The German language exam for citizenship (B1)
Naturalisation requires German at B1, evidenced by a certificate. Four different certificates satisfy it; which one you sit depends mainly on whether you attended an integration course.
Last updated: 2026-09-14
For German naturalisation the language requirement under § 10 of the Nationality Act (StAG) is sufficient German at level B1. B1 means being able to express yourself on familiar topics at work and in everyday life, grasp the main point of a text and describe your experiences.
What usually confuses applicants is not the certificate itself but the number of options: telc B1, Goethe B1, ÖSD B1 and the DTZ, the final exam of the integration course. All four are accepted, but they are not the same thing. This guide explains which one fits your situation and what is required besides the language certificate.
Which certificates are accepted?
This page is information, not legal advice. Naturalisation requirements change and practice differs between federal states; for binding information ask the naturalisation office (Einbürgerungsbehörde) handling your application.
- telc Deutsch B1 (Zertifikat Deutsch) — the most widely available option in Germany, with frequent dates at adult education centres.
- Goethe-Zertifikat B1 — modular; you can take the four skills separately and complete them with separate certificates.
- ÖSD Zertifikat B1 — the Austrian language diploma, accepted in the same way.
- Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) with a B1 result — the final exam of the integration course.
- Higher certificates (B2, C1, C2) already satisfy the B1 requirement.
- Finishing school in Germany or graduating from a German-taught higher education programme may also satisfy the requirement; ask your office.
DTZ or telc B1?
The biggest difference is this: the DTZ is a 'scaled' exam, while telc B1 is pass or fail. In the DTZ you sit one exam and the result is certified as A2 or B1; with telc B1 you get a certificate if you clear the B1 threshold, and nothing if you do not.
The DTZ tests four skills: the written part takes about a hundred minutes (listening, reading and writing) and the oral part about sixteen minutes. Listening and reading have forty-five items in total, and getting roughly two thirds right reaches the B1 threshold. For an overall B1 result you need B1 in speaking and B1 in at least one written area (listening and reading, or writing).
telc B1 has five sections and the written and oral parts must each clear their own threshold. Language elements (Sprachbausteine) is a separate section; the DTZ has no such section.
| DTZ | telc B1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | People on an integration course | Anyone |
| Result | A2 or B1 (scaled) | Pass or fail |
| Sections | Listening, reading, writing, speaking | Reading, language elements, listening, writing, speaking |
| Language elements section | No | Yes |
| Fee | Usually free for course participants | €155–205 depending on the centre |
| Retake | The whole exam again; no partial credit | The failed part alone within 12 months |
| Support after failing | 300 extra hours and a free retake for regular course participants | None |
Which should you choose?
- If you are on an integration course, the DTZ comes at the end of it and is usually free. Try that first; if you get B1 you need no second exam.
- If you scored A2 in the DTZ, you have a right to three hundred extra hours and one free retake. Use that before paying for a telc B1.
- If you did not attend a course or your entitlement has run out, telc B1 is the practical route: dates are easy to find and the format is predictable.
- If your grammar is strong but speaking is weak, telc's separate language elements section works in your favour; if speaking is your strength, the DTZ's scaled structure is more forgiving.
- If you will also use the certificate for something else, such as a job application or professional recognition, telc or Goethe is more widely recognised.
What is required besides the language certificate?
A language certificate alone is not enough. You also sit the naturalisation test, also known as 'Leben in Deutschland': thirty-three questions, sixty minutes, at least seventeen correct. Thirty questions come from the nationwide catalogue and three concern the federal state you live in.
People who complete an integration course and receive the 'Zertifikat Integrationskurs' have an advantage: that certificate can evidence both the B1 result from the DTZ and the 'Leben in Deutschland' test in one document.
Beyond that, requirements include the length of residence, securing your own living costs, commitment to the constitutional order and a clean criminal record. Since October 2025 the minimum residence period is again five years; the three-year fast track that was briefly available has been abolished.
How long is the certificate valid?
There is no statutory expiry date for language certificates. Some offices, however, apply a limit of five to ten years to make sure the skills are current. If you have an older B1 certificate, ask your office before applying; you may not need to sit the exam again.
How to prepare
- Measure first. Sit one full B1 mock exam with real timing; studying without knowing whether the written or the oral side is weak wastes time.
- Do not neglect speaking. In telc B1 the oral part is a separate group that the written part cannot compensate for; in the DTZ an overall B1 requires B1 in speaking.
- Work on language elements regularly. For telc candidates this is where points are gained fastest, because it rests on recognising patterns.
- Practise writing with templates. The B1 writing task asks for a specific text type; memorising opening, body and closing phrases comes before content.
- Spend the last two weeks on full mock exams. Time pressure is only learned under time.
Frequently asked questions
›Is telc B1 accepted for citizenship?
Yes. telc Deutsch B1, Goethe-Zertifikat B1, ÖSD Zertifikat B1 and a DTZ with a B1 result are all among the accepted certificates. Higher levels count as well.
›I scored A2 in the DTZ. Is that enough for citizenship?
No, citizenship requires B1. Candidates who score A2 and attended the integration course regularly are entitled to three hundred extra hours and one free retake.
›Can I retake only the failed part of the DTZ?
No. The DTZ has to be retaken in full and earlier sections cannot be credited. Partial retakes are specific to telc B1 and valid within twelve months.
›Is there an exam besides the language certificate?
Yes, the 'Leben in Deutschland' naturalisation test: thirty-three questions, sixty minutes, at least seventeen correct. The integration course certificate can cover this test too.
›My B1 certificate is five years old. Is it still valid?
Legally language certificates do not expire, but some offices apply a five to ten year limit. Ask your own office before applying.
›How many years of residence are needed?
Since October 2025 the minimum residence period is five years; the three-year fast track that was briefly available has been abolished. Ask your office about your own case.
Find out whether you are ready for B1
Take the free B1 mock exam with real timing and see whether you clear the written and oral thresholds separately.
Sources
- BAMF — naturalisation
- BVA — information on the naturalisation test
- g.a.s.t. — the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer at a glance
- BAMF — DTZ handbook and test description (PDF)
- Goethe-Institut — frequently asked questions about German exams
- telc examination regulations (valid from 15 April 2025) — retake and partial-result rules