French language levels for residence and citizenship in France: A2, B1 and B2 in 2026
From 1 January 2026 France asks for A2, B1 or B2 French depending on the card or citizenship. See which tests count, how long results last and how to prepare.
German A1 for the spouse visa: what Start Deutsch 1 tests and how to pass it
If you are applying for a spouse or family-reunification visa to Germany, the embassy will often ask for one document before anything else: a certificate showing that you can handle basic German. This guide explains who has to provide it, which certificates count, how the Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 is built and marked, and how to prepare so that you pass first time.
Who has to prove A1 German, and who does not
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is direct about it: whether you want to rejoin your spouse, move together, or come to Germany to marry, you must show at least a basic command of German before you arrive, so that you can make yourself understood in simple German from the start.[1] The leaflet points to the Residence Act (§ 28 (1) sentence 5 and § 30 (1) sentence 1 no. 2) and to the exceptions in § 30 (1) sentences 2 and 3 and § 41 of the Residence Ordinance.[1]
The same leaflet lists situations in which you do not normally have to prove German. It stresses that the list is not exhaustive:[1]
- You or your spouse is a citizen of a member state of the European Union.
- Your spouse is a citizen of one of these countries: Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Andorra, Brazil, El Salvador, Honduras, Monaco or San Marino.
- You have a university degree and can probably find work in Germany thanks to your language skills.
- Your spouse holds an EU Blue Card or an ICT Card, or a residence permit as a skilled worker, manager, company specialist, scientist or teacher in the categories the leaflet names. For a researcher or a self-employed spouse, the exception applies only if you were already married before they moved to Germany.
- Your spouse is entitled to asylum or has refugee status or subsidiary protection, and you were already married in your home country before they moved to Germany.
- You do not wish to remain permanently in Germany.
- Learning the language abroad is impossible or unreasonable, or you tried and it proved unsuccessful.
- An illness or disability prevents you from proving basic German, or there are other special circumstances that amount to a case of hardship.
A 2026 embassy page for spouses of foreign nationals states that no language proof is needed when joining a skilled worker under § 30 (1) sentence 3 no. 5 of the Residence Act.[3] An embassy marriage-visa page from August 2024 draws the same line: the certificate can be dispensed with when you move to a skilled professional, but not when you move to a German citizen.[7]
Three cautions before you assume you are exempt
- The leaflet is from March 2023. Check that your embassy’s current page still lists the exception you are relying on.[1]
- The embassy alone decides. The leaflet states that the mission where you apply decides whether your proof is recognised and which exception applies.[1]
- An interview can sometimes replace the paper. If it becomes clear during your personal interview that you undoubtedly have the necessary basic German, no separate certificate may be needed. Do not plan around this, because it is the embassy’s call.[1]
Which certificates the embassy accepts
The certificate must come from a standardised test that follows the standards of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE). The BAMF leaflet names these:[1]
- Start Deutsch 1 from the Goethe-Institut or from telc GmbH,
- Grundstufe Deutsch 1 from the Austrian language diploma (ÖSD), and
- TestDaF from the TestDaF Institute.
A March 2026 checklist from the German embassy in Baku asks for Start Deutsch 1 from the Goethe-Institut or a telc institute, with TestDaF or the Austrian diploma as alternatives.[4] In other words, check which provider your own embassy accepts before you pay for any exam.
One trap is worth knowing about. The Goethe-Institut also offers Fit in Deutsch 1, but that exam is aimed at teenagers and cannot be taken by adults.[6] For adults the correct exam is Start Deutsch 1, which Goethe recommends from age 16.[2]
What A1 German actually means
According to BAMF, A1 means you can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very simple sentences, for example when asking the way or shopping. You can introduce yourself and others and answer questions about yourself, such as where you live or who you know, as long as the other person speaks clearly and is willing to help. You should also be able to write a little German, such as your name, address and nationality on an official form.[1]
That is a modest target, and it is useful to keep it in mind. You are not being tested on grammar tables. You are being tested on whether you can handle a handful of everyday situations in simple, correct sentences.
How Start Deutsch 1 is built
The exam has a written part, taken as a group, and an oral part, also taken as a group. These are the figures from Goethe’s administration rules effective 1 September 2025:[2]
| Part | Time | What you do | Raw points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hören (listening) | about 20 minutes | Three parts: short everyday conversations, phone messages and public announcements, each with a task | 15 |
| Lesen (reading) | 25 minutes | Three parts of short texts with tasks | 15 |
| Schreiben (writing) | 20 minutes | Part 1 is a form-style task (5 points). Part 2 is a short personal text about an everyday situation (10 points) | 15 |
| Sprechen (speaking) | about 15 minutes | Group of up to four candidates, no preparation time, three parts of about five minutes each | 15 |
The listening description comes from Goethe’s exam page, which also describes the writing part as filling in simple forms and writing a short personal text.[2] A few practical details from the rules are easy to miss:
- The written exam lasts 65 minutes in total with no break between parts.[2]
- For listening, you get about five minutes inside the exam time to copy your answers to the answer sheet. For reading and writing, the rules tell you to plan about five minutes for the same job.[2]
- Writing Part 2 is written directly on the answer sheet, and only what is on the answer sheet is marked.[2]
- The written exam normally comes first. If the written and oral parts are not on the same day, there can be at most 14 days between them.[2]
- The speaking examiners are not told your written results, so you start the oral part fresh.[2]
How it is scored and what you need to pass
Listening, reading and writing are each worth 15 raw points, and speaking is also worth 15. In listening and reading every answer is worth one point or zero. Writing Part 2 and the speaking test are marked by two independent examiners, and the two scores are averaged and rounded.[2]
The raw points are then converted to a total out of 100. Each part’s points are multiplied by 1.66, the results are added, and the total is rounded to a whole number. That gives a maximum of 100 points: 75 for the written parts and 25 for speaking.[2]
| Total points | Result (Goethe’s wording) |
|---|---|
| 90 to 100 | Very good |
| 80 to 89 | Good |
| 70 to 79 | Satisfactory |
| 60 to 69 | Sufficient (a pass) |
| 0 to 59 | Not passed |
You pass with at least 60 points and all parts taken.[2] Three consequences follow, and the first two are our own arithmetic from Goethe’s figures:
- About 36 of the 60 raw points is the line. 36 raw points converts to 59.76, which rounds to 60. 35 raw points converts to 58.1, which rounds to 58 and fails. Treat 36 out of 60, or 60 percent, as your minimum and aim well above it.
- A strong part can offset a weak one. The rules we read set a single overall threshold and no minimum per part, so one weaker section does not fail you on its own.[2]
- The written exam does most of the work. If you score fewer than 35 of the 75 written points, even a perfect speaking score cannot reach 60, and Goethe’s own rules note that sitting the oral part would then serve no purpose.[2]
Finally, the exam can only be repeated as a whole. If you fail, you retake all four parts.[2]
How many people pass?
The Federal Foreign Office gave a Bundestag member the 2022 figures for Start Deutsch 1 exams held for spouse reunification: 40,165 exams, of which 26,558 were passed and 13,607 were not.[5] That is a pass rate of about 66 percent and a fail rate of about 34 percent (our arithmetic).
Read those numbers with care. They count exams, not people, so repeat attempts are included. They are an overall total, and the same letter includes a table of the twelve countries with the weakest ratio of failed to passed exams, so the picture in a particular country can look quite different.[5] The takeaway is not that the exam is hard. It is that roughly a third of attempts failed in that year, which makes a plan worthwhile, because a failed attempt costs you the exam fee and delays your visa application.
The speaking test, part by part
For many candidates the speaking test is the scary part, because there is no preparation time and you are in a small group with two examiners, one of whom leads the session.[2] It helps to know exactly what happens:[2]
- Part 1 (3 points). You introduce yourself using keywords on your candidate sheet. You are then asked to spell a word and to say a number back.
- Part 2 (6 points). You and the other candidates ask each other questions and answer them. In an individual exam, you do this with an examiner.
- Part 3 (6 points). You make requests or ask people to do things, and you react to the requests made to you.
The examiners explain each task and show an example before it begins.[2] Below are sample sentences for each part. They are our own illustrations of the kind of simple German you need, not exam content.
| Part | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1: introduce yourself | Ich heiße … Ich komme aus … Ich wohne in … Ich bin … Jahre alt. Ich spreche Englisch und ein bisschen Deutsch. | My name is … I come from … I live in … I am … years old. I speak English and a little German. |
| 1: spelling | Das schreibt man so: … | You spell it like this: … |
| 2: ask questions | Woher kommen Sie? Wo wohnen Sie? Haben Sie Kinder? Was ist Ihr Beruf? | Where are you from? Where do you live? Do you have children? What is your job? |
| 2: answer | Ich komme aus … Ich bin verheiratet. Ich arbeite als … | I come from … I am married. I work as a … |
| 3: make a request | Können Sie mir bitte helfen? Bitte geben Sie mir das Wasser. | Could you please help me? Please give me the water. |
| 3: react | Ja, gern. Tut mir leid, das geht nicht. | Yes, gladly. Sorry, that is not possible. |
| If you get stuck | Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen? Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen? | Could you repeat that, please? Could you speak more slowly, please? |
The last row matters more than it looks. Freezing is normal, and having a rescue phrase ready lets you keep going. Our article on why you freeze when you speak a new language explains why, and gives a short set of rescue phrases in French, German and English.
A six-week preparation plan
How long you need depends heavily on where you start. Goethe says that, on average, Start Deutsch 1 takes around 160 teaching units of 45 minutes, which is about 120 hours of classroom time, and that this can be shorter or longer depending on your prior knowledge.[6] You can prepare with another course provider, a private teacher or on your own, and you only have to travel to an exam centre on exam day.[6]
The plan below is our suggestion, not an official programme. It assumes you already know a few words and can put aside a little time most days.
- Week 1: sounds, numbers and spelling. Learn the German alphabet and practise spelling your own name and city out loud. Practise numbers, because Part 1 of the speaking test asks you to say a number.
- Week 2: personal information. Practise the introduction in the table above until it comes out without thinking. Fill in sample forms with your name, address and nationality, which is the kind of writing BAMF describes for A1.[1]
- Week 3: questions and answers. Build ten question-and-answer pairs on family, home, work and daily life. Say both sides out loud, because the exam is a conversation.
- Week 4: requests and reactions. Practise polite requests with können Sie bitte … and a handful of replies, for Part 3. Add a short personal message for writing Part 2.
- Week 5: listening. Work through the model test the Goethe-Institut publishes for Start Deutsch 1, which the BAMF leaflet points to, and listen to short everyday dialogues daily. The leaflet also names Deutsche Welle’s free beginner course, available in almost 30 languages.[1]
- Week 6: timed run-throughs. Do the written parts under exam timing, including the five minutes to copy answers. Then rehearse the speaking test with a partner and no preparation time.
Five mistakes that cost applicants time
- Assuming you are exempt without asking. The embassy decides, and the exceptions list in the leaflet dates from 2023.[1]
- Booking the wrong exam. Fit in Deutsch 1 is for teenagers, and not every provider is accepted everywhere. Confirm both with your embassy.[1][6]
- Forgetting the answer-sheet time. Marks come from the answer sheet, not the question paper, and you only have about five minutes to copy answers in each block.[2]
- Practising only on paper. Two of the four parts are spoken or heard. Writing Part 2 is also marked for what you write on the answer sheet, so rehearse it by hand if your exam is on paper.[2]
- Leaving the speaking test until the end. There is no preparation time on the day, so the only preparation is the speaking you have done beforehand.[2]
Where Fluency AI fits
Full disclosure: we sell short exam guides and are building a speaking coach, so weigh this section accordingly. Our 20-minute Goethe A1 guide covers Start Deutsch 1, the exam behind many spouse and family visas, and our notes say it is also valid for the telc version. It walks through the form and short message, the introduction and card tasks, and what happens on exam day. You can compare it with the others on the Exam Blueprints page and check current prices on the pricing page.
For daily speaking rehearsal in German, join the Fluency AI waitlist. Talking out loud to a private partner is a low-pressure way to practise the introduction and question-and-answer pairs from the plan above. It does not replace a real exam, an embassy’s decision or a teacher, and it does not guarantee a pass. If you plan to study or work in Germany afterwards, the same approach applies to higher levels. See the FAQ for how our guides work, or read our guide to the French language levels required in France if your route runs through another country.
Questions people ask
Can I take Start Deutsch 1 online?
Goethe’s rules describe digital and online versions of the exam, with technical conditions such as a desktop or laptop with a webcam, a quiet room with one door, and no in-ear headphones.[2] But the BAMF leaflet says the embassy where you apply alone decides whether to recognise your proof of German, so ask your embassy before you book an online format.[1]
How long is my certificate valid?
The Goethe rules and the BAMF leaflet we read set no expiry date for the certificate itself.[1][2] Individual embassies can set their own conditions, such as how recent a certificate must be, so check your embassy’s checklist before you book.
What happens if I fail?
The exam can only be repeated as a whole, so you cannot resit just the part you found hard.[2] Start Deutsch 1 is not a modular exam, which is why the pass mark is a single total across all four parts.
Do I need A1 if my spouse is a German citizen?
In general, yes, unless one of the exceptions applies to you.[1] One embassy’s marriage-visa page says the certificate can be dispensed with when you join a skilled professional but not when you join a German citizen.[7] The hardship exceptions in the BAMF leaflet, such as illness or disability, can still apply.[1]
Does a university degree exempt me from the A1 requirement?
The BAMF leaflet lists it as a possible exception when you have a university degree and can probably find work in Germany thanks to your language skills.[1] Whether that applies to you is the embassy’s judgement, so ask before you assume it.
Can I use telc instead of the Goethe exam?
The BAMF leaflet names Start Deutsch 1 from Goethe-Institut or from telc as accepted certificates, alongside the Austrian ÖSD and TestDaF.[1] A March 2026 embassy checklist asks for Goethe or telc, with TestDaF or the Austrian diploma as alternatives.[4] Your embassy decides, so confirm which providers it accepts in your country.
Sources
- Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Proof of knowledge of basic German for spousal reunification from abroad (leaflet, last revised March 2023), as published by the German mission in Türkiye. https://tuerkei.diplo.de/resource/blob/2622444/a01941fa73ad82fa743ed10889f928f9/a1-ausnahmen-en-data.pdf
- Goethe-Institut. Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1, Durchführungsbestimmungen (terms and conditions for exam administration), version of 1 September 2025. https://lansad.unistra.fr/websites/lge/LANSAD/CERTIFICATIONS/Cellule_de_certifications_en_langues/Durchfuehrungsbestimmungen_A1_Start_Deutsch_1.pdf Also: Goethe-Institut exam information
- German Federal Foreign Office, Embassy Riga. Reunification of spouse or partner with foreign national (not an EU citizen), page dated 8 May 2026. https://riga.diplo.de/lv-de/service/05-visa-und-einreise/2770762-2770762
- German Federal Foreign Office, Embassy Baku. Eheschließung und Ehegattennachzug: Merkblatt (checklist), as of March 2026. https://baku.diplo.de/resource/blob/2017856/431e566cba9d357e879eb3045a502fa4/m-d-ehegattennachzug-data.pdf
- German Federal Foreign Office (State Secretary Susanne Baumann). Reply to written question by Bundestag member Gökay Akbulut on Start Deutsch 1 exams for spouse reunification, 2022 figures. https://goekay-akbulut.de/wp-content/uploads/SF-4-090091-MdB-Akbulut.pdf
- Goethe-Institut. Informationen zum Sprachnachweis beim Ehegattennachzug: frequently asked questions. https://www.goethe.de/ins/cy/gr/spr/prf/ehe.html
- German Federal Foreign Office, Embassy Warsaw. Marriage visa: basic information, page dated 30 August 2024. https://polen.diplo.de/pl-de/03-service/03-02-visainfo-en/-/2572854