Free Czech language courses for foreigners in Czechia are run by integration centers — Integrační centrum Praha (ICP) in the capital and the regional Centra na podporu integrace cizinců (CPIC) — as well as by nonprofit organizations and courses supported by the Úřad práce (Labour Office). You can also study for free online on the Czechonline platform, formerly the mluvtecesky.net portal. Enrollment for in-person groups opens in short windows before each semester starts — usually in late summer and in winter — and spots fill up very fast.
Here we break down every viable free option, the enrollment rules and deposits involved, paid alternatives, the A1–B2 levels, and the key practical question — how much study it actually takes to pass the A2 exam for permanent residency.
| Where | Format and levels | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Integrační centrum Praha (ICP) | In-person and online courses A1–B1, A2 exam prep, a conversation course, e-learning | For non-EU nationals with a residence permit valid for more than 90 days; refundable deposit of 2,000 CZK |
| Regional CPIC centers | Basic beginner courses and intensive semester courses, in-person and online across all regions | Free; enrollment requires a placement test |
| Nonprofit organizations | Low-threshold and semester-long courses: CIC, Poradna pro integraci, and others | Free or a nominal fee, depending on the project |
| Courses supported by the Úřad práce | Intensive A1, A2, and B1 courses ending with an exam | Free — funded by the EU and the Ministry of Labour; apply through the Úřad práce |
| Czechonline (formerly mluvtecesky.net) | Online courses A1–A2 plus thematic modules | Free, with no time limit |
The main free option in Prague. These courses are meant for non-EU nationals holding a residence permit valid for longer than 90 days. The current program includes standard courses for speakers of Slavic languages (A1–B1, 100 teaching hours) and for everyone else (A1–A2, 75 hours), A2 exam prep for permanent residency (50 hours), an A2/B1 conversation course, e-learning, and a "Czech for work" course (40 hours).
The courses are technically free but require a motivational deposit of 2,000 CZK upon enrollment, which is fully refunded if you attend at least 70 percent of the classes and complete the final test. You can't repeat the same level twice, and a certificate of attendance doesn't count as grounds for a study residence permit. Watch for enrollment announcements on icpraha.com and sign up right away — groups fill up very quickly.
Every region in Czechia has a center supporting the integration of foreigners, and language courses are its most in-demand service. Classes are free and run both in person and online. There are two formats: basic courses that don't require long-term enrollment, and intensive semester courses for structured learning. You enroll in person at the center — filling out a client form and taking a placement test to determine your level. Enrollment is announced before each semester begins; check the current schedule for your region at integracnicentra.cz or on your regional center's website.
Centrum pro integraci cizinců (CIC) runs low-threshold courses that you can join without lengthy enrollment and regardless of your starting level. Poradna pro integraci organizes free courses in several cities, and META helps children and school students with Czech. Enrollment depends on current grant funding, so check directly with the organization for active groups.
Courses at levels A1, A2, and B1 are fully funded by the European Union and the Czech Ministry of Labour, and are open to both job seekers and employed people. Classes run intensively, including morning, evening, and weekend groups, and finish with an official exam and a state certificate of requalification. You apply through the Úřad práce, and processing takes up to a month; funding for the program can be discontinued at any time, so check current availability before applying. This option is especially useful if you're job hunting at the same time — we cover how to do that in our guide to working in Czechia.
The well-known mluvtecesky.net portal has moved to czechonline.org. It's a full free online course at A1–A2 level: over a hundred lessons across five thematic blocks — everyday Czech, medical, business, and legal language, plus conversation tandems. The interface is available in Czech, English, German, and Polish. The platform works well as a supplement to an in-person group; for a quick start with everyday situations, keep our basic Czech phrases guide handy.
Don't confuse language courses with the adaptačně-integrační kurz "Vítejte v České republice." This is a one-time, in-person course about life in Czechia — covering rights, obligations, and healthcare — mandatory for most third-country nationals who obtained long-term or permanent residence starting in 2021. It must be completed within a year of receiving your residence card, or you risk a fine of up to 10,000 CZK. The public course costs 1,500 CZK; if a non-public course is organized and paid for by an employer on behalf of staff, the price is 800 CZK per person. For enrollment, a list of exempt categories, and further details, see vitejtevcr.cz.
Free groups are large and start strictly according to the semester schedule. A paid course makes sense when you need fast progress, a specific exam date, or a flexible schedule. As a price benchmark: a semester-long evening course at ÚJOP UK (affiliated with Charles University) costs around 12,500 CZK, while year-long intensive courses for university admission cost considerably more — tens of thousands of crowns and up. Prices at private schools vary widely, so compare the curriculum, intensity, and class size — not just the cost.
If you're preparing for an exam on a tight deadline, individual lessons are more effective: vetted tutors can help you target specific gaps. If you're planning to study at a Czech university, it's also worth looking into diploma recognition (nostrifikace) at the same time.
| Level | What you can do | What it's needed for |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Introduce yourself, ask simple questions, understand signs and announcements | First semester of courses, everyday survival |
| A2 | Communicate at a shop, doctor's office, or post office; understand simple speech; write a short text | Permanent residency exam |
| B1 | Speak fluently on everyday and work topics, understand TV broadcasts | Citizenship exam, skilled work |
| B2 | Use the language confidently at work and in academic settings | University study in Czech, regulated professions |
A2 level is sufficient for permanent residency. The exam costs 3,200 CZK per attempt and, starting April 11, 2026, will be given in an updated format covering reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Exempt from it are children under 15, people over 60, those who completed at least a year of study at a Czech school or university taught in Czech, and people with documented health conditions affecting communication. For a full breakdown of the exam format and prep strategy, see our guide to the A2 exam; and since foreign documents for your permanent residency application must be officially translated, we explain how that works in our guide to certified (sworn) translation.
As a benchmark, integration centers allot about 100 teaching hours from scratch for speakers of Slavic languages in the standard course, and 75 hours just for the A1–A2 stretch for everyone else, at a slower pace. In practice, confidently passing A2 usually takes one to two semesters of classes twice a week plus regular independent practice — the exact timeline is individual and depends on intensity.
Yes. Combining "a course at an integration center + Czechonline + nonprofit conversation clubs" covers the whole path to A2. The 2,000 CZK deposit at ICP is refunded if attendance is 70 percent or higher and the final test is completed, and the only thing you'll have to pay for is the state exam itself — 3,200 CZK.
Yes, courses run by regional CPIC centers and most nonprofit organizations are open to holders of temporary protection, and dedicated projects for this group are periodically available as well. Status requirements vary from course to course — check when enrolling.
Get on the waiting list and keep an eye out for additional intakes — these are sometimes opened mid-semester. While you wait, keep studying on Czechonline and at conversation clubs, or take a few individual lessons to keep your momentum going.
No. Integration centers issue a certificate of course completion, and Úřad práce–supported intensives end with an exam, but for permanent residency, no course certificate replaces the state A2 exam — it must be taken separately at an accredited school. Check current requirements on the official portal cestina-pro-cizince.cz.
No. ICP explicitly states that its courses cannot be used as grounds for a study-purpose residence permit. A study residence permit requires an accredited full-time program — usually a paid intensive course at a university.
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