{"id":231,"date":"2026-10-10T18:10:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T18:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/?p=231"},"modified":"2026-10-31T09:10:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T09:10:08","slug":"a1-certificate-validity-visa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siplingo.com\/blog\/a1-certificate-validity-visa\/","title":{"rendered":"A1 German Certificate Validity: Does It Expire, and What Do Visa Offices Accept?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The paper itself does not expire: Goethe says its A1 to C2 certificates are valid without a time limit, \u00d6SD 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two different questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People mix up two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Is the certificate still valid as a document?<\/strong> For the three big providers, yes. There is no expiry date on it.<\/li>
  2. Will the person reading your application accept an old exam date?<\/strong> That depends on who it is and what they are checking.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The second question is the one that matters for a visa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What the exam providers say<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    Provider<\/th>What they state<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Goethe-Institut<\/td>Certificates A1 to C2 are valid indefinitely; the Goethe FAQ adds that many employers and institutions expect a certificate not older than two years<\/td><\/tr>
    \u00d6SD<\/td>In principle \u00d6SD certificates are valid without a time limit; the \u00d6SD FAQ also notes that some authorities may want them no older than two years<\/td><\/tr>
    telc<\/td>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<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What German embassies say for the spouse visa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n