Standard spouse / family-reunion visa,A1
A1 ('Start Deutsch 1') from Goethe, telc, or ÖSD, before arrival.
- GoetheA1(Start Deutsch 1)
- telcA1(Start Deutsch 1)
- ÖSDA1
I'm joining my spouse or family in Germany
THE ANSWER
For a spouse or family-reunion visa you need basic German at A1 before you arrive (§30). Only three certificates count: Goethe Start Deutsch 1, telc Start Deutsch 1, and the ÖSD A1 certificate. TestDaF and ECL do not offer an A1 exam and cannot be used for this visa.
You may be exempt (no A1 needed),None
Exemptions include: spouse holds an EU Blue Card / ICT / skilled-worker / researcher permit; you or your spouse is an EU/EEA or visa-privileged-country citizen; you hold a university degree; illness/disability; or special hardship.
Several cases are exempt from the A1 requirement (see the checklist). The German mission where you apply makes the final call on which certificate it recognizes and how long it stays valid.
Your German mission has the final say
- Confirm which certificate your specific mission accepts and its validity window (1 year vs 18 months varies by post).
- Check the exemption list on the BAMF brochure if you hold a degree or your spouse has a skilled-worker permit.
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SourcesAs of 17 Jun 2026
- Proof of basic German for spousal reunification (Stand 03/2023) (opens in a new tab) · BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees)
- §30 AufenthG (spouse reunification) (opens in a new tab) · gesetze-im-internet.de (Federal Ministry of Justice)
The five CEFR language exams at a glance
These five are CEFR-aligned and accepted as a class. Which one counts is set by the institution you apply to. Study tests and exams for doctors and nurses are in the goal answers above.
| Exam | Levels | Mainly used for | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goethe-Institut | A1 to C2 | All routes; strong for university (C2) and visas | Most exam centers in India |
| telc | A1 to C2 | Ausbildung, nursing (B1·B2 Pflege), jobs | Slots tend to open more often |
| ÖSD | A1 to C2 | All routes; Austria's official exam | Accepted across routes |
| TestDaF | B2 to C1 (TDN 3-5) | University admission | No A1; not for a spouse visa |
| ECL | A2 to C1 | General immigration / jobs | No A1 or C2; rarely used for university |