Which B1 certificate counts for German citizenship?
Any exam on the official BAMF list counts — for citizenship they're equal proof of B1. The real question isn't which one is accepted, it's which one fits you. Answer a few quick questions and we'll tell you.
Which certificate fits you?
5 quick questions, about 30 seconds — no signup, no email.
Question 1 of 5
Are you in (or eligible for) a state-funded integration course?
Comparing the 4 exams
For most people the realistic choice is between 4: DTZ, telc Deutsch B1, Goethe-Zertifikat B1, ÖSD Zertifikat B1. Here's how they compare. Prices move by city and test center — treat these as ranges, not quotes.
| Exam | Price | Who runs it | Retakes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTZ | Free for authorized integration-course participants (roughly €180 if you self-fund) | G.A.S.T. / BAMF | Re-sit the whole exam | You're in a state-funded integration course, so it doubles as your proof |
| telc Deutsch B1 | ~€155–€240 | telc gGmbH | Retake single modules | Fastest, cheapest path if you fail just one part |
| Goethe-Zertifikat B1 | ~€165–€270 (Goethe lists €259 external, ~€104 per module) | Goethe-Institut | Retake single modules | The most widely recognized name, useful abroad too |
| ÖSD Zertifikat B1 | Center-dependent | ÖSD (Austria) | Re-sit the whole exam | Common if you are studying in Austria or near the border |
- Cheapest, if you qualify: the DTZ, because it's free inside an integration course.
- Fastest recovery from a partial fail: telc or Goethe, because both let you retake only the module you missed instead of the whole exam.
- Most portable: the Goethe certificate — the name most recognized outside Germany, useful if you might need it elsewhere later.
What actually counts
The BAMF (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge, the federal migration office that sets the rules) publishes a list of recognized B1 proofs. If your certificate is on it, it works:
- Goethe-Zertifikat B1 (and the Jugendliche version)
- telc Deutsch B1: the whole family (Zertifikat Deutsch, telc B1+ Beruf, B1·B2 Beruf/Pflege, and more)
- DTZ: the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer, run by G.A.S.T., at the B1 level
- ÖSD Zertifikat B1 (Austrian) and the Jugendliche version
- DSD I / DSD I PRO (the school-based German Language Diploma)
- ÖIF integration certificates at B1
- ECL Deutsch B1
Internal certificates from a university language center or a private school do not count, even if they say "B1" on them — the proof has to come from one of the recognized exams above. A German university degree or TestDaF result is not on the BAMF B1 list either; confirm with your authority before relying on one instead of a B1 exam. A German school-leaving qualification (Hauptschulabschluss or higher) is generally accepted in administrative practice, and can also exempt you from the citizenship test.
The DTZ scoring rule most sites get wrong
This is the detail worth knowing, because a lot of pages state it incorrectly.
An overall B1 result on the DTZ does not require B1 in all four skills. According to both BAMF and the test provider (G.A.S.T.), you reach an overall B1 when you have B1 in Speaking, plus B1 in at least one of the two other groups: Listening and Reading count together as one group, and Writing is the other.
In plain terms: you can be uneven — strong in speaking and one of the other groups — and still walk away with an overall B1 result that counts for citizenship. If someone told you that you need a clean B1 across every skill on the DTZ, that isn't how the scoring works.
Where to go next
A B1 certificate proves you cleared a bar on one day — it doesn't prove you can hold the conversation at your citizenship interview. Aim past the certificate:
- See what the exam involves in the Goethe B1 overview, which walks through all four modules.
- Not sure your German is ready yet? Check the realistic timeline to reach B1.
- Still fuzzy on the citizenship rules themselves? Start with the full 2026 requirements.
- When you're ready for the citizenship test itself, the free Einbürgerungstest practice tool covers that side.