German exam for Germany residency and citizenship
Germany asks for German at B1 for both naturalisation and the permanent settlement permit. Both rules were read in the federal law texts on 19 October 2026. Exam dates are another matter: Goethe-Institut pages blocked our checks, so the dates below come from search-engine snippets.
CitizenshipB1Verified
Next sessionMon 2 Nov 2026Secondary source
Start my countdown
- Verified read on an official page on 2026-10-19
- Secondary source blog, press or search snippet only
- Not confirmed we could not confirm it on an official page
Level you need, by purpose
| Purpose | Level | Exam | Legal reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship (naturalisation) | B1Verified | Goethe-Zertifikat B1, telc Deutsch B1, DTZ (B1) or Integrationskurs certificate | § 10 (4) StAG |
| Permanent residence (Niederlassungserlaubnis) | B1Verified | DTZ, Goethe B1, telc B1 or Integrationskurs certificate | § 9 (2) Nr. 7 AufenthG B1 defined in § 2 (11) AufenthG |
| EU long-term residence (Daueraufenthalt-EU, § 9a) | Not confirmed (likely B1 via § 2 (11))Not confirmed | As above | —§ 9a was not checked. |
Next exam sessions
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Mon 2 Nov 2026Mon 2 Nov 2026 Goethe-Zertifikat B1 · Munich (Goethe-Institut) Registration deadline not confirmed: check the official page. Secondary source secondary source
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Tue 10 Nov 2026Tue 10 Nov 2026 Goethe-Zertifikat B1 · Goettingen Registration deadline not confirmed: check the official page. Secondary source secondary source
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Mon 30 Nov 2026Mon 30 Nov 2026 Goethe-Zertifikat B1 · Frankfurt Registration deadline not confirmed: check the official page. Secondary source secondary source
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Fri 4 Dec 2026Fri 4 Dec 2026 Goethe-Zertifikat B1 · Frankfurt/Hamburg Registration deadline not confirmed: check the official page. Secondary source secondary source
All listed sessions have passed. Check the official calendar for new dates.
The DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) is reportedly offered about every 14 days at licensed centres (secondary). telc dates and 2027 Goethe dates were not found.
Fee, format and results
- FeeGoethe B1: €259, reduced €207.20Secondary source
- Feetelc B1 and DTZ: not confirmedNot confirmed
- FormatGoethe B1: reading, listening, writing, speaking (modules can be taken separately)Secondary source
- ResultsWaiting time not confirmedNot confirmed
- RegistrationDeadlines not confirmed: ask the exam centreNot confirmed
Official prep resources
- Goethe-Institut free practice materialsNot confirmed Official, but blocked our check on 2026-10-19
- BAMF: final exam of the integration course (DTZ)Verified Official, opened 2026-10-19
- BAMF: naturalisationNot confirmed Official, not opened
What is verified
Checked on 2026-10-19. Deadlines move and exam centres add or cancel sessions: always confirm on the official link before you pay or book.
Verified On an official page
- B1 for naturalisation: § 10 (4) StAG · official page · checked 2026-10-19
- B1 for the settlement permit: § 9 (2) Nr. 7 AufenthG · official page · checked 2026-10-19
- What “B1” means in law: § 2 (11) AufenthG · official page · checked 2026-10-19
Secondary source Secondary source only
- Goethe B1 dates in Nov–Dec 2026 and the €259 fee · from search-engine snippets of goethe.de (page not opened)
- DTZ offered about every 14 days · from a 2021 BAMF/telc document found by search
- The 3-year fast-track naturalisation was repealed on 30 Oct 2025 · from Landkreis Freising PDF and Migrando
- Authorities may test speaking even with a B1 certificate (VGH München, 20 Mar 2026) · from secondary report
Not confirmed Not confirmed
We could not confirm these on an official page as of 2026-10-19:
- telc and DTZ dates and prices
- Registration deadlines and results waiting time
- Goethe dates in 2027
- The rule for EU long-term residence (§ 9a)
Practise speaking before the exam
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