In this article we explain in simple examples who needs and who does not need to pass the A2 Czech language test when applying for their Permanent Residence Permit in the Czech Republic. Let’s dive in together!
Who qualifies for a Czech Permanent Residence Permit
We have written a few articles about the permanent residence permit requirements and qualification criteria (see for example here) so we will not go into too much details here. It still makes sense to at least briefly list who qualifies for the Permanent Residency and when.
EU citizens after 5 years of living in the Czech Republic
As of the day of writing this article (Feb 2025), EU citizens are not obliged to apply for the Registration Certificate. Since this should become mandatory somewhere later in 2025 (keep checking the blog, we will certainly cover the news when that happens) we recommend applying for it anyway.
Even if you have not got the Registration Certificate, you can still apply for the permanent residence permit after five years. It might just be a lot more complicated. If you had the Registration Certificate, in most cases, that is good enough proof of you living here for the last five years.
If you have not had the Registration Certificate, you will need to prove your physical residence by other means. This is usually all your lease agreements and employment contracts. There should be no gaps in between your leases and/or employment contracts. If you are not locally employed (potentially self-employed), it might be basically impossible for you to prove you have actually been living here.
The MOI often does not take lease agreements alone as a prove. Their reasoning is that having a lease here does not necessarily mean you live in the apartment (you can be using it only for holiday purposes, sublease it etc.).
Close family members of Czech citizens after 2 years of living in Czech Republic
Close Family Members of Czech citizens are in the second best category. As long as a Czech citizen is registered in the Czech Republic (i.e. has their ID regularly renewed, has an official address here), it counts as their “PR”. That means that as a close family member, you can apply for your Permanent Residence Permit after two years of officially residing in the Czech Republic as long as you have been a close family member for at least 1 out of those two years.
For example, you lived here as a student for a year and then you married a Czech citizen and got the Temporary Residence Permit. When you reach two years of being here legally (the student visa counts) and at the same time one year of marriage, you already qualify for the PR.
Close family members of EU citizens holding PR after 2 years of living in CZE
Similar rules apply to close family members of EU citizens (other than Czech) living in the Czech Republic. The main difference is that for you to be eligible for the PR, your EU family member must already have their PR.
Non-EU citizens applying for Permanent Residence Permit
Everything is kind of straightforward for EU citizens and their family members. That is certainly not like that for non-EU citizens. Below we are listing the most common rules for getting the Permanent Residence Permit as a non-EU citizen.
General rule
The general rule is that non-EU citizens can apply for the Permanent Residence Permit after 5 years of legal, non-interrupted stay in the Czech Republic. This applies to majority of our clients and foreigners in general. There are some exceptions though where it might take longer (or shorter) to qualify.
Students
Student years (meaning years when you had a “proper” student visa or residence permit) only count as half towards the permanent residency. For example, if you studied Bachelor’s and Master’s for 5 years in total, these 5 years will only count as 2,5 years towards the permanent residence permit. This rule generally does not apply to the “other” students.
Children of PR holders applying through an Embassy
Potentially, if a parent is a PR holder in the Czech Republic, a child can apply for PR directly through a Czech Embassy (without the need of living in the Czech Republic for more than 5 years).
Similar rule potentially applies to children who are living here along with their PR parent/s.
Blue Card holders
Blue Card holders can apply for the Permanent Residence Permit in the Czech Republic either after being here for 5 years (the standard rule) or after being here for 2 years if they have been in the EU, under the Blue Card for at least 5 years in total.
This means that if you for example had a Blue Card in Germany for 3 years and then moved to the Czech Republic, you can apply for Czech Permanent Residence Permit after two years of having the Czech Blue Card. The 3 years you spent in Germany count towards the total of 5 years needed for the PR application.
Same rules apply to family members of a Blue Card holder.
Who needs to pass the A2 Czech language exam for the Permanent Residence Permit
If you qualify for the Permanent Residence Permit based on the criteria mentioned above, it is time to prepare all the required documents. Most of them are similar to what you used for previous applications – i.e. proof of accommodation, proof of income). What often makes a difference between applying and not applying for people is the Czech language exam.
The requirement has been increased from A1 to A2 level a few years ago and some people have problems with passing the exam so they unnecessarily delay their PR application. With that also all the rights and advantages that having the PR brings.
Let’s make this easy and list the groups of people who DO NOT need to pass the language exam.
1. EU citizens and their family members (close or distant).
If you are an EU citizen or you hold the Temporary Residence Permit for family members of EU citizens (including the “partnership visa“) you do not have to pass the language exam at all!
2. People below 15 and above 60 years of age
If your child qualifies for the Permanent Residence Permit and is below 15 years of age, they do not have to pass the language exam. Also, people above 60 years of age are exempt of this requirement.
3. If you studied in Czech language
This exception is meant for people who studied either a primary school, high school or university in Czech language. It is enough to meet this requirement for one school/academic year in the last 20 years.
4. People with physical or mental disabilities
People who can prove (documentation from a doctor/hospital is required) that they have a mental or physical disability which influences their ability to communicate also do not need to pass the language exam.
5. People who passed another recognized (Czech language) exam
This is where it gets a bit tricky. There are a few exams that might be accepted as equivalent of the A2 PR exam. For example citizenship exam, CCE exam of A2 level or higher, qualification exam for doctors, dentists or pharmacist in the Czech Republic.
Since these are pretty specific exams, the question is how sure you are these will be accepted.
There might also be some other groups of people who do not need to pass the language exam but they are pretty rare. We will not be confusing you by listing those as well. If you have any questions about the Permanent Residence Permit, if you qualify or not or if your language certificate is good enough, fill in any of the forms on this page or use other Contacts.
Move To Prague – your experts on Permanent Residence Permits in Czech Republic
