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Proof of German proficiency for family reunion applicants
All family reunion applicants desiring to join their spouse residing in Germany have to provide proof that they possess a sufficient basic knowledge of the German language. This is to ensure that, upon arrival in Germany, the applicant will be able to conduct basic communication in German.
Basic knowledge of the German language is knowledge of the German language on the competence level “A1” of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages.
Detailed information on what A1-knowledge constitutescan be found on the website of the Council of Europe.
The mandatory proof of your language proficiency is rendered through a certificate issued upon passing a standardized language exam that complies with the standards of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE). At present, the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh (German Cultural Centre) is the only institution in Bangladesh which can issue such certificates.
Exemptions:
Applicants who can prove that they are incapable of acquiring German proficiency due to a physical or mental illness or a handicap are also exempted.
As per the latest modification of § 30 AufenthG (German Residence Act) you may not be required to submit an A1 German language certificate if your spouse is working in Germany under one of the following paragraphs (details can be found mentionedon the residence permit or visa of your spouse):
| Blue Card | § 18g AufenthG |
| ICT Card | § 19 AufenthG (with § 10a BeschV) |
| Skilled Workers | § 18a and § 18b AufenthG |
| Scientists / Researcher | § 18d AufenthG; § 18f AufenthG; § 18c Abs. 3 AufenthG |
| Personnel Exchange | § 19c I AufenthG (with § 10 BeschV) |
| IT professionals | § 19c II AufenthG (with § 3BeschV) |
| Self-Employment | § 21 AufenthG |
| Workers in special positions | § 19c II AufenthG (with § 3/ § 5 BeschV) |
If your spouse holds a settlement permit (“Niederlassungserlaubnis”), you might also be exempted. This is the case if your spouse last held any of the following permits before receiving their settlement permit: Blue card (§ 18b Abs. 2 AufenthG), professional with vocational training (§ 18a AufenthG), skilled worker (§ 18b Abs. 1 AufenthG),scientists (§ 18d AufenthG),self-employed (§ 21AufenthG) and certain cases of § 19c AufenthG (to be examined by the Embassy in each individual case).
Some cases spouses of asylum seekers and recognized refugees (§§ 25Abs. 1, Abs. 2 as well as 26 Abs. 3 AufenthG) may also be exempted from the language requirement as long as the applicant got married to the spouse before the spouse migrated to Germany.
Please note that there may be other exceptions, which will be examined by the Embassy in each individual case