Which German level do you need for a visa, permanent residence or citizenship?

German residence law asks for three main language levels. A spouse joining a partner in Germany usually needs A1 before arriving. A permanent settlement permit and German citizenship both need B1. Holders of an EU Blue Card can get permanent residence sooner with A1 or B1, and the Opportunity Card for job seekers needs either A1 German or B2 English. This post summarises what the law says, with links to the legal texts at the end.

How German law describes language levels

The Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz) does not usually mention CEFR levels in the individual rules. It uses fixed terms, which section 2 of the act links to the levels:

So when an official letter mentions ausreichende Kenntnisse der deutschen Sprache, it means B1.

Joining a spouse in Germany: A1

A husband or wife from outside the EU who wants to join their partner in Germany must normally be able to communicate in German "at least in a simple way", which means A1. The rule applies whether the partner in Germany is a foreign national or a German citizen. The certificate is usually shown when applying for the visa at the embassy. Commonly accepted exams include the Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1, telc Deutsch A1 and ÖSD A1, but the embassy's own information sheet is the final word on which certificates it accepts.

The law lists several exceptions. The most common ones are:

• The partner already in Germany holds an EU Blue Card, an ICT card or certain other permits for skilled work and research.
• The partner in Germany is a citizen of a country whose nationals may stay in Germany for longer periods without a visa. These are Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• The spouse cannot learn German because of an illness or disability.
• In the individual case, it is impossible or unreasonable for the spouse to learn German before arriving, for example because no course is available.

Spouses of EU citizens who live in Germany under EU free movement rules do not need German at all for their residence right. If you are preparing for this exam, the post on the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 explains each part.

Permanent residence: B1

The general settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) requires, among other things, five years with a residence permit, sufficient German (B1) and basic knowledge of the legal and social order in Germany. That last point is usually shown with the Leben in Deutschland test, which is part of the integration course.

Skilled workers have their own route. After three years with a permit for qualified work, or two years for people who completed their training or degree in Germany, they can apply for a settlement permit if they have B1 German and meet the other conditions.

EU Blue Card holders: A1 or B1

Blue Card holders can get permanent residence faster, and the language level decides how fast. After 27 months of qualifying employment with pension contributions, basic German (A1) is enough. With B1, the period drops to 21 months. German is not required to get the Blue Card itself.

German citizenship: B1

Naturalisation requires five years of legal, habitual residence in Germany and sufficient German, which the Nationality Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz) defines as the requirements of a B1 exam. Applicants also pass a naturalisation test on life in Germany and meet other conditions, such as being able to support themselves.

For a short period there was a faster route: from June 2024, people with C1 German and exceptional integration could apply after three years. That option was abolished in autumn 2025. The Bundestag voted on 8 October 2025 and the Bundesrat approved the change on 17 October 2025, so five years is again the minimum for everyone on the standard route. Spouses of German citizens have a separate rule with its own conditions.

Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): A1 German or B2 English

The Opportunity Card lets skilled people come to Germany for up to a year to look for work. Applicants who do not already have a fully recognised qualification need at least six points in a points system, and they must show either German at A1 or English at B2. Better German brings extra points:

So even a few months of German can make a difference here: moving from A1 to B1 adds two points, a third of the total needed.

Work, study and other visas

Many work visas have no fixed German requirement in the law. The employer, the job and, for regulated professions such as medicine or nursing, the recognition authority decide what is needed. Requirements for these professions are set by the authorities of the federal state where you want to work.

For university study the level depends on the language of the programme. German-taught degrees usually ask for an advanced level, proven with exams such as TestDaF or DSH. The university states its requirement in the admission information.

Questions people ask

Is A1 enough to live in Germany?

A1 is enough for a spouse visa and for very simple everyday situations. For permanent residence and citizenship you need B1, and most people find that daily life, work and dealing with offices become much easier from B1 onwards.

Which exam counts as proof of B1?

In Germany, B1 is often proven with the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) at the end of the integration course. Certificates from the Goethe-Institut, telc and ÖSD are also widely accepted. Ask your immigration office if you are unsure about a particular certificate.

Do I need to pass all four skills?

For a spouse visa, the A1 exam normally has to be passed as a whole, including speaking. For B1 requirements, the immigration office looks at the certificate you present, so check its rules for partial results before you sit a modular exam.

To plan your study time, see how long it takes to learn German. If you are starting from zero, the A1 roadmap lists the topics in order.

Written by: Fatih Ün, German teacher · Last updated: 9 November 2026