Do I need to know German?

Learning German is one of the most important steps you can take to prepare for life in Germany. It will help you settle in more quickly and make it easier for you to find new friends.
For some purposes, such as work or study, it may even be necessary for you to demonstrate a certain level of German. Proof of a particular level of German is also often required when applying for a visa:

Healthcare professions: If you plan to work in the health sector in Germany, e.g. as a nurse or doctor, knowledge of the German language is essential. Level B1 or B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required, depending on the federal state in which you wish to work.

Regulated professions: You will need to obtain recognition in order to practise a regulated profession in Germany, such as teaching or law. These and many other regulated professions also require a knowledge of German. Further information on the recognition procedure and language certificates can be found on the "Anerkennung in Deutschland " portal, and personal advice can be obtained from the Service Center for Professional Recognition (ZSBA) .

If you are applying for a German-language degree programme in Germany, you will need to prove that you have the language skills required by the higher education institution. As a rule, prospective trainees must also be able to speak German at the level required to start their training in Germany. You can find more information on this in the “Study” or “Training” section.

A certain level of German may be required to apply for a visa. You need to have a B2 level of German to obtain a visa for the purpose of seeking vocational training. German language skills at level B1 are required to obtain a visa for vocational training. A minimum A2 level is usually required to obtain a visa for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications.

Please make sure that you only accept language course services which, upon completion, will issue a language certificate meeting the standards of the so-called ALTE-certified examination providers. Language certificates of other services are not recognised in the visa procedure. The following providers are currently approved, regardless of the examination location: 

• Goethe-Institut e.V. 
• telc GmbH 
• Austrian Language Diploma (ÖSD) 
• TestDaF-Institut e.V. (Institute of Fernuniversität Hagen and Ruhr University Bochum; language examination level only level B2 and higher [CEFR]) 
• ECL exam centres (examination conducted by AFU GmbH) 
• German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (DSD) 
• For international (prospective) students in Germany: German language examination for university entrance (DSH) at a German university  

Read more about the requirements for each type of visa in the “Visa” section.

You generally have to prove your language skills for the opportunity card. You must either have German language skills at level A1 of the CEFR or English language skills at level B2 of the CEFR. Proof of language skills is not necessary if you already have a non-academic vocational or academic qualification recognised in Germany.

If you are looking for a job in Germany, good German language skills will improve your chances on the labour market. Regardless of legal requirements, many employers expect their applicants to have good language skills.

German for spouses: German language skills are important to help you integrate quickly into working life and society. Your partner is also likely to feel more at home in Germany if all members of your family can speak at least some German. Nevertheless, if you are applying for a visa for your spouse or children to join you in Germany, you do not need to provide evidence of their language skills if you have one of the following residence permits:

• EU Blue Card (Section 18g of the Residence Act [(AufenthG]))
• ICT Card and Mobile ICT Card (Sections 19, 19a AufenthG)
• Residence permit for skilled workers (Section 18a AufenthG or Section 18b AufenthG)
• Settlement permit for highly skilled workers (Section 18c para. 3(3) AufenthG)
• Residence permit for research purposes and mobile researchers (Sections 18d, 18f AufenthG)
• Residence permit for other employment purposes; civil servants (Section 19c AufenthG)
• Residence permit for the purpose of self-employment (Section 21 AufenthG)

If you need to prove your language skills for your visa application, you generally need an official language certificate from a recognised institution. The best-known providers include the Goethe-Institut  and telc . These certificates comply with the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), such as A1, B1 or C1 - depending on the requirements for your visa.

Another useful service is “Deine Deutschprüfung ” (Your German exam) from Deutsche Welle. It provides comprehensive information on different exams for learners of German who want to officially prove their language skills.