Which German exam do I need for the EU Blue Card?

No German language certificate is required to obtain the EU Blue Card. However, having A1 German lets you apply for permanent residence after 27 months, and B1 after just 21 months.

What German level is required for citizenship in Germany?

B1 German is required for German citizenship (Einbürgerung), along with 5 years of legal residence and passing the naturalization test. With special integration aptitude and very good German, the residence requirement can be reduced to 3 years.

What is the difference between Telc and Goethe exams?

Telc focuses on practical, real-life communication and offers flexible exam dates at lower cost. Goethe-Institut emphasizes academic and structured assessment with stronger global prestige. Both are accepted across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Do I need German to work as a software engineer in Germany?

No German is required for the EU Blue Card or most tech jobs. About 5-10% of IT positions are advertised in English, especially in Berlin and Munich. However, German helps with daily life and integration.

What German level do nurses need to work in Germany?

Nurses need a general B2 certificate plus the Fachsprachprüfung Pflege (specialist nursing language exam) at B2 level. Specialized alternatives include telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege and Goethe-Test PRO Pflege.

Last updated: February 2026 — Always verify with official sources

Which German Exam Is Best For You?

Find the right German language certificate for your visa, job, university, or citizenship goal in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.

Covering all major exam providers: Telc, Goethe-Institut, TestDaF, DSH, ÖSD, and fide

Quick Reference by Purpose

Select your goal to see the German level you need

Family Reunion (Spouse Visa)

Required before arrival for spouse reunion (Familiennachzug).

Major exemptions: Spouses of Blue Card / skilled worker visa holders are exempt. Citizens of USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Israel are also exempt.

BAMF — Spouse Reunification

EU Blue Card

No German for visa

No German needed to obtain the Blue Card itself.

A1 German → permanent residence after 27 months. B1 German → PR after just 21 months. Min. salary 2025: €50,700 (€45,934 for shortage occupations).

Make it in Germany — Blue Card

Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)

A1 German or B2 English

Points-based job-search visa (6 pts minimum). Launched June 2024.

Bonus points for German: A2 = 1 pt, B1 = 2 pts, B2+ = 3 pts. Allows 1-year job search + 20 hrs/week part-time work.

Make it in Germany — Opportunity Card

Ausbildung (Vocational Training)

B1 minimum

B2 preferred for healthcare and technical fields.

Certificate must be officially recognized (Goethe, Telc, or ÖSD). Typically takes 6–9 months to reach B1.

Make it in Germany — Ausbildung

University Study

C1 effectively

5 certificates accepted by KMK resolution for German-taught programs.

Important: Only these 5 are universally accepted: TestDaF (TDN 4), DSH-2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, Goethe-Zertifikat C2, DSD II. Goethe B2/C1 alone is NOT universally accepted.

My German University — Requirements

Permanent Residence

B1 (DE) · A2-B1 (CH) · B1 (AT)

Requirements vary by country and visa type.

Germany: B1 + 5 years + 60 months pension. Blue Card holders: faster (21–27 months). Switzerland: A2 oral for standard C permit (10 yrs), B1 oral for fast-track (5 yrs).

Migrando — Settlement Permit

Citizenship / Naturalization

B1 (DE) · B1–B2 (AT) · B1+A2 (CH)

The most common long-term immigration goal.

Germany: B1 + 5 years (3 with special integration). Austria: currently B1 — planned tightening to B2 under 2025–2029 coalition. Switzerland: B1 oral + A2 written (federal minimum; cantons like Thurgau, St. Gallen may require B2 oral).

BAMF — Naturalization

Country-Specific Requirements

Detailed breakdown for each German-speaking country

🇩🇪 Germany

🇦🇹 Austria

🇨🇭 Switzerland

EU Blue Card

No German required

No German language requirement to obtain the EU Blue Card. However, German proficiency significantly accelerates the path to permanent residence:

A1 German: Permanent residence after 27 months
B1 German: Permanent residence after just 21 months

Minimum salary (2025): €50,700 (standard) or €45,934 (shortage occupations including IT, engineering, healthcare).

make-it-in-germany.com

Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)

A1 DE / B2 EN

Points-based job search visa launched June 2024. Minimum 6 points required.

Language points:

A2 German: 1 point
B1 German: 2 points
B2+ German: 3 points
C1+ English: 1 point

Allows 1-year job search with part-time work (20 hrs/week). Extendable to 2 additional years.

handbookgermany.de

Skilled Worker Visa

A2+

For professionals with recognized qualifications. The Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz (Skilled Immigration Act) was expanded in 2023–2024.

A2 minimum to start a recognition partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft)
Full professional recognition (Anerkennung) may require B1–B2 depending on the profession

anerkennung-in-deutschland.de

Spouse / Family Visa

A1 (with exemptions)

A1 certificate required before arrival for spouse reunion.

Exempt from A1 requirement:

Spouses of EU Blue Card holders
Spouses of skilled worker visa (§18a/18b AufenthG) holders
Spouses of ICT Card holders, scientists, self-employed persons
Citizens of USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Israel, and several other countries
Applicants with a university degree and employment prospects
Medical/disability-related inability to learn

BAMF — Spouse Reunification

Ausbildung (Vocational Training)

B1 minimum

B1 is the standard minimum. B2 is preferred or required for healthcare and technical fields.

Certificate must be officially recognized (Goethe, Telc, ÖSD, or TestDaF).

make-it-in-germany.com

University Admission

C1 (5 certificates)

German universities accept exactly 5 language certificates per KMK (Kultusministerkonferenz) resolution:

TestDaF — TDN 4 in all sections
DSH-2 — Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang
telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule
Goethe-Zertifikat C2 (GDS)
DSD II — Deutsches Sprachdiplom Stufe II

Note: Goethe B2 or Goethe C1 alone is NOT universally accepted for university admission.

mygermanuniversity.com

Integration Course (Integrationskurs)

Target: B1

Mandatory for residents with German below B1 level. Structure:

Language course: 600 teaching units (A1 → B1)
Orientation course: 100 teaching units (legal system, culture, values)
Final exam: Deutschtest für Zuwanderer (DTZ) at B1 level + "Leben in Deutschland" test

Cost: ~€2.29 per lesson (exemptions available).

BAMF — Integration Course

Permanent Residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis)

General requirements:

B1 German language certificate
5 years of legal residence
60 months of pension insurance contributions
Secured livelihood

Blue Card fast-track: A1 → PR in 27 months, B1 → PR in 21 months.

Alternative: Successful completion of an integration course (B1 DTZ result).

migrando.de

Citizenship (Einbürgerung)

Requirements for naturalization:

B1 German language certificate
5 years of legal residence (3 years with special integration aptitude + very good German)
Passing the naturalization test (Einbürgerungstest)
Financial self-sufficiency
Clean criminal record

Cost: €255 per person.

BAMF — Naturalization

Profession-Specific Requirements

Language levels required for professional recognition (Anerkennung) in Germany

Nurses (Pflegefachkraft)

B2 + Fachsprachprüfung Pflege (B2)

General B2 certificate plus the specialist nursing language exam (60–90 min: patient simulation, colleague conversation, written documentation). Cost: ~€375.

Specialized exam alternatives: telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege, Goethe-Test PRO Pflege.

anerkennung-in-deutschland.de

Doctors (Ärzte)

B2 + Fachsprachprüfung (C1)

General B2 certificate first, then pass the medical specialist language exam at C1 level for Approbation (full medical license).

anerkennung-in-deutschland.de

IT / Software Engineers

No German required (for visa)

No German needed for the EU Blue Card or most tech jobs. ~5–10% of positions are advertised in English. Berlin tech workers without German earn ~€83,000 avg.

German helps with daily life and integration, but is not a career requirement in tech.

findajobingermany.de

Engineers (regulated)

B1–B2 (for Anerkennung)

Regulated profession. A2 minimum to start the recognition partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft), B1–B2 for full recognition depending on the Bundesland.

anerkennung-in-deutschland.de

Management / Business

B2–C1 (employer-dependent)

No legal requirement, but most German companies expect B2+ for management roles. International companies in Berlin/Munich may accept English only.

Teaching (regulated)

C1–C2

Regulated profession requiring full Anerkennung. State-dependent but typically C1 minimum, often C2 for public schools.

anerkennung-in-deutschland.de

Telc vs Goethe vs TestDaF vs ÖSD — Which Exam Provider?

Choose the right exam format based on your goal and country

Feature	Telc	Goethe-Institut	TestDaF	DSH	ÖSD	fide
Levels	A1–C2	A1–C2	B2–C1 (scored TDN 3–5)	DSH 1, 2, 3	A1–C2	A1–B1
Focus	Practical, real-life	Academic, structured	University academic	University academic	Austrian contexts	Swiss everyday
Best for	Jobs, Ausbildung, immigration, nursing	Global recognition, university (C2), prestige	University admission	University (Germany only)	Austria immigration & university	Swiss permits & naturalization
Availability	Flexible dates, many centers	~5 sessions/year per center	Fixed dates worldwide	German universities only	Austria + international	Switzerland only
Cost	Generally cheapest	Mid–high range	~€195	Varies by university	Mid range	CHF 250
Special variants	telc C1 Hochschule, telc B1·B2 Pflege	Goethe-Test PRO Pflege, Goethe C2 (university)	Digital TestDaF	—	ÖSD B1 (modular)	Oral + written separable
Accepted in	DE, AT, CH, worldwide	DE, AT, CH, worldwide	DE, AT (some), worldwide	Germany only	AT, DE, CH	Switzerland only

Quick guidance

For jobs/immigration in Germany: Telc or Goethe — both widely accepted
For Austria specifically: ÖSD or Telc — ÖSD is the Austrian standard
For Switzerland: fide test or Goethe — both recognized by SEM
For university anywhere: TestDaF or telc C1 Hochschule — purpose-built for university admission
For nursing in Germany: telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege or Goethe-Test PRO Pflege (in addition to the Fachsprachprüfung)

Sources: deutsch-pruefung.de, testgerman.de, osd.at, fide-service.ch

Disclaimer

This guide reflects immigration and exam rules as of February 2026. Requirements change — especially Austria's citizenship law is being tightened. Always verify with official sources before making decisions.

Germany:make-it-in-germany.com · bamf.de · anerkennung-in-deutschland.de

Austria:migration.gv.at · osd.at

Switzerland:sem.admin.ch · fide-service.ch

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DeutschExam is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with telc gGmbH, Goethe-Institut e.V., TestDaF, BAMF, ÖSD, or fide. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. Immigration requirements may change — always verify with official sources.