German A1 for an Austrian residence permit (2026): who needs it, accepted certificates and exemptions
German A1 for an Austrian residence permit is required in 2026 at the first application for a settlement permit (except the researcher permit), the “Family Member” title or the Red-White-Red Card plus for family (§ 21a NAG). Diplomas from ÖSD, Goethe-Institut, telc or the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) count if they are not older than one year when you submit them. Children under 14 and certain families of Blue Card holders and researchers, among others, are exempt.
The chips show Care Austria Standard, unlimited tariff, at 2026 prices, for the health insurance in the same permit file. Prices rise from 2028 per the policy terms, and ordinary cancellation is possible only after 1 year, then only to 31 December with 1 month’s notice (AVB § 3). The insurer is HanseMerkur Versicherungsgruppe (Advigon Versicherung AG). Referral link: we may earn a commission from Care Concept AG at no extra cost to you (disclosure).
Do you need an A1 certificate for your permit?
You need an A1 certificate, unless an exemption applies, if you apply for the first time for a settlement permit (except the researcher permit), the “Family Member” title or the Red-White-Red Card plus for family members; Red-White-Red Card workers, EU Blue Card holders and students do not (BMI, 2026).
Retiree or own-means settler
The settlement permit except gainful employment needs A1 for each applicant aged 14 or over (unless exempt), plus a quota place.
See the permit list and the retirement visa guide.
Spouse or child joining family
For the “Family Member” title and the Red-White-Red Card plus for family, A1 is needed unless an exemption applies, for example for children under 14 and for certain Blue Card, researcher and very highly qualified families.
Read on at exemptions and family reunification.
Worker, Blue Card holder or student
The Red-White-Red Card, the EU Blue Card and student permits are not on the A1 list.
More on the Red-White-Red Card, the EU Blue Card and the student permit.
Key facts on German before immigration
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | § 21a NAG (version in force since 7 August 2026) | RIS |
| Level | A1 — “elementary use of the language at the simplest level” | § 21a (1) NAG; BMI |
| When | First application, including a switch to a listed permit from another permit in Austria (change of purpose); not renewals | BMI; § 21a (2) NAG |
| Maximum age of the certificate | 1 year at submission | § 21a (1) NAG |
| Accepted providers | ÖSD, Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖIF | BMI (updated 25 March 2026) |
| Next steps after the permit | Module 1 (A2) within 2 years; Module 2 (B1) for permanent residence | oesterreich.gv.at |
| Same file also needs | Income, housing, all-risk health insurance paying in Austria | insurance rule (§ 11 NAG) |
Which permits need German A1 before you come?
German A1 is needed, unless an exemption applies, at the first application for settlement permits (except the researcher permit), the “Family Member” title and the Red-White-Red Card plus for family members (§ 21a NAG, 2026). This is the rule known as German before immigration. The Federal Ministry of the Interior lists them; the law refers to the permit numbers in § 8 (1) NAG (§ 21a (1) NAG; BMI). The rule also applies if you are already in Austria on another permit (for example a student permit) and switch to one of these permits in a change-of-purpose procedure (§ 21a (2), § 26 NAG). Renewals do not need a new A1 certificate, because the rule applies to the first application (§ 21a (1) NAG). The Integration Agreement deadlines run from the first grant, not from a renewal.
| Permit | A1 needed? | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Settlement permit except gainful employment (retirees, own means) | Yes | Austria retirement visa |
| Settlement permit (general, incl. self-employment; § 8 (1) Z 4 NAG) | Yes | Niederlassungsbewilligung explained |
| Settlement permit – relative (Angehöriger, e.g. parents an Austrian child supports) | Yes | parents of Austrian citizens |
| Settlement permit – artists; special cases of employment | Yes (certain artists exempt) | Niederlassungsbewilligung explained |
| “Family Member” (family of Austrian citizens) | Yes, with exemptions | family reunification |
| Red-White-Red Card plus for family members | Yes, with exemptions (e.g. Blue Card families) | family reunification |
| Red-White-Red Card, EU Blue Card | Not on the list | RWR card, Blue Card |
| Student residence permit | Not on the list | student residence permit |
Which German certificates are accepted?
The German certificates accepted as proof of German knowledge for residence permits in Austria are diplomas from the Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch (ÖSD), the Goethe-Institut, telc and the Austrian Integration Fund (Österreichischer Integrationsfonds, ÖIF) (BMI, 2026). For its area, an Austrian embassy may also name other institutions by a regulation posted there (§ 21a (7) NAG), so ask the embassy. The maximum age of the certificate is one year at submission (§ 21a (1) NAG, 2026). How German fits next to Austria’s other official and regional languages is on what language is spoken in Austria.
| Proof | Counts? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ÖSD diploma, A1 or higher | Yes | Not older than 1 year at submission |
| Goethe-Institut certificate, A1 or higher | Yes | Same one-year rule |
| telc certificate, A1 or higher | Yes | Same one-year rule |
| ÖIF certificate | Yes | Same one-year rule |
| Module 1 or 2 of the Integration Agreement fulfilled | Yes | Counts as proof (BMI) |
| Certain school-leaving certificates (e.g. equivalent to university entrance) | Yes | Ask the authority which ones |
We found no official list of exam fees and exam places abroad to quote. Ask the provider or your Austrian embassy.
Who is exempt from the A1 requirement?
Children under 14 at the time of application are exempt, and so are several groups the law names (§ 21a (4) NAG; BMI). The family-reunification rules in the list below are the same as on our family reunification page.
- Children who are under 14 when the application is filed.
- People for whom the test cannot reasonably be expected for physical or mental health reasons, proven by an opinion of a public health officer (Amtsarzt) or of a doctor designated by the Austrian embassy or consulate (§ 21a (4) Z 2 NAG).
- Certain family members of holders of a Red-White-Red Card for very highly qualified workers, an EU Blue Card or a researcher permit, also after the holder has moved on from one of these to a Red-White-Red Card plus.
- Certain family members of holders of “long term resident – EU”.
- Certain artists.
- Family members of persons granted international protection (asylum or subsidiary protection) who apply for a Red-White-Red Card plus.
- Anyone who declares in writing that the stay will not exceed 24 months within three years; this irrevocably waives any further extension application after the first one (§ 21a (4) Z 5 NAG; BMI).
On top of that, the authority may waive the proof on a reasoned request for unaccompanied minors, or where it is needed to protect private and family life under Article 8 ECHR. The request must be made before the decision (§ 21a (5) NAG). § 21a (4) NAG lists no exemption for age at the upper end, so a 70-year-old retiree needs the certificate just like a 30-year-old, unless another exemption such as the health exemption applies.
What does the ÖIF (Austrian Integration Fund) do?
The ÖIF (Österreichischer Integrationsfonds, Austrian Integration Fund) is one of the four exam providers the BMI names for German before immigration and the body behind the Integrationsprüfung, the exam that proves Module 1 (A2) and Module 2 (B1) of the Integration Agreement after you arrive (oesterreich.gv.at). For Module 1, the Integrationsprüfung covers German at A2 plus basic knowledge of Austria’s legal and social order. Check dates, places and fees on the ÖIF’s own site, integrationsfonds.at; we found no official fee table to quote here. For the A1 rule, ÖSD, Goethe-Institut and telc certificates count as much as an ÖIF certificate (BMI).
What comes after A1: Module 1 and Module 2?
Module 1 of the Integration Agreement means German at A2 plus basic knowledge of the democratic legal and social order, and its deadline is two years after the first permit (oesterreich.gv.at, 2026). Exemptions, per the same source, are being under 14 at the end of the deadline, health reasons and the 24-month declaration, which irrevocably waives any further extension after the first one, so it does not suit a permanent move. Module 2 (B1) is not compulsory for everyone, but the permanent “Daueraufenthalt – EU” title can only be obtained with it, and it generally applies to citizenship (oesterreich.gv.at, updated 1 July 2026).
| Stage | Level | Deadline / use | Help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before the first application | A1 | Certificate ≤ 1 year old | — |
| Module 1 | A2 + basic knowledge of the legal and social order | Within 2 years; extension of up to 12 months at a time on application | Certain family members: 50 % of course costs, up to €750 |
| Module 2 | B1 | Daueraufenthalt – EU; citizenship as a rule | — |
For a settlement permit, Module 1 also matters for the length of the next permit: it can be issued for three years once Module 1 is fulfilled and you have lived in Austria lawfully for two years (migration.gv.at). For renewals, see residence permit renewal; for permanent residence, see permanent residence permit.
How does the A1 certificate fit into your permit file?
The A1 certificate goes into the same application file as the income proof, the housing proof and the health insurance certificate. For the settlement permit except gainful employment, the same appointment needs a quota place, own income of €2,616.78 a month for a single person or €4,128.24 for a couple (spouses or registered partners living together) (2026, migration.gv.at; base; more if regular costs such as rent exceed €386.43, § 11 (5) NAG), housing and all-risk health insurance that pays in Austria. In 2025 the quota for this permit was 385 places nationwide, 130 of them in Vienna, and family members use places too (NLV 2025). Plan them together.
- 1Check whether your permit is on the A1 list
Settlement permits (except the researcher permit), “Family Member” and the Red-White-Red Card plus for family: yes. RWR card, Blue Card, student permit: no.
- 2Check the exemptions
Under 14, certain Blue Card / researcher / very highly qualified families, health reasons, the 24-month declaration (which irrevocably waives any extension after the first) and a few more.
- 3Book an exam with an accepted provider
ÖSD, Goethe-Institut, telc or the ÖIF. Plan the date so the certificate is not older than one year when you file.
- 4Collect the rest of the file
Passport, income proof, rental contract and all-risk health insurance that pays in Austria go in together with the certificate.
- 5File in person and keep the two-year clock in mind
First applications must be filed in person (§ 19 (1) NAG). After the permit, Module 1 (A2) is due within two years of the first grant, unless you are exempt.
How a retired couple from Pune times A1 and insurance
Illustrative example: Rajesh, 68, and Sunita, 66, from Pune plan the settlement permit except gainful employment for Graz. Both sit the A1 exam at a Goethe-Institut in March; their quota appointment is in December, so the certificates are nine months old on the day, inside the one-year limit. Their joint pension of about €4,600 a month is above the €4,128.24 couple threshold (base); they check it still covers their Graz rent, because rent above €386.43 a month raises the amount (§ 11 (5) NAG). With no Austrian job, they have no job-based ÖGK cover at the first application, so each needs all-risk insurance that pays in Austria (§ 11 (2) Z 3 NAG). Care Austria Standard unlimited costs €510 a month per person at 65–74, €1,020 for both (2026; minimum term 1 year, AVB § 3; rises to €617 per person from 2028). The policy and the A1 certificates go into the same file. Care Concept AG is on Vienna's MA 35 list: unlimited Care Austria tariffs need no extra declaration, 364-day ones do (checked 30 October 2026).
The full price list and limits are on Care Austria plans and prices (insurer HanseMerkur Versicherungsgruppe (Advigon Versicherung AG)), and health insurance cost in Austria compares all routes. Prices and terms are also on the Care Concept tariff page.
Before applying, go through the Care Austria online application checklist.
Referral link context: we may earn a commission from Care Concept AG if you take out Care Austria, at no extra cost to you (how we are paid).
Frequently asked questions
Which residence permits need German A1 in Austria?
The first application for the Red-White-Red Card plus for family members, the “Family Member” title and the settlement permits — the general settlement permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung, incl. self-employment), relative (Angehöriger), artists, special cases of employment and “except gainful employment”, but not the researcher permit — needs German at A1, unless an exemption applies; this also covers switching to one of these permits from another permit while in Austria (change of purpose, § 21a (2) NAG) (BMI; § 21a NAG). The Red-White-Red Card itself, the EU Blue Card and student permits are not on that list.
Which German certificates are accepted for an Austrian residence permit?
Diplomas from the Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch (ÖSD), the Goethe-Institut, telc and the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) count as proof of German A1 for a first Austrian residence permit. Having fulfilled Module 1 or 2 of the Integration Agreement also counts, and so do certain school-leaving certificates, such as one equivalent to the general university entrance qualification (BMI).
How old can the A1 certificate be?
The A1 certificate may be at most one year old at the moment you submit it: “Das Sprachdiplom darf zum Zeitpunkt der Vorlage nicht älter als ein Jahr sein” — the diploma must not be older than one year when submitted (§ 21a (1) NAG). If your quota appointment moves, check the date again; an expired certificate means a new exam.
Who is exempt from the German A1 requirement?
Several groups are exempt from the German A1 requirement: children under 14 at the time of application; people for whom the test is unreasonable for health reasons (opinion of a public health officer or a doctor designated by the Austrian embassy or consulate); certain family members of holders of a Red-White-Red Card for very highly qualified workers, an EU Blue Card or a researcher permit (also after the holder has moved on from one of these to a Red-White-Red Card plus); certain family of long-term residents – EU; certain artists; family of persons granted international protection (asylum or subsidiary protection) applying for a Red-White-Red Card plus; and anyone who declares in writing that the stay will not exceed 24 months within three years — this irrevocably waives any further extension after the first one (BMI; § 21a (4) Z 5 NAG). On a reasoned request the authority may also waive it for unaccompanied minors or to protect family life (Art. 8 ECHR).
What is the ÖIF (Österreichischer Integrationsfonds)?
The Austrian Integration Fund is one of the four institutions the BMI names whose German diplomas count for the A1 rule (BMI; Austrian embassies may also name other local institutions, § 21a (7) NAG), and it issues the “Integrationsprüfung” certificate used for Module 1 (A2) and Module 2 (B1) after you arrive (oesterreich.gv.at). We found no official fee list to quote; check exam dates, places and fees on the ÖIF’s own website, integrationsfonds.at.
Do I need A2 or B1 German after I get the permit?
After the first permit you need A2 German (Module 1 of the Integration Agreement, which also tests basic knowledge of Austria’s legal and social order) within two years of the first grant, unless you are exempt; Module 2 (B1) is needed for “Daueraufenthalt – EU” and, as a rule, for citizenship (oesterreich.gv.at). For certain family members the state pays 50 % of course costs, up to €750, if they attend at least 75 % and pass within 18 months.
Do retirees need German A1 for the Austrian settlement permit?
Retirees applying for the settlement permit except gainful employment need German A1 unless an exemption applies, because that permit, the one retirees use, is on the A1 list (migration.gv.at), and there is no age exemption for adults; of the listed exemptions, the health exemption (opinion of a public health officer or an embassy-designated doctor) and the written 24-month declaration are the ones that fit a retiree — but the declaration irrevocably waives any further extension after the first one, so it does not suit a permanent move — and the authority may waive the proof on a reasoned request under § 21a (5) NAG. Each spouse needs their own certificate. The other conditions: a quota place, €2,616.78 a month for a single person or €4,128.24 for a couple (2026; base; more if regular costs such as rent exceed €386.43, § 11 (5) NAG), housing and all-risk health insurance (Austria retirement visa).
Official sources
- RIS: § 21a NAG — German before immigration (version in force since 7 August 2026)
- BMI: proof of German language skills on permits, providers and exemptions (updated 25 March 2026)
- oesterreich.gv.at: Integration Agreement on Module 1, Module 2 and course-cost support (updated 1 July 2026)
- migration.gv.at: other forms of settlement on settlement permit conditions and income (2026)
- migration.gv.at: family reunification on A1 and the exceptions for family members
- RIS: Settlement Regulation 2025 (BGBl. II 309/2025) for quota places
- City of Vienna (MA 35): health insurance for residence permits (checked 30 October 2026)
The editorial standards and about this site pages explain how we work. Information, not legal advice: the residence authority decides whether an exemption applies. Referral links may earn us a commission from Care Concept AG at no extra cost to you (affiliate disclosure).
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