To obtain a visa or an EU Blue Card, extend a residence permit, or get permanent residence or German citizenship, you need official language certificates. The authorities recognise only certain certified testing bodies.

Goethe-Zertifikat: recognised worldwide

The Goethe-Institut exams (A1 to C2) are recognised by German missions, immigration offices and employers worldwide. They are of high quality but usually more expensive, and registration sometimes closes months before the exam date.

telc certificates

The telc exams (especially telc Deutsch B1, B2 and telc C1 Hochschule) are recognised by German authorities. They are widely offered at adult education centres (Volkshochschule, VHS) and private language schools, with more frequent dates and lower prices.

Academic exams for university: TestDaF and DSH

To study in German, you need an academic-level certificate: the digital or paper-based TestDaF (level 4 in all sections) or the DSH exam (DSH-2 or DSH-3), which you take directly at the university.

Integration tests: DTZ and LiD

For participants in integration courses there is the German Test for Immigrants (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer, DTZ). It assesses levels A2 to B1 and is accepted for permanent residence and naturalisation. The “Leben in Deutschland” (LiD) test is a separate exam on Germany's legal and social order; it is needed for permanent residence and as part of the requirements for naturalisation.

What to check

  • Check which testing bodies are accepted in your mission's or authority's information sheet.
  • Take the telc exam at a local VHS to save money and get a date sooner.
  • Do a practice test (Modelltest) to work on timing for the written and oral parts.
  • Check whether the authority accepts a digital certificate, or keep the original paper certificate.

Example situation

A citizenship applicant takes the “telc Deutsch B1” exam at a VHS for €140, receives the certificate four weeks later and attaches it to his application.

Next step

For visas and permanent residence, Goethe and telc certificates are equivalent; choose whichever centre has the earliest available date.

Official information on this topic

Checklists and examples are organisational recommendations. Requirements depend on the procedure, the city and your situation; check them with the relevant office before you act. Please discuss legal and tax questions with an authorised professional.

This article was prepared with the help of AI. The example illustrates the approach and does not describe a client case.