Which German Level Do You Need for German Citizenship?

The German citizenship language requirement is B1, and most applicants also have to pass the citizenship test. People often mix the two up. This guide explains which level the law requires, which certificates can count, where you take the tests and who is exempt. It is not legal advice: the citizenship authority (Einbürgerungsbehörde) where you live always has the final say. How B1 compares with the other levels is explained in The German levels A1 to C2 explained.

Which German level does the law require?#

The answer is B1. Under § 10 of the Nationality Act (Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz, StAG), you must have “sufficient knowledge of the German language”. That is the case if you meet the requirements of a B1 language exam on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (Source: § 10 (1) no. 6 and (4) StAG↗ (opens in a new tab)). The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) lists B1 alongside five years of residence, the ability to support yourself and other conditions (Source: BAMF↗ (opens in a new tab)).

What you should be able to do at this level, and which exams test it, is described on German level B1.

What does B1 look like in everyday life?#

B1 does not mean speaking without mistakes. At B1 you understand the main points when someone speaks clearly about familiar topics, and you can handle most everyday situations on your own. You can talk about experiences and plans and briefly explain why you see something a certain way.

The table below shows typical situations. Our editors wrote these examples themselves; they are not taken from any exam.

For citizenship, this level counts across all four skills, because a B1 exam covers listening, reading, writing and speaking. If you are confident in conversation but rarely write in German, practise writing before you register. A full description of the B1 can-do statements is on our B1 level page.

How do you prove B1?#

Most people use the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ), the final exam of the integration course. According to the BAMF, you have proof of sufficient German if you reached B1 in the DTZ (Source: BAMF↗ (opens in a new tab)). The DTZ tests A2 and B1 in one exam, and the certificate states the level you reached (Source: BAMF↗ (opens in a new tab)). Only a B1 result counts for citizenship; a DTZ at A2 is not enough.

Other standardised language certificates are possible too. The BAMF sets conditions: the exam was taken at an independent testing institute, it confirms at least B1 and it meets international quality standards (Source: BAMF↗ (opens in a new tab)). That points to exams such as the Goethe-Zertifikat B1, telc Deutsch B1 or the ÖSD Zertifikat B1. Ask your authority which exam it accepts in your case before you register. How the main exams differ is covered in Goethe, telc, ÖSD, TestDaF or DSH: which exam is right for you?

Berlin also has its own Berlin language test for citizenship (Berliner Sprachtest zur Einbürgerung) at B1, offered by the adult education centres. You hand in the certificate yourself at the State Office for Immigration (Landesamt für Einwanderung); the adult education centres do not handle citizenship applications (Source: Berlin Volkshochschulen↗ (opens in a new tab)).

An online placement test, including ours, is not proof of German for citizenship. It only tells you where you stand.

Citizenship test or language test: what is the difference?#

These are two separate requirements. The language test proves your German (§ 10 (1) no. 6 StAG). The citizenship test proves knowledge of the legal and social order and of living conditions in Germany (§ 10 (1) no. 7 and (5) StAG). Passing one does not tick off the other.

The citizenship test details come from the BAMF, which also states that a German school-leaving certificate exempts you from the citizenship test (Source: BAMF↗ (opens in a new tab)). Whether a German school, vocational or university qualification also replaces the language certificate in your case is a question for the citizenship authority.

If you completed the integration course, the “Zertifikat Integrationskurs” can cover both: the DTZ at B1 for language and the “Leben in Deutschland” test with at least 17 out of 33 points for civic knowledge (Source: BAMF↗ (opens in a new tab)). How a placement test differs from a real language exam is explained in Placement test or language exam?

Where do you take the citizenship test, for example in Berlin or Leipzig?#

You register at a test centre approved by the BAMF. Your citizenship authority can suggest centres nearby, and the BAMF page links to lists of test centres for each federal state. To prepare, the BAMF runs an online test centre with the full question catalogue: 300 general questions and 10 questions specific to each state (Source: BAMF↗ (opens in a new tab)).

In Berlin, every adult education centre accepts registrations for the citizenship test, whichever district you live in. You book a registration appointment, fill in the participant form there and pay 25 euros. You get your test date at registration but do not sit the test that day. On the test day, bring a valid ID and your booking confirmation (Source: Berlin service portal↗ (opens in a new tab)).

In Leipzig, the Volkshochschule is a test centre for the citizenship test. You register in person with a valid identity document and pay the fee when you register (Source: vhs Leipzig↗ (opens in a new tab)). Dates and registration deadlines change, so check the test centre's current page before you go.

Which exceptions apply?#

The law sets out several cases where less than B1 is enough or no proof is needed at all. The table summarises them; the wording of § 10 StAG is authoritative (Source: § 10 StAG↗ (opens in a new tab)).

If you rely on illness, disability or age, you will usually need documents that show it, such as a medical certificate. Your authority will tell you exactly what it needs.

Is fast-track citizenship after three years still possible?#

No. The 2024 reform allowed citizenship after three years if you had, among other things, German at C1 and special integration achievements. The Bundestag abolished this fast track on 8 October 2025, and a residence period of at least five years now applies across the board (Source: German Bundestag↗ (opens in a new tab)). In the current text of the law, § 10 (3) StAG is marked as repealed (Source: § 10 StAG↗ (opens in a new tab)).

German at C1 still helps you in daily life and at work, but it no longer shortens the waiting period. If you applied under the three-year rule before the change, ask your authority how it is handling your application.

How can you tell whether your German is ready for B1?#

Before you pay for an exam, an honest self-check helps. Work through the tasks below. Our editors wrote them, and they do not appear in any test.

1. In ten minutes, write an email to your landlady: the heating has been cold for three days, you ask for an appointment with the repair person and suggest two times when you are at home.
2. Talk for two minutes without notes about how your last move went and what you would do differently next time.
3. Listen to a short news bulletin at normal speed, then write down in three sentences what it was about.
4. Read a letter from your health insurance fund and mark what you have to do and by when.

If you manage all four without a dictionary and with only small mistakes, you are close to B1. If you get stuck on task 1 or 2, plan more practice time.

A German placement test gives you a more precise picture. It shows whether you are around A2, B1 or above, but it does not replace an exam for citizenship. What our certificate is and is not is explained on German test with certificate.

How do you go about it step by step?#

1. Find out where your German stands today, for example with the tasks above or a placement test.
2. Ask your citizenship authority which language certificates it accepts and whether you need to take the citizenship test.
3. If you are still below B1, a course up to B1 is the next step. How long that roughly takes is covered in How long does it take to learn German?
4. Register for the DTZ or another B1 certificate and, if needed, at a test centre for the citizenship test.
5. Submit both certificates with your application.