Who doesn't have to take the Czech language exam — exemptions explained

Not everyone applying for permanent residency or citizenship has to take a Czech language exam. There is a whole range of exemptions — from age through schooling at a Czech school to other recognized exams. But beware: the exemption lists for A2 (permanent residency) and for B1 + civics (citizenship) differ, and they're easy to mix up.

This article puts both lists side by side, with links to the official sources where you can verify your situation.

First: which exam applies to you

• Permanent residency → the A2 exam under Government Regulation No. 31/2016 Sb. (as amended by 199/2021 Sb. and 282/2023 Sb.).
• Citizenship → the B1 language exam and a separate civics (reálie) exam under §14 of Act No. 186/2013 Sb.

These are different exams with different rules and different exemptions — a detailed comparison of both is in How the Czech A2 and B1 exams work.

Exemptions from the A2 exam (permanent residency)

According to the official exam page, the following do not need to submit proof of the A2 exam:

1. EU and EEA citizens — and also citizens of the United Kingdom whose residence was legalized before 31 December 2020 (Britons who obtained residence only after Brexit do have to take the exam).
2. Persons under 15 or over 60 years old.
3. Anyone who, within the last 20 years, completed at least one school year at a primary or secondary school, or one academic year at a university, with Czech as the language of instruction.
4. Anyone who can present another recognized exam, in particular:
   • the maturita (school-leaving) exam in Czech,
   • a state language exam in Czech at a language school authorized to administer state language exams,
   • a state final, rigorosum, or doctoral exam in a Czech-taught study program,
   • the Certified Exam in Czech for Foreigners (CCE) at level A2 or higher,
   • the Czech exam for citizenship purposes,
   • the approbation exam for medical professions.
5. Persons with a physical or mental disability affecting their ability to communicate.

The current, binding list is always at cestina-pro-cizince.cz; how the exam fits into the residency application is covered in Permanent residency and the A2 exam.

Exemptions from B1 + civics (citizenship)

Act No. 186/2013 Sb., §14 paragraphs 4 and 5, exempts from the language exam and the civics exam applicants who:

1. prove they completed at least 3 school years at a primary, secondary, or higher-education institution with Czech as the language of instruction,
2. are under 15 or over 65 years old at the time of the application,
3. have a physical or mental disability that prevents them from acquiring Czech language knowledge.

The exemptions apply to both exams together — whoever meets one of the conditions takes neither the language exam nor civics. The full application is covered in Czech citizenship — requirements, documents, and the role of the B1 exam + civics.

The key differences people mix up

	A2 (permanent residency)	B1 + civics (citizenship)
Age threshold	under 15 / over 60	under 15 / over 65
Schooling at a Czech school	1 school year (within the last 20 years)	3 school years
EU/EEA citizens	exempt	(they apply for citizenship under different rules)
Other recognized exams	yes — CCE A2+, maturita, state exams…	no explicit list in §14 — verify with the MOI

A typical mistake: "I'm 62, so I don't have to take anything." True for permanent residency, not for citizenship — there the threshold is 65. Another common one: a single year at a Czech school is enough for A2, but for citizenship the law requires three years.

How to prove an exemption

An exemption isn't applied automatically — you have to document it with your application: a school report or diploma from a Czech school, a certificate of a passed exam, or a medical report where relevant. Age is evident from identity documents. The final assessment belongs to the Ministry of the Interior — if you're unsure whether your situation falls under an exemption, verify it in advance at mvcr.cz or directly at the office where you'll file your application.

If no exemption applies to you

Then the path leads through the exam — and the good news is that its format is fixed and can be trained for. On this site you'll find free sample tests for both A2 and B1 including civics, plus AI-graded writing and speaking practice. Answers to frequent questions are summarized in our FAQ.

Verification and sources

Last verified: 28 July 2026. Official sources:

• cestina-pro-cizince.cz — the A2 exam for permanent residency (A2 exemptions)
• Government Regulation No. 31/2016 Sb., as amended by 199/2021 Sb. and 282/2023 Sb.
• Act No. 186/2013 Sb., §14 paragraphs 4 and 5 (citizenship exemptions); ÚJOP UK
• Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic (binding assessment of exemptions)

Exemptions and conditions can change through amendments to the regulations. Always verify the current state on the official pages before filing your application. This text is not legal advice.