Czech citizenship: requirements, B1 exam and civics test explained
Citizenship is the next step after permanent residency. The requirements here are noticeably stricter: B1-level language proficiency, a civics exam, and a total stay of ten years. Here is what the process involves and what it costs.
How long you need to have lived here
On the day you submit your application, you must hold permanent residency. In addition, your total period of legal stay in Czechia — immediately preceding the application — must be at least 10 years.
In practice, the path usually looks like this: five years on long-term permits before permanent residency, then a few more years with permanent residency, adding up to ten in total. Some categories of applicants qualify for shorter periods, so it is worth checking your specific situation.
Two exams
Czech language — level B1. This is noticeably higher than the A2 required for permanent residency: you need to communicate fluently on everyday and work topics, understand connected speech, and write texts.
The civics exam. It tests basic knowledge of the country's constitutional structure, as well as familiarity with Czech culture, geography and history. The pass threshold is 60 percent.
How much the exams cost
- civics exam — 2000 Kč;
- Czech language exam — 3700 Kč;
- both together — 5700 Kč.
Administrative fee
Accepting a citizenship application costs a fee of 2000 Kč for an adult applicant. For minors and for applicants with asylum status, it is 500 Kč.
The fee is charged for processing, not for the outcome: it is not refunded if the application is denied.
What else is checked
Besides the length of stay and the exams, officials also look at the applicant's good conduct: no serious violations of the law, and compliance with tax, social security and health insurance obligations. Outstanding debts to the state are a common reason for refusal, so it is worth settling them in advance.
Can you keep your previous citizenship
Czechia allows multiple citizenship — the Czech side does not require you to give up your previous passport. But that does not close the matter: you also need to check the laws of your current country of citizenship, since some of them automatically terminate citizenship when a new one is acquired.
Where to apply
The application is submitted through the regional authority for your place of residence — in Prague this is the relevant department of the city administration. The decision is made by the Ministry of the Interior, and processing takes considerably longer than for residence applications.
Where to check the latest information
- Czech Ministry of the Interior — granting citizenship: requirements, forms, procedure;
- Czech Language Office for Foreigners: registration for the language and civics exams.
Before applying, check the original sources: fee amounts and requirements are revised from time to time.
If you do not yet have permanent residency, that is where to start — we covered the requirements in our guide to permanent residency in Czechia. Tracking your processing time is easier with our guide to checking the 60-day deadline.
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