part, sometimes late in the afternoon, so keep the whole day free. For the task types in each part, read Czech A2 exam structure: what each part looks like.
How the exam is scored
- Reading: up to 25 points
- Writing: up to 20 points
- Listening: up to 25 points
- Speaking: up to 40 points
You pass when you get at least 42 of 70 points in the written part and at least 24 of 40 points in the oral part — 60 % in each. A great written score cannot make up for a weak speaking score, and the other way round. More in Czech A2 exam pass mark: how scoring, results and retakes work.
How much it costs and how to register
The exam costs 3,200 CZK. You register online in the official system on cestina-pro-cizince.cz, wait for a date at one of the accredited schools, confirm your application in person with your passport and pay at the latest 8 days before the exam. Step by step: How to register for the Czech exam for permanent residence.
The official guidance recommends registering for the exam before you submit your residence application. Waiting times can be long, and the Ministry of the Interior will give you a deadline to supply the certificate.
Results, certificate and retakes
You get your result within 9 days. If you pass, you receive the Osvědčení o znalosti českého jazyka (certificate of Czech language knowledge) — at the school or by post within 30 days. The certificate has no expiry date.
If you do not pass, you can take the exam again after at least three months, at most three times a year, and you pay the fee each time.
How to prepare
The official recommendation is at least 50 hours of a course or self-study. A plan that works:
- Find your level first. A short diagnostic such as our free 13-minute mini exam — one real task from each part — shows where you lose the most points.
- Practise your weak parts. Work through every task type of those parts until you score at least 60 %.
- Take a full mock exam under real conditions. Two hours, real timing, the same pass lines: it tells you whether you are ready to sit the real exam.
- Speak out loud every day. Speaking alone is worth 40 points, and simple, complete sentences work better than long, perfect ones. See Speaking tips for the Czech A2 exam.
Free Czech courses are also run by the regional integration centres for foreigners and several non-profit organisations, and the official handbook, model test and video are on the NPI website.
On exam day
Bring your valid passport, arrive 30 minutes early and switch off your phone — latecomers cannot take the exam. Full checklist: Czech A2 exam day: timetable, rules and what to bring.
CzechReady is an independent preparation app and is not affiliated with NPI ČR or the Ministry of the Interior. Rules can change, so always check the current information on the official websites.