Czech for work

Levels A1–B1: what they mean and what employers expect

The European scale describes language ability in levels from A1 to C2. For life and work in Czechia you realistically need the first three.

A1 — beginner: say hello, introduce yourself, shop, ask the way, fill in a simple form. That is enough for everyday life and simple manual jobs where instructions are shown by hand.

A2 — elementary: you understand simple messages, can discuss the basics with a doctor, arrange a meeting and write a short message. A2 is exactly what the permanent residence exam requires (see the separate step).

B1 — independent user: you can sustain a conversation, write letters and understand most ads and official texts. B1 is required for the citizenship exam and is highly valued in services, retail, healthcare and customer-facing work. Employers for qualified posts usually want B1 or higher, and for many regulated professions (doctor, teacher, lawyer) you cannot manage without a high level of Czech.

Tip: the requirement in a job ad ("znalost češtiny") is not a formality. "Komunikativní čeština" usually means about B1; "základy češtiny" usually means A2 is enough. And at an interview state your real level: it is better to say "A2, I am learning" than to end up in a situation where nobody understands you.

Where to find free and subsidised courses

There are many free and low-cost courses in Czechia, but they are scattered. Where to look: - Integration centres. In Prague this is the Integration Centre Prague (ICP): Czech courses for non-EU citizens with residence over 90 days and for people with temporary or international protection. Contact the centre and ask about current groups, timetable and conditions (check on the centre's page whether the course is free). - Labour Office (Úřad práce). Registered jobseekers may qualify for retraining courses, including Czech — the approval rules changed from 2026 (see the next step). - NGOs and communities. Many organisations run beginner groups and conversation clubs with Ukrainian-speaking teachers — look at the Facebook/Telegram pages of help centres and at KACPU pages. - Libraries. Almost every Prague district has conversation meetings and language clubs at its library — cheap or free. - Schools for children. Schools are expected to help foreign pupils with the language, and free beginner classes often exist.

Tip: write to several organisations at once — places go fast, and joining a waiting list never hurts. Do not pay unknown private courses for a "guaranteed result" without checking reviews.

Self-study: what works every day

Twenty minutes every day beat three hours once a week. Set a minimum routine and keep to it.

What works: - Phrases, not words. Learn ready-made sentences for your situations: at the doctor, at the pharmacy, at the Labour Office, in a shop, at work. Write down 30 such phrases and review them. - Listening. Watch Czech news with subtitles, listen to the radio on walks, put on Czech cartoons with your children — they are excellent for beginners. - Real environment. Speak in shops, cafés and with neighbours — even a few words. Czechs appreciate the effort. - Free resources. The site cestina-pro-cizince.cz has information on exams, textbooks and materials (the interface is available in Ukrainian); the official preparation handbook for the permanent residence exam is sent free of charge. - Write down what surrounds you: signs, metro announcements, letters from the post office — that is living vocabulary.

Typical mistake: waiting until you have "learned the grammar" and staying silent. Tip: find a language partner (tandem) — a Czech who is learning Ukrainian or English. A 30-minute swap for each language works better than a paid tutor for a beginner.

Czech at work: CV, interview, contract

Even with A1–A2 you can find work if you prepare. Write a CV in Czech (životopis) — one page, a photo optional, your latest jobs and skills. Ask a Czech acquaintance or a volunteer at an integration centre to proofread it: mistakes in your first letter to an employer are a common reason for rejection.

For the interview (pohovor) learn 10 standard phrases: who you are, what you can do, why you want this job, when you can start, what pay you expect. Rehearse the employer's likely questions: "Jak dobře mluvíte česky?", "Máte zkušenosti?", "Kdy můžete nastoupit?". Do not be afraid to say "Promiňte, nerozumím. Můžete to zopakovat pomaleji?" — that is perfectly normal.

The contract needs attention: you must understand the type of contract, the pay, the hours, the duration and the place of work. Do not sign a document you do not understand. Ask for a translation or go to an integration centre or free legal advice. The employer must give you a written contract. Contract types are covered separately in the "Work: where to start" guide.

Tip: in jobs with safety risks (construction, warehouse, production) understanding safety instructions matters — learn those words first.

Levels A1–B1: what they mean and what employers expect

The European scale describes language ability in levels from A1 to C2. For life and work in Czechia you realistically need the first three.

A1 — beginner: say hello, introduce yourself, shop, ask the way, fill in a simple form. That is enough for everyday life and simple manual jobs where instructions are shown by hand.

A2 — elementary: you understand simple messages, can discuss the basics with a doctor, arrange a meeting and write a short message. A2 is exactly what the permanent residence exam requires (see the separate step).

B1 — independent user: you can sustain a conversation, write letters and understand most ads and official texts. B1 is required for the citizenship exam and is highly valued in services, retail, healthcare and customer-facing work. Employers for qualified posts usually want B1 or higher, and for many regulated professions (doctor, teacher, lawyer) you cannot manage without a high level of Czech.

Tip: the requirement in a job ad ("znalost češtiny") is not a formality. "Komunikativní čeština" usually means about B1; "základy češtiny" usually means A2 is enough. And at an interview state your real level: it is better to say "A2, I am learning" than to end up in a situation where nobody understands you.

Where to find free and subsidised courses

There are many free and low-cost courses in Czechia, but they are scattered. Where to look: - Integration centres. In Prague this is the Integration Centre Prague (ICP): Czech courses for non-EU citizens with residence over 90 days and for people with temporary or international protection. Contact the centre and ask about current groups, timetable and conditions (check on the centre's page whether the course is free). - Labour Office (Úřad práce). Registered jobseekers may qualify for retraining courses, including Czech — the approval rules changed from 2026 (see the next step). - NGOs and communities. Many organisations run beginner groups and conversation clubs with Ukrainian-speaking teachers — look at the Facebook/Telegram pages of help centres and at KACPU pages. - Libraries. Almost every Prague district has conversation meetings and language clubs at its library — cheap or free. - Schools for children. Schools are expected to help foreign pupils with the language, and free beginner classes often exist.

Tip: write to several organisations at once — places go fast, and joining a waiting list never hurts. Do not pay unknown private courses for a "guaranteed result" without checking reviews.

Czech courses through the Labour Office: what changed from 2026

The Labour Office (Úřad práce ČR) can fund retraining courses for registered jobseekers, and Czech can be among them. From 2026 the rules for approving and providing such Czech courses for foreigners changed — the Labour Office site has two separate publications on this (links below).

I will not state specific criteria, levels, amounts or deadlines here: pages change and must be checked on the site itself on the day you go. In practice: - Register at the Labour Office as a jobseeker (you need your passport with visa/sticker and an address). Preferably at the branch for your area of residence. - Ask your adviser directly: "Can I get a retraining course in Czech? Under what conditions?" The adviser assesses your situation individually. - Record the outcome: ask for a written answer or a case number.

Typical mistake: waiting for an "automatic" course. A course is not an entitlement that arises from registering; it is a decision that depends on conditions. Tip: in parallel look for free groups at integration centres so you do not lose months.

Self-study: what works every day

Twenty minutes every day beat three hours once a week. Set a minimum routine and keep to it.

What works: - Phrases, not words. Learn ready-made sentences for your situations: at the doctor, at the pharmacy, at the Labour Office, in a shop, at work. Write down 30 such phrases and review them. - Listening. Watch Czech news with subtitles, listen to the radio on walks, put on Czech cartoons with your children — they are excellent for beginners. - Real environment. Speak in shops, cafés and with neighbours — even a few words. Czechs appreciate the effort. - Free resources. The site cestina-pro-cizince.cz has information on exams, textbooks and materials (the interface is available in Ukrainian); the official preparation handbook for the permanent residence exam is sent free of charge. - Write down what surrounds you: signs, metro announcements, letters from the post office — that is living vocabulary.

Typical mistake: waiting until you have "learned the grammar" and staying silent. Tip: find a language partner (tandem) — a Czech who is learning Ukrainian or English. A 30-minute swap for each language works better than a paid tutor for a beginner.

Czech at work: CV, interview, contract

Even with A1–A2 you can find work if you prepare. Write a CV in Czech (životopis) — one page, a photo optional, your latest jobs and skills. Ask a Czech acquaintance or a volunteer at an integration centre to proofread it: mistakes in your first letter to an employer are a common reason for rejection.

For the interview (pohovor) learn 10 standard phrases: who you are, what you can do, why you want this job, when you can start, what pay you expect. Rehearse the employer's likely questions: "Jak dobře mluvíte česky?", "Máte zkušenosti?", "Kdy můžete nastoupit?". Do not be afraid to say "Promiňte, nerozumím. Můžete to zopakovat pomaleji?" — that is perfectly normal.

The contract needs attention: you must understand the type of contract, the pay, the hours, the duration and the place of work. Do not sign a document you do not understand. Ask for a translation or go to an integration centre or free legal advice. The employer must give you a written contract. Contract types are covered separately in the "Work: where to start" guide.

Tip: in jobs with safety risks (construction, warehouse, production) understanding safety instructions matters — learn those words first.

The Czech exam for permanent residence (A2)

To obtain permanent residence (trvalý pobyt) you must prove Czech at level A2. The official site cestina-pro-cizince.cz (the interface is also available in Ukrainian) has information on this exam: who must take it, when and where it is held, how to register. According to the site there are up to 31 test dates a year and 29 exam schools; exact dates and fees are on the exam pages, which also host the electronic registration.

The exam has written and oral parts; the site offers a practice test. It promises to send a preparation handbook and brochure free of charge — use that.

Why it matters: permanent residence is a long-term goal. Special long-term residence (ZDP), introduced for temporary protection holders, is a separate programme; how it relates to permanent residence, check on ipc.gov.cz (I have not verified this for every case).

Tip: prepare for A2 well ahead, not a week before the application. Typical mistake: registering for the exam at the last minute — there may be no free dates and you miss the filing deadline.

Citizenship needs a broader exam: Czech at B1 and knowledge of Czech society and culture. It is run by ÚJOP of Charles University; registration is online, with payment within the period stated on the site.