The Goethe-Zertifikat is the Goethe-Institut's family of German exams from A1 to C2. A1 and A2 are taken as a single exam; B1 to C2 consist of four modules (reading, listening, writing, speaking), each passed with 60 out of 100 points. The certificate has no expiry date, but the organisation reading it may want a recent one: German missions in Russia usually accept an A1 certificate for a spouse visa only if the exam was taken within the last year, and the University of Hamburg accepts language certificates up to three years old. In Germany the 2026 fees run from €155 (about $175) for A1 to €359 (about $406) for C2. In Russia, the authorities ordered staff at all Goethe-Institut locations in Moscow, St Petersburg and Novosibirsk to stop work from 13 September 2026, so the realistic routes now are a Goethe-Institut in Kazakhstan or another country, or a recognised alternative such as ÖSD or telc, and TestDaF for university admission.
| At a glance | Status on 02.10.2026 |
|---|---|
| Levels | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 (Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom) |
| Structure | A1–A2 single exam; B1–C2 four modules that can be taken separately |
| Pass mark | 60% of the maximum; at B1–C2 in each module |
| Validity | Unlimited; authorities and universities may cap the age |
| Spouse visa for Germany | A1; German missions in Russia usually want it under one year old |
| German-taught degree | C2 accepted everywhere; C1 at the university's discretion |
| Fees in Germany, 2026 | A1 €155, B1 €259, C1 €349, C2 €359 |
| Russia | Goethe-Institut stopped work on 13.09.2026; details on exams to follow, according to the institute |
Levels and versions
| Level | Exam | Format | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Start Deutsch 1 (adults), Fit in Deutsch 1 (young learners) | Single exam | Spouse visa for Germany, first courses |
| A2 | Goethe-Zertifikat A2, Fit in Deutsch (young learners) | Single exam | Intermediate step, some work programmes |
| B1 | Adult and youth versions | Modular | Ausbildung, some Studienkollegs, work |
| B2 | Adult and youth versions | Modular | Studienkolleg, work, professional recognition |
| C1 | Adult version | Modular | Some universities, demanding jobs |
| C2 | Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS) | Modular | University admission without conditions, teaching |
Each exam has a recommended minimum age: 10 for Fit in Deutsch 1 and 12 for A2, for example. You can register without taking a Goethe course and without holding the certificate for the level below; the exam rules allow candidates to start at any level.
For choosing a test for a German-taught degree, see our comparison of TestDaF, DSH, Goethe and telc. This page focuses on the Goethe-Zertifikat itself: structure, rules, fees and access from Russia.
How the exam works: A2 and B1 as examples
A2. The written part takes 90 minutes without breaks: reading 30 minutes, listening about 30 and writing 30. Speaking is done in pairs and lasts about 15 minutes. The maximum is 100 points, 75 for the written part and 25 for speaking. You pass with at least 60 points overall, including at least 45 in the written part and 15 in speaking; otherwise the whole exam is failed.
B1. Reading takes 65 minutes, listening about 40 and writing 60. If you sit all three written modules on one day, there must be a break of at least 15 minutes between them. Speaking is normally in pairs: about 15 minutes plus 15 minutes of preparation, or about 10 minutes when taken individually. A module is passed with 60 points out of 100.
B2, C1 and C2 modules are longer and harder but follow the same logic; the exact timings are in each level's administration rules on goethe.de.
Ratings are the same at every level:
| Points | Rating |
|---|---|
| 90–100 | sehr gut (very good) |
| 80–89 | gut (good) |
| 70–79 | befriedigend (satisfactory) |
| 60–69 | ausreichend (pass) |
| 0–59 | nicht bestanden (fail) |
Exams are offered on paper or in a digital format, where reading, listening and writing are done on a centre laptop with a German keyboard while speaking still takes place face to face with examiners. The Goethe-Institut's rules also allow online delivery under certain conditions, but not every centre offers it.
Modules, resits and the overall certificate
The modular system at B1–C2 is flexible but easy to misread. The rules (Prüfungsordnung, version of 1 September 2025) say:
- Each passed module earns its own certificate. If a university or employer asks only for, say, B2 speaking, you can take just that module.
- All four modules in one session at one centre entitle you to an overall certificate instead of four separate ones.
- Modules retaken later can be combined with certificates you already hold.
- An overall certificate showing your best results can be issued on request if all four modules were passed within one year; at licensed exam centres, all of them must have been taken at the same centre.
- The centre may charge up to 25% of the exam fee for issuing an overall certificate.
- Resit waiting periods after a failed module are set by the centre; until they end, you cannot re-register for that exam.
At A2, a partial resit (either the speaking part or the whole written part) is possible in exceptional cases, within one year and at the same centre, if the centre can organise it.
Validity: unlimited, with caveats
The Goethe-Institut states that A1–C2 certificates are valid indefinitely, and adds that many institutions and employers ask for a certificate no older than two years. In practice:
| Who accepts it | Maximum age |
|---|---|
| German missions in Russia, spouse visa (A1) | As a rule, exam taken within the last year |
| University of Hamburg (C1 or C2) | No older than three years at the time of application |
| Many universities and employers | Often no older than two years |
Taking the exam years in advance rarely pays off: the certificate is formally valid, but the recipient may still refuse it.
Which level do you need?
Spouse visa for Germany. German missions in Russia require proof of A1 before entry. According to the embassy's information sheet, they accept the Goethe-Institut's Start Deutsch 1, telc's Start Deutsch 1, the ÖSD Zertifikat A1, TestDaF (from level B2) and ECL (from A2); certificates from other providers are not accepted. There are exemptions, for instance when the spouse in Germany holds an EU Blue Card or a skilled-worker residence permit. The mission makes the final decision.
Studienkolleg. Usually B1–B2 plus the college's entrance test; each Studienkolleg publishes its list of accepted certificates. See our guide to the Studienkolleg in Germany.
Ausbildung. The employer and vocational school set the requirement, most often B1–B2. The route is described in our Ausbildung in Germany guide.
German-taught degree. Under the national framework, every university must accept the Goethe-Zertifikat C2 without further conditions. C1 is accepted only by some: the University of Hamburg takes it, while the Technical University of Munich (TUM) lists only C2. The comparison with TestDaF and DSH is in our German language tests guide.
English-taught programme. German is usually not required for admission, but A2–B1 makes daily life, part-time work and internships much easier.
How much does it cost?
Each institute or exam centre sets its own fees. As a benchmark, here is the Goethe-Institut's 2026 price list in Germany for external candidates:
| Exam | Full exam | Single module |
|---|---|---|
| A1 Start Deutsch 1 | €155 (about $175) | — |
| A2 | €175 (about $198) | — |
| B1 | €259 (about $293) | €104 (about $118) |
| B2 | €289 (about $327) | €114 (about $129) |
| C1 | €349 (about $394) | €114 (about $129) |
| C2 (GDS) | €359 (about $406) | €139 (about $157) |
Candidates who finished a Goethe-Institut course no more than six months before the exam get 20% off (not for TestDaF or Goethe-Test PRO). Institutes in Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia and elsewhere charge in local currency, usually less than in Germany; check the price on the page of the specific exam before booking.
Where Russian citizens can take it now
In Russia. On 7 September 2026 the Russian authorities ordered staff at all Goethe-Institut locations to stop work from 13 September; Moscow, St Petersburg and Novosibirsk are affected. The Goethe-Institut said further information would follow. Its Russian website still lists 25 exam centres in some two dozen cities, but their status after the closure has not been officially clarified. Before paying a centre in Russia, get written confirmation that the session will go ahead and that certificates will be issued.
Abroad. The certificate is identical wherever you take it. The Goethe-Institut in Kazakhstan offers all levels from A1 to C2 as well as TestDaF, and there are institutes in other neighbouring countries and in Germany. Check dates, fees and payment options on the specific institute's page before you travel.
Alternatives in Russia. The Austrian ÖSD exam uses the same A1–C2 scale. The Austrian Institute in Moscow describes itself as an official ÖSD exam centre, and ÖSD publishes its centres by country. For a spouse visa, German missions accept ÖSD A1 and telc Start Deutsch 1 on the same footing as Goethe. For university admission, ÖSD C1 is no more universally accepted than Goethe C1, so check each university's list. If your goal is German in Austria, see our guide to German language courses in Austria.
| Goal | What to take | Realistic option from Russia |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse visa (A1) | Goethe Start Deutsch 1, telc Start Deutsch 1 or ÖSD A1 | ÖSD in Moscow; Goethe abroad |
| Studienkolleg (B1–B2) | A certificate on the college's list | Depends on the list; Goethe abroad |
| German-taught degree | TestDaF, DSH or Goethe C2 | TestDaF abroad, DSH in Germany |
| Work, personal level | Any recognised certificate | ÖSD, or Goethe abroad |
Payment. You pay under the centre's rules; Russian bank cards generally do not work abroad. Legal ways to send money abroad are covered in our guide on how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Kazakh citizens can take the Goethe-Zertifikat at home, at the Goethe-Institut in Kazakhstan.
How to register and prepare
- Identify the recipient and the level. A consulate, university, Studienkolleg or employer each has its own list of certificates and its own rule on age.
- Choose a centre and format. Registration is online at goethe.de or at the centre; digital sessions are not available everywhere.
- Bring the right ID. Your name is recorded from an official photo ID, and the same document is checked before each module.
- Do the official model test (Modellsatz) for your level on goethe.de: it is free and more reliable than third-party drills.
- Sit the exam and collect the certificate. Recipients can verify its authenticity online.
If you need immersion, compare intensive German language courses in Germany; many schools prepare for both Goethe and TestDaF. For the wider plan, read studying in Germany for Russian citizens and our German student visa guide; everything about the country is collected on our Germany page.
Common mistakes
- Travelling to a Russian centre without confirmation. After the institute's closure the centres' status is unclear; do not pay without a written answer.
- Taking A1 for a visa too early. Missions usually want a certificate under one year old.
- Taking Goethe C1 for university without checking the list. TUM, for example, recognises only Goethe C2.
- Confusing module certificates with the overall certificate. A best-results overall certificate needs all four modules passed within a year, and at licensed centres at the same centre.
- Preparing only for the A2 written part. Without 15 points in speaking, the whole exam fails.
- Paying with someone else's card without the centre's agreement. The centre sets payment and refund rules; check them first.
FAQ
Since 13 September 2026 the Goethe-Institut in Moscow, St Petersburg and Novosibirsk has stopped working, and the institute said it would publish details on exams later. Taking Goethe in Kazakhstan or another country, or choosing ÖSD, is safer. Whether a certificate is accepted is decided by the recipient: the consulate or the university.
Fees are set by each institute or centre. In Germany in 2026, A1 costs €155 (about $175), B1 €259 (about $293), B2 €289 (about $327), C1 €349 (about $394) and C2 €359 (about $406); a single B1 module costs €104 and a B2 module €114. Goethe course participants get 20% off.
The certificate itself never expires. Many organisations, however, want one no older than two years; German missions in Russia usually want a spouse-visa A1 under one year old, and the University of Hamburg accepts certificates up to three years old. The recipient decides what age it accepts.
Retake only that module once the centre opens re-registration. Passed modules remain valid and can be combined with the new result, and a best-results overall certificate is issued if all four modules are passed within a year. The centre sets the waiting period before a resit.
Level A1: Start Deutsch 1. German missions in Russia also accept telc Start Deutsch 1 and ÖSD Zertifikat A1, usually if taken within the last year. Exemptions exist, for example for spouses of EU Blue Card holders. The German mission decides on the visa.
Not everywhere. Under the national framework every university must accept Goethe C2, while C1 is recognised at each university's discretion: Hamburg accepts it, TUM does not. The university decides on admission and on which certificate is sufficient.
All three follow the CEFR scale and test four skills; Goethe is German, ÖSD is Austrian and telc is a German non-profit provider. German missions accept all three at A1 for a spouse visa. For universities and employers, their own list of accepted certificates is what counts.
Sources
- Goethe-Institut Russia: end of operations from 13.09.2026, list of exam centres in Russia — checked 02.10.2026
- Goethe-Institut: Exam Guidelines (Prüfungsordnung), version of 01.09.2025 — modules, overall certificate, fee up to 25%, ID — checked 02.10.2026
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe-Zertifikat B1 administration rules, version of 01.09.2025 — module timings, 60% pass mark — checked 02.10.2026
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe-Zertifikat A2 administration rules, version of 01.09.2023 (timings, 60/45/15 rule, partial resit) — checked 02.10.2026
- Goethe-Institut Germany: exam FAQ and 2026 prices — checked 02.10.2026
- Goethe-Institut Kazakhstan: exams — checked 02.10.2026
- German Embassy in Russia: information sheet on A1 proof for spouse visas (October 2023 version) — checked 02.10.2026
- HRK and KMK: framework regulation on German exams for university admission (RO-DT), 2025 version — checked 02.10.2026
- TUM: recognised language certificates, University of Hamburg: German language proof — checked 02.10.2026
- Austrian Institute Moscow: ÖSD exams, ÖSD: exam centres by country — checked 02.10.2026
- Exchange rate: ECB reference rate for 01.10.2026, EUR 1 = USD 1.1298; amounts under $100 rounded to the dollar.
If you want to work through your route, send a request: document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, the exam result is determined by the test provider, and the university makes the admission decision.
Next steps
- Studying in Germany After 9th Grade: Boarding Schools, the Abitur, Pupil Visas and Costs
- University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE): Programmes, Fees and Admission
- Studying in Germany for international applicants
- German Language Tests for German Universities: TestDaF, DSH, Goethe and telc Compared (2026–2027)
- Studienkolleg in Germany: Who Needs It, How to Get In and What the FSP Exam Gives You
- Ausbildung in Germany for International Applicants: What It Is, Pay, Occupations and the Visa
