Recognition of ÖSD exams in Austria

First application for residence permits

German before immigration, family reunification

German exams at the level A1 are not relevant for the fulfilment of the Integration Agreement. Third-country nationals who apply for a residence title in Austria must already prove basic German language skills for elementary language use that correspond to level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) before immigrating. ÖSD Zertifikat A1 and higher are recognised as proof of language competence in German. The certificate must be less than one year old at the time of the application.

A valid ÖSD Zertifikat A1 is recognised as proof of language competence in German for the following residence permits:

“Settlement Permit – Dependant”

• “Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte plus” (“Red-White-Red Card plus”)
• “Niederlassungsbewilligung” (“Settlement Permit”)
• “Niederlassungsbewilligung – ausgenommen Erwerbstätigkeit”(“Settlement Permit – Gainful Employment Excepted”)
• “Niederlassungsbewilligung – Angehöriger” (“Settlement Permit – Dependant””
• “Familienangehöriger” (“Family Member”)
• “Niederlassungsbewilligung – Künstler”(“Settlement Permit – Artists”)
• “Niederlassungsbewilligung – Sonderfälle unselbständiger Erwerbstätigkeit”(“Settlement Permit – Special Cases of Dependent Gainful Occupation”)

For further information about ÖSD Zertifikat A1 please click here

Integration Agreement

Integration exams

From July 2018 to May 2021, the ÖSD offered integration exams on the levels A2 and B1 throughout Austria. Henceforth, integration exams will exclusively be organized and held by the ÖIF (Österreichischer Integrationsfonds). Please find more information regarding integration exam dates here.

The Integration Agreement of 2017 mandates the knowledge requirements for the integration of third-country nationals who have lawfully settled in Austria. Its aim is to enable third-country nationals to participate in the social, economic and cultural life in Austria. As part of the Integration Agreement, third-country nationals are obliged to acquire German language skills, as well as knowledge about the democratic order and the basic cultural principles.
The Integration Agreement of 2017 concerns third-country nationals who received a residence permit (for the first time) after the 1st of October, 2017. Third-country nationals whose residence permit was issued before the 1st of October 2017 are also obliged to fulfil Module 1 (level A2) of the Integration Agreement. There is a transitional provision in action for these people until the 30th of September, 2020.

Segmentation of the Integration Agreement

The Integration Agreement of 2017 consists of 2 modules:

• Within the scope of Module 1, a more thorough basic use of language at level A2 (according to the CEFR) is required.
• Within the scope of Module 2, independent use of language at level B1 (according to the CEFR) is required.

By signing the Integration Agreement, third-country nationals commit themselves to fulfilling Module 1 of the Integration Agreement within 2 years after the first residence permit is issued.

The fulfilment of Module 2 is not compulsory, but is a requirement for receiving the residence permit “Daueraufenthalt – EU“, and acts as proof of sufficient language competence in German to be granted Austrian citizenship.