Czech Language for foreigners

You need **A2**, not A1. This is the most common pitfall: the cizinci.cz website still states A1, although the requirement has changed several years ago. Aim for A2 — otherwise, you will prepare for the wrong exam. The exam operator is NPI ČR, the cost is 3,200 Kč.

The exam consists of a written part worth 70 points (reading 25, writing 20, listening 25) and an oral part worth 40 points. The passing score is 60% in each part separately: 42 points for the written and 24 for the oral. An important nuance: if you fail one part, you have to retake the entire exam, not just the failed part. The number of attempts is unlimited, but each is paid separately.

From **11.04.2026**, a new format will be in effect: writing and speaking will change. The level, passing threshold, and price remain the same — this is an update of tasks, not a new requirement. However, if you prepared using old samples, review the current model tests before registering.

Exempt from the exam are: children under 15 and people over 60; those who have studied for at least one year in a Czech school in the last 20 years; EU citizens. Model tests and current conditions are available at cestina-pro-cizince.cz.

No. There has been **no free first attempt since 01.01.2024** — the Ministry of the Interior vouchers were canceled on 31.08.2023. This is perhaps the most persistent myth about Czech language exams: it is still retold in chats and even in some old instructions.

Now, each attempt costs 3,200 Kč, including the first one. The good news is that the number of attempts is unlimited — failing the exam does not mean losing the right to take it again.

The practical conclusion is simple: include the exam cost in your budget immediately and do not count on a "free first time." If you see the opposite somewhere, check the publication date; it is almost certainly material from before 2024.

Yes, for citizenship, a higher language level is required — **B1** — plus a separate exam on knowledge of Czech realities. Together, it costs 5,700 Kč: B1 through ÚJOP — 3,700 Kč, zkouška z reálií — 2,000 Kč.

The exam on realities is structured very transparently: 30 questions, 30 minutes, passing score — at least 18 correct answers out of 30. The main thing to know is that the question bank is **public** — all 300 questions are available in advance, so preparation here is more about working with a ready list than a lottery. Distribution: 16 questions about life and institutions, 7 on geography, 7 on history and culture.

Exempt from B1 and realities are: children under 15 and people over 65; as well as those who have studied in Czech for at least 3 years.

Question bank and model tests are available at cestina-pro-cizince.cz.

Prices as of 2026: Czech A2 (NPI ČR) — 3,200 Kč; Czech B1 (ÚJOP) — 3,700 Kč; zkouška z reálií — 2,000 Kč; B1 together with realities — 5,700 Kč. Certified CCE exams: A1 — 3,200, A2 — 3,500, B1 — 4,000, B2 — 4,600, C1 — 4,900 Kč.

The practical conclusion that saves money: if the goal is **permanent residence**, the state exam A2 (3,200 Kč) is cheaper than CCE-A2 (3,500 Kč). If the goal is **citizenship**, B1 from ÚJOP (3,700 Kč) is cheaper than CCE-B1 (4,000 Kč). This means that for the status procedures themselves, state exams are more advantageous.

CCE makes sense when you specifically need a certificate — for a university or employer. Here you pay not for status, but for a recognized document of your level.

Consider separately: from 01.01.2026, the oral part of CCE has been changed — from B1 and above, it is taken individually, via video conference in MS Teams.

There are indeed many free courses, and they are not "almost free," but truly zdarma (free). CIC offers courses in Prague, Liberec, Kolín, and Mladá Boleslav (note: the domain has moved to cicops.cz); their online course Praha 13 is paid — 550 Kč. InBáze has a course "Čeština pro Ukrajinu" at level A1 for holders of temporary protection.

Next are church and charitable organizations: Diecézní charita Plzeň (Plzeň, Tachov, Bor, Cheb — only for holders of DO), Diecézní charita Hradec Králové (levels A1.1–B1.2), Charita České Budějovice (groups in Ukrainian, Russian, and English), Diakonie Západ in Pilsen (project "Archa" — children 5–12, 12+, and adults), Diakonie Vsetín / VIDIA (all levels). CPIC also offers courses and free consultations — 18 centers, integracnicentra.cz.

Three common mistakes that cause people to waste time. **META** offers courses **only for children and youth** — they do not have adult groups. **Člověk v tísni** does not offer general Czech courses. And the myth about "50 Kč per lesson" at CIC refers to the realities of 2007–2012; such prices simply do not exist anymore.

No, and confusing them is costly. The Adaptačně-integrační kurz "Vítejte v ČR" is **paid**: 1,500 Kč (or 800 Kč if paid by the employer). This is not a language class, but a separate adaptation course.

The main thing is that it is often **mandatory**. Citizens of third countries with long-term residence issued from 01.01.2021 are obliged to complete it within one year. Failure to comply is punishable by a fine of up to 10,000 Kč — meaning ignoring this requirement is significantly more expensive than taking the course.

An important exception: **ZDP itself does not create this obligation** (§ 7w para. 4). Therefore, if you have ZDP, you are not automatically required to take the course — the requirement is tied to long-term residence. Children under 15 and people over 61 are also exempt from the course.

You have an advantage worth knowing: Czech is easier for Ukrainians than for Russian speakers. The classic 'false friends' they warn about are actually traps for Russian speakers: `rodina` means family ✅, `město` means city ✅, `čas` means time ✅, `stůl` means table ✅. Where a Russian speaker gets confused, a Ukrainian reads the word correctly.

But there are false friends for us too. The most dangerous is **`květen` means May, not April** (April = `duben`); it's easy to confuse months in documents. Next: `ovoce` means fruit, not vegetables (vegetables = `zelenina`); `čerstvý` means fresh, not stale; `život` means life, not stomach (stomach = `břicho`); `úžasný` means wonderful, not terrible; `zápach` means stench, while a neutral smell is `vůně`; `sklep` means basement; `chytrý` means clever, not cunning; `nápad` means idea, not attack; `holka` means girl, not needle; `člověk` means person, not man.

Typical pronunciation and grammar mistakes. Mistake #1 — **vowel length, which changes meaning**: `byt` (apartment) and `být` (to be), `pas` (passport) and `pás` (belt) — Ukrainian doesn't have vowel length, so it's simply not heard or pronounced. Next: stress in Czech is always on the first syllable; the `ř` sound, which doesn't exist in Ukrainian; enclitics, which are placed second in a sentence ('Včera **jsem se ti to** snažil říct').

And separately — diglossia: on the street, you hear obecná čeština ('dobrej', 'vokno'), but the exam requires spisovnou. These are different registers, and you should learn both, but not mix them. An authoritative source for the standard is prirucka.ujc.cas.cz from the Institute for the Czech Language.