Czech Republic (CZ)
Czech Republic is a landlocked Central European parliamentary republic of 14 regions, home to the fairy-tale spires of Prague — one of Europe's best-preserved medieval capitals — as well as world-famous Bohemian crystal and glasswork, the birthplace of Pilsner lager, a thriving startup and tech scene anchored in Prague and Brno, and one of the lowest unemployment rates and most stable economies in the EU.
Learning the Language in Czech Republic
Courses, certifications, funding, and online resources to reach fluency.
Czech (čeština) is a West Slavic language and one of the most grammatically complex languages in the world for non-Slavic speakers. It has 7 grammatical cases, grammatical gender, complex verb aspects (perfective/imperfective), and challenging pronunciation including the consonant cluster in the phrase 'strč prst skrz krk' (stick your finger through your throat). Despite the challenge, even basic Czech is deeply appreciated by Czechs and transforms daily life significantly. B1 Czech is required for permanent residence and citizenship. Czech is closely related to Slovak, Polish, and other Slavic languages.
Kurz češtiny pro cizince (Czech for Foreigners Integration Course)
Legal residents of Czech Republic, particularly those on long-term residence or permanent residence track. EU citizens welcome.
Free for some categories (job seekers at Úřad práce; some via government integration programmes). CZK 5,000–25,000 for private/ÚJOP courses.
A1: ~80–100 hours. A2: ~100 hours. B1: ~200 hours (from A2). Total A1 to B1: ~400 hours of guided study plus self-study.
B1 Czech — required for permanent residence (trvalý pobyt) for non-EU citizens and for Czech citizenship naturalisation.
Via ÚJOP Charles University (ujop.cuni.cz) — most prestigious. Via private language schools (Accent, Berlitz, Glossa). Via Úřad práce for free courses (ask about kurzy češtiny pro cizince). Online via integrace.cz government portal for integration information.
Kurzy češtiny pro cizince (Úřad práce)
Czech language courses offered free or heavily subsidised through the Úřad práce ČR (Czech Labour Office) for registered job seekers and certain immigrant categories. Also available via the State Integration Programme (Státní integrační program — SIP) for recognised refugees and persons with international protection.
Registered job seekers (uchazeči o zaměstnání) at Úřad práce. Beneficiaries of international protection. Some long-term residents via government integration programmes.
Free for eligible persons.
Ask at your local Úřad práce office. State your wish to attend a Czech language course (kurz češtiny). Courses arranged with contracted language schools.
Language Levels — What Each Means
Can introduce yourself, handle simple transactions, understand very basic Czech. Basic survival Czech for daily needs.
Required for: Not officially required for anything but makes daily life significantly easier.
Can handle routine Czech interactions (shopping, transport, simple conversations). Understands simple written texts.
Required for: Generally sufficient for most everyday interactions in Czech Republic.
Can communicate effectively in Czech in most everyday situations. Understands Czech TV news and official documents with effort.
Required for: Non-EU permanent residence (trvalý pobyt). Czech citizenship naturalisation. Required for B1 CCE exam. Many Czech-language job positions.
Fluent in most situations. Can work professionally in Czech. Understands most written and spoken Czech.
Required for: Czech-language academic studies (university). Many professional positions requiring Czech communication.
Advanced. Professional-level Czech for academic, legal and regulated professional contexts.
Required for: Senior academic roles, legal practice and high-level professional positions in Czech.
Mastery. Near-native Czech proficiency in all four skills.
Required for: Academic research, scholarly publication and translation in Czech.
Courses & Community Learning
ÚJOP Charles University (Ústav jazykové a odborné přípravy UK)
CZK 30,000–80,000 per course (depending on intensity and duration)The most prestigious Czech language education institution for foreigners in Czech Republic. Offers intensive and semi-intensive Czech courses from A1 to C2. Provides the official CCE/CCJ certification recognised for permanent residence and citizenship. Located in Prague and Poděbrady.
www.ujop.cuni.cz ↗Accent Language School
CZK 5,000–15,000 per course levelLarge private language school with Czech courses across multiple levels. Prague and online. Good teacher quality and flexible scheduling.
www.accentcz.cz ↗Czech Language Courses at Czech Cultural Centres
Varies by centreCzech Centres (Česká centra) abroad offer Czech language courses for those preparing to move to Czech Republic. Check the Czech Centres network (czechcentres.cz).
integrace.cz Community Resources
FreeGovernment integration portal listing language courses, integration programmes, and community resources for newcomers. Also has basic Czech language materials.
www.integrace.cz ↗Official Certifications
| Certificate | Provider | Levels | When Needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCE (Certifikát z češtiny pro cizince — Zkouška z češtiny pro trvalý pobyt) | ÚJOP Univerzity Karlovy (Charles University Language Centre) | A1, A2, B1 | B1 level required for: non-EU permanent residence (trvalý pobyt) application; Czech citizenship naturalisation | CZK 2,500–3,500 per exam level |
| CCJ (Certifikát z češtiny jako jazyka cizího) | ÚJOP Univerzity Karlovy | B2, C1, C2 | Required for employment in some regulated professions and for university study in Czech language | CZK 3,000–4,500 per level |
Online Resources
Duolingo Czech
FreeFree app with Czech course. Good for vocabulary and basic grammar. Czech is available on Duolingo. Good for daily habit building.
www.duolingo.com ↗Czech Learning App (University of Pittsburgh)
FreeFree online Czech course developed by the University of Pittsburgh — excellent grammar explanations in English.
www.pitt.edu/~votruba/czech/ ↗Anki Flashcards
FreeSpaced repetition flashcard app — use pre-made Czech vocabulary decks. Highly effective for vocabulary acquisition.
apps.ankiweb.net ↗Czech with Tereza (YouTube)
FreeYouTube channel for Czech language learners — beginner and intermediate content in English.
Česky krok za krokem (textbook)
PaidThe standard textbook series used in most Czech language schools. "Czech step by step" — two volumes covering A1-A2 and B1. Both English and multilingual editions.
Pimsleur Czech
PaidAudio-based Czech language course — good for pronunciation and spoken Czech. 30-minute daily audio lessons.
Funding Your Language Courses
Free Czech language courses are available through: Úřad práce (for job seekers), government integration programmes (SIP for refugees), some municipalities and NGOs (e.g. Centrum pro integraci cizinců — CIC). EU and Czech state funding supports language integration — ask at your local integration or support centre. Private courses: tax-deductible as employee education costs if work-related (consult your accountant).
Practical Tips
-
Start with pronunciation — Czech pronunciation is largely phonetic and consistent once you learn the rules. Getting pronunciation right makes everything easier.
-
Learn the 7 cases (pády) systematically from the start — they govern almost all Czech sentences and cannot be avoided.
-
Practice Czech grammar with the standard textbook "Česky krok za krokem" (Czech Step by Step) — used in virtually all Czech language schools.
-
Language exchange (jazykový tandem) with a Czech speaker is excellent for conversational practice — find partners via jazykovytandem.cz or Facebook groups.
-
Watch Czech TV (Czech Television — ČT) with Czech subtitles. Listening and reading simultaneously accelerates comprehension.
-
Immerse in Czech media: Czech Radio (Český rozhlas — Plus, Radiožurnál), Czech Netflix shows (series "Most! / Bridge" and others).
-
Czech is closely related to Slovak — if you know Slovak or Polish, learning Czech is faster. Slovak-speakers can learn Czech conversationally in months.
-
Book the B1 CCE exam at ÚJOP well in advance — popular exam dates fill up quickly. Exams held multiple times per year.
Language Learning
Unlock the complete Language Learning guide for Czech Republic — including every detail, document, tip and link you need.
Become a SupporterSupport the guide on Ko-fi · Unlocks every premium section, everywhere