Germany’s Interior Ministry has confirmed a regulatory change that will make the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ) — the B1-level exam taken at the end of state-funded integration courses — significantly harder to pass. Under the new Integrationskurstest Ordinance, published in the Federal Gazette and taking effect on 1 November 2026, candidates must now achieve at least A2 in every written component in addition to B1 in speaking and one other section. Until now, migrants could compensate for a weak writing score with stronger results in speaking and listening/reading. The ministry says the loophole has been increasingly abused by commercial ‘test coaches’ who encourage applicants to leave sections blank and focus on oral performance. Officials argue that basic writing proficiency is essential for participation in everyday life and for success in vocational training. The tougher DTZ does not raise the statutory language threshold for citizenship (still B1) or permanent residence, but it narrows the routes by which that certificate can be obtained. Alternative exams such as telc B1 or Goethe-Zertifikat B1 remain acceptable. Employers and relocation managers should alert assignees enrolled in integration courses that the exam will require balanced skills across speaking, listening, reading and writing. Support such as in-house language tutoring, paid study leave and mock tests may be needed to keep global assignments on schedule.
Source: The Local Germany
