A1 German Certificate Validity: Does It Expire, and What Do Visa Offices Accept?
The paper itself does not expire: Goethe says its A1 to C2 certificates are valid without a time limit, ÖSD calls its certificates “unbefristet” (without a fixed end date), and telc prints no validity period on its certificates. But an embassy or an immigration office can still ask for a recent one. German missions that publish guidance for the A1 spouse visa usually say the exam date should be no more than one year old. That is a rule of the office, not a printed expiry on your certificate.
Everything below is as of October 2026. Visa practice differs by embassy, by case and sometimes by year, so treat this as a guide to what to ask, not as legal advice.
Two different questions
People mix up two things:
- Is the certificate still valid as a document? For the three big providers, yes. There is no expiry date on it.
- Will the person reading your application accept an old exam date? That depends on who it is and what they are checking.
The second question is the one that matters for a visa.
What the exam providers say
| Provider | What they state |
|---|---|
| Goethe-Institut | Certificates A1 to C2 are valid indefinitely; the Goethe FAQ adds that many employers and institutions expect a certificate not older than two years |
| ÖSD | In principle ÖSD certificates are valid without a time limit; the ÖSD FAQ also notes that some authorities may want them no older than two years |
| telc | The exam regulations say no validity period is stated on the certificate; the result stays valid, and results are archived for 10 years so you can request a duplicate |
Note the pattern: all three say “no expiry”, and two say in the same breath that some organisations want a certificate not older than two years. Goethe’s own wording points you to the organisation that asks for it. If you need the long answer for all levels, read how long German certificates are valid.
What German embassies say for the spouse visa
For the family reunion visa, spouses from many countries have to show basic German at A1 level, unless an exception applies. Guidance sheets published by German missions say:
- The certificate must come from a provider that meets ALTE standards. The lists name Goethe-Institut (Start Deutsch 1), telc (Start Deutsch 1) and ÖSD (Zertifikat A1), and certificates from other issuers are not recognised.
- The exam date should not be more than one year in the past. Two mission pages I opened state this in almost the same words.
- The sheet describes the A1 level in speaking terms: you should be able to introduce yourself and others and ask and answer questions about your person, with a partner who speaks clearly and is willing to help.
That one-year line is guidance used by the visa section, and it may differ between missions. In practice, if your exam is close to a year old and your visa appointment is delayed, do not assume an older certificate will pass. Ask the embassy in writing whether it will still accept it, and consider a migration counselling service or lawyer if your case is unusual. Otherwise plan for a new exam.
What this means in practice
If your certificate is under 12 months old
You are in the safe zone. Check that the certificate is the type the embassy lists (Start Deutsch 1 for Goethe or telc, Zertifikat A1 for ÖSD) and that your name matches your passport.
If it is 10 to 12 months old and the appointment is far away
This is the risky window. Appointment waits at some embassies are long. If the exam date will be more than a year old on the day of the interview or the submission, ask now.
If it is older than 12 months
Ask the embassy or the visa section before you spend money on a new exam. One embassy sheet I opened mentions a temporary pandemic-era exception that allowed older certificates if oral skills were confirmed at the interview; do not assume a rule like that still applies. You cannot tell without asking.
Practise your German out loud with SipLingo, free to try on iPhone and Android:
What to ask the embassy: a short email
Use the contact form of the embassy or consulate that handles your application. Keep it short:
Subject: Question about A1 certificate for spouse visa application
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am planning to apply for a visa for family reunification with my spouse. I passed the Goethe-Zertifikat A1 (Start Deutsch 1) on [date]. Is this certificate still accepted if my appointment is on [date]? If not, from which exam date will the certificate no longer be accepted?
Kind regards,
[Name, passport number]
Keep the written answer. Also check whether you may be exempt from the language requirement at all: the rules list exceptions, and the information on the embassy website is more reliable than forum posts.
If you need to retake: speak more, not only read
If a new A1 exam is needed, the speaking part is where preparation gains the most. SipLingo (our app) lets you practise introductions, questions and requests out loud with an AI partner and gives corrections in your own language. It is a speaking tool, not a course or exam material, and it does not replace the official sample paper. See the exam layout in the Goethe A1 exam guide.
Why the certificate type matters
- A certificate from a school, an online platform or a private course is not an ALTE exam certificate, and the sheets say these issuers are not accepted.
- Check that the exact title on your certificate matches the embassy list (for example “Start Deutsch 1” from Goethe or telc).
- If you fail, what happens if you fail Goethe A1 explains retakes.
Related guides: the 3 Goethe A1 speaking parts
Official sources
For the official details and the latest updates, see:
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe exams FAQ: validity, pass mark, retakes, results – Certificates don’t expire; 60% per module to pass; retakes; results on Mein Goethe
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe-Zertifikat A1: Start Deutsch 1 – official exam page – 4 modules, durations (80 min total), group speaking test, booking
- BAMF: BAMF: family reunification with third-country nationals – When spouses need simple German before entry and who is exempt
Frequently asked questions
How long is the German A1 certificate valid for?
The certificate has no expiry date. But for a spouse visa, German embassy guidance generally wants the exam date to be no more than one year old.
How long is Goethe A1 valid?
Goethe states that its A1 to C2 certificates are valid without a time limit. Many employers and offices still ask for one that is under two years old.
Do Goethe certificates expire?
No, the Goethe-Institut says they do not expire. Whether an authority accepts an older one is that authority’s decision.
Goethe certificate validity for visa: what do I check?
Look at the embassy page for your country and ask in writing. Check the provider, the exam date and the type of certificate (Start Deutsch 1 for adults).
Do telc and ÖSD certificates expire?
No. telc prints no validity period, and ÖSD calls its certificates valid without a fixed end date. The one-year guidance for visas applies regardless of provider.
Prepare the A1 speaking part out loud before you sit or retake the exam.
