Czech language exam for non-EU foreigners to get more difficult from September

Foreigners from outside the EU seeking permanent residence in the Czech Republic will have to take a more difficult Czech language exam as of September, the Education MInistry wrote on its website on Friday. The exam will prove they have at least advanced command of the Czech language.

The change follows an amendment to a government measure approved earlier this week.

The current language exam tests basic knowledge of Czech at the A1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The last foreigners to take the A1 exam will be those submitting an application for permanent residence by the end of August.

The Education Ministry previously proposed an A2 level of Czech for permanent residence seekers in 2019, assuming it would take effect in January 2021.

It stated that better command of the language is necessary for independent communication and a foreigner's integration into society.

In addition to the language exam, applicants have to meet other requirements such as living permanently in the Czech Republic for five years.

The language exam does not pertain to EU citizens.

Among other nationalities, Ukrainians, Vietnamese, and Russians were among those who most often seek permanent residence in the Czech Republic.

Data from the Czech Interior Ministry suggests that the number of foreigners living in the Czech Republic has greatly increased over the last ten years.

The ministry tallied 656,301 foreigners legally residing in the Czech Republic as of March 31, 2021. Among those, 311,967 have permanent residence.