DTZ Registration and Costs: Where to register, what does the exam cost?

Where do I register for the DTZ?

You do not register for the DTZ at a central office, but directly with an approved test center in your area. In most cities, these are the adult education center (VHS) or private language schools that offer integration courses.

Here’s how you proceed:

1. Find a test center near you (VHS or language school offering integration courses).
2. Schedule an appointment, often by email or phone.
3. Register in person. Bring your ID or passport with you.
4. If you have an authorization certificate from BAMF, bring it with you.

Important: Since January 1, 2023, only persons with participation authorization for an integration course may generally be admitted to the DTZ. If you are not attending an integration course, ask your VHS what options are available for external participants. Some schools also offer the DTZ as an external exam.

What does the DTZ cost?

Costs depend on whether you are taking part in a funded integration course:

• With authorization certificate in the integration course: usually 0 euros. The exam is included in the funded course.
• Self-payers from the integration course: often around 150 euros.
• External participants: frequently around 180 euros.

The exact prices are not the same everywhere. Each test center sets its own fee, with many ranging between 150 and 180 euros. Always ask your VHS or language school directly for the current price.

How is the DTZ structured?

The DTZ is a single exam with two possible results: A2 or B1. You do not decide on a level beforehand. Instead, your result shows which level you have achieved.

The exam has a written and an oral part.

Written Part (approximately 100 minutes)

• Listening: approximately 25 minutes
• Reading: approximately 45 minutes
• Writing: approximately 30 minutes, for example a short message or a letter

Oral Part (approximately 15 minutes)

Here you introduce yourself briefly, speak about a topic, and plan something together with another person, for example a celebration. You speak with the examiners and with a second test participant.

How is the result calculated?

Four skills are assessed: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Your points produce the overall result A2 or B1.

Simplified: if you achieve B1 level in speaking and additionally achieve B1 in at least one written area (that is in “listening and reading” or in “writing”), then the overall result B1 appears in the certificate. Otherwise, you receive A2. You receive a certificate at the end showing your level.

What level do I need for what?

That depends on your goal:

• For citizenship, B1 level is generally required. This is the standard level. A higher level such as C1 is usually not necessary.
• B1 skills are also often important for a residence permit.
• A2 is sufficient for some purposes, but not for standard citizenship.

The DTZ is a recognized language certificate. Other certificates such as the Goethe Certificate B1 or telc Deutsch B1 are also accepted. In case of doubt, ask your responsible authority which certificate is accepted in your case.

What if I don’t pass or only achieve A2?

You can retake the DTZ. If you are in an integration course, there is the possibility under certain conditions to repeat course hours and retake the exam. Talk to your course instructor or BAMF about this.

Important to know: The DTZ is retaken completely, not module by module. This is different from some other exams. With the Goethe Certificate B1, for example, there are four modules (reading, listening, writing, speaking) that you can retake individually. With telc Deutsch B1, you need at least 60 out of 120 points overall, that is 50 percent, and must pass at least one exam part. If you want to retake flexibly, it’s worth looking at the exact rules of each exam.

How do I prepare well?

Targeted preparation helps you confidently achieve B1 level. Practice all four skills, especially free speaking and writing short messages, as these parts are crucial for the B1 result.

If you want to learn systematically from A1 to B1, an online course with a qualified instructor can be a good foundation. In the Complete Package A1 to B1 you learn step by step with the Hueber textbook “Schritte plus Neu”, accompanied by a certified German as a Foreign Language teacher and BAMF instructor. An AI trainer additionally helps you with speaking, pronunciation, and writing letters, exactly the parts that are important in the DTZ. This way you prepare calmly for telc, Goethe, or the DTZ.

Conclusion

You register for the DTZ directly with an adult education center or approved language school. In the funded integration course, the exam is usually free; otherwise, you pay approximately 150 to 180 euros. The DTZ is an exam with two possible results: A2 or B1. For citizenship, B1 is generally required. With good preparation, especially in speaking and writing, you will certainly achieve this goal. A clearly structured online course from A1 to B1 can help pave the way for you.