The Czech language exam for permanent residency (A2) is a mandatory language test for obtaining permanent residence (trvalý pobyt) in Czechia. From 11 April 2026, an updated format takes effect: the level stays the same — A2 — but the Writing and Speaking sections have been reworked. The exam has four parts (reading, listening, writing, speaking), the pass threshold is 60% in the written section and 60% in the oral section, and it costs 3,200 CZK.
Below is the current 2026 structure, exactly what's changing from April, where to take the exam, how much it costs, how to prepare, and what to do if you fail. The exam is mandatory for nearly every permanent residency applicant, so the details matter.
Third-country nationals applying for trvalý pobyt (typically after 5 years of continuous residence), along with several other applicant categories, are required to take the Czech A2 exam for permanent residency. The certificate of successful completion is submitted along with the application.
Proof of the exam is not required if the applicant:
After several years with the previous version, the exam has been updated to align with current CEFR A2-level descriptors. Key changes:
The exam is divided into a written and an oral part, totaling 110 points: the written part is worth 70 (reading, listening, writing), and the oral part is worth 40.
| Part | Time | Max. points | Tasks (new 2026 format) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading (Čtení) | 40 minutes | 25 | 5 tasks (5+5+4+6+5) |
| Listening (Poslech) | about 40 minutes | 25 | 5 tasks, 5 points each |
| Writing (Psaní) | 25 minutes | 20 | 2 tasks (8+12) |
| Speaking (Ústní část) | 15 minutes | 40 | 5 parts (8+12+10+7+3 phonetics) |
| Total | — | 110 | — |
You need to score at least 60% in each of the two parts separately:
If either part falls short of 60%, the entire exam is considered failed — even if you scored excellently on the other part.
The exam is administered by authorized schools and centers across the country (Prague, Brno, Olomouc, Plzeň, Ostrava, and others). For the full, up-to-date list, check the official website cestina-pro-cizince.cz. Exams are generally held several times a month, but specific dates, weekdays, and start times vary by school.
You can register online or in person at your chosen school. Registration requires a valid passport (travel document); you'll need to provide your first and last name, date of birth, and passport number. Check the schedule and available slots directly on your chosen center's website, since these are updated periodically.
The cost is 3,200 CZK. Free vouchers (poukaz) from the Ministerstvo vnitra ČR are no longer issued: for exams from 1 January 2024 onward, all applicants pay the full fee. Payment must be made to the school's account no later than 8 days before the exam date — payment details are emailed after registration. Check the exact amount and payment deadlines on cestina-pro-cizince.cz before registering, as fees may be revised.
Materials for the new format are free and officially available:
For most people, the weak spots are the speaking and writing sections, so Czech language courses or one-on-one tutoring — practicing typical everyday dialogues and short forms — can really help. If you're already preparing your permanent residency application, our immigration lawyers can help, and for the official translation of certificates and diplomas, see our translators. For the move itself and the step-by-step process, see our checklist of first steps in Czechia.
If you fail the exam, you can retake it — but only in full; you cannot retake just the section you failed. The full 3,200 CZK fee applies again for a retake. Book the nearest available date and use the time beforehand to focus specifically on the section where you fell short. Applying for trvalý pobyt sometimes also requires a sworn translation of documents — check the required paperwork in advance.
Permanent residence (trvalý pobyt) requires level A2. From 11 April 2026, the exam is taken in a new format, but the required level itself has not changed.
3,200 CZK. Free vouchers have been discontinued since 2024 — everyone pays the full fee. Retakes after a failed attempt are also paid.
The Writing and Speaking sections were reworked: task types and point distribution changed, and a pronunciation task was added. The total number of points (110) and the 60% pass threshold remain unchanged.
No. If you score below 60% in either part, you must retake the entire exam and pay the fee again.
At authorized schools and centers throughout Czechia — in Prague, Brno, Olomouc, Plzeň, Ostrava, and other cities. The full list of centers and available dates is on the official website cestina-pro-cizince.cz.
Applicants younger than 15 or older than 60, those who studied at a Czech school for at least one year within the last 20 years, people with a confirmed health impairment, and holders of a CCE certificate at level A2 or higher.
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