Does family reunification require A1 or B1 German?
Spouse reunification requires A1 — what the law calls "basic knowledge of German" (§ 30 (1) sentence 1 no. 2 Residence Act). The same requirement applies to the spouse of a German citizen (§ 28 (1) sentence 5).
B1 is needed for something else:
- A permanent settlement permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis)
- Naturalisation
B1 is not required for a family reunification visa. People frequently confuse the two and spend months preparing for an exam two levels above what they need.
If you already hold B1: a higher level normally covers A1. Even so, the missions' information sheets name specific exams ("Start Deutsch 1", "Grundstufe Deutsch 1"), so confirm with the mission handling your case before you apply — particularly if your certificate is more than a year old.
Sources: BAMF — basic German skills for spouse reunification · Federal Foreign Office Visa Handbook
This is general information, not legal advice.
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