Exams – ÖIF

Integration + Language Exams (ÖIF)

Dates, Prices + Registration

Please note that the final registration deadlines are two days prior to the examination date. It is possible, however, that some examinations are fully booked before the deadline: We recommend to register at least one week prior to the examination date. If the registration deadline for an examination date has passed, registration is no longer possible without exception. In this case, please refer to the website of the Austrian Integration Fund for examination dates offered by other examination centers.

For the registration you’ll need:

  • a valid  official photo ID (see “Photo ID“ under the topic “Prerequisites for Participation”),
  • a current registration confirmation (it is issued by the responsible registration authority, e.g. municipal office or magistrate, and, if a citizen card is available, can also be requested online in the “ZMR – Central Registration Register”),
  • your e-card (if you have one) and of course
  • you have to pay the exam fee.

For administrative reasons the registration can – without exception – only be done online.

General Information

We are a licenced exam center for the levels A1, A2, B1 and B2 of the Austrian Integration Fund. The activities of the ÖIF are directed at recognized refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, non-member citizens, people with migration backgrounds etc. All levels of the Austrian Integration Fund correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR).

The ÖIF exams comply with the legal requirements, meet the highest standards in terms of quality and are therefore recognized by Austrian authorities and employers as an official proof of language skills and for obtaining a valid residence permit (citizenship, fulfillment of the integration agreement).

You can resit an exam as a whole as often as you like. It is, however, not possible to resit individual parts of the exam.

To prepare for the integration exam, the ÖIF provides the free app “My integration in Austria”. The app is available in the “Apple Store App” and “Google Play Store”. The brochure “My life in Austria. Chances and Rules” and the brochure “Living and integration in Austria. Security and Police” offer further support in preparing for the integration exam.

Examinations Rules

Please pay attention to the following:

  • Identity fraud and attempts to deceive are criminal acts.
  • Electronic devices (cell phones, laptops, smart watches, etc.) must be switched off during the exam and kept in a bag; they must not be worn on the body.
  • Speaking to other candidates during the exam is prohibited.
  • Tools such as dictionaries are not allowed.
  • The examination room may only be left during the examination in justified exceptional cases!

Length of Exam

The exams take up to three hours (depending on the level). Nevertheless, please reserve all day for the exam. On the day the examination takes place please come a few minutes earlier. Take a close look at where the examination room is located (your registration confirmation always includes a room plan so that you can find your way around).

If you are late and the exam has already started, you will not be allowed to participate.

Exam Results

The results of the exams are available no earlier than 15 days after the exam date.

Only the ÖIF provides information about the exam result. Please do not contact us to inquire about your exam results as we are not allowed to provide any information due to data protection laws.

The certificates will be sent by the ÖIF to the email address you indicated when you registered. If you do not have an email address, your examination certificate will be sent to the ÖIF branch in Klagenfurt (10.-Oktober-Straße 15). The certificate can be picked up on presentation of an official photo ID.

If you urgently need your exam results, the authority responsible for you may contact the ÖIF directly sending an email to pruefungen@integrationsfonds.at. The request must contain the following information: name of the exam participant, date of the exam, location of the exam (institute). In this case, the ÖIF will confirm the examination results in writing to the authority or the representative even before the certificate is issued.

Exam Levels + Prices

A1

€ 150.00

A1 Integration Exam

First application for a residence title (“German prior to immigration”). This exam includes language competence, value and orientation section – it is NOT part of the Integration Agreement (IV) 2017.

The A1 Integration Exam tests both language competence (written, oral) and knowledge of values and orientation. The exams consists of three parts: the first part is written (70 min.)

  • the second covers values and orientation (40 min.)
  • the third part is oral (20 min.)

The first part (written) is composed of three subsections: language elements (10 min.), listening and answering (15 min.) and reading and writing (45 min.) The second part (values and orientation section) consists of 18 exam items that address the central topics of everyday living together, like education and communication, work and business, health, living and neighbourhood environment as well as the principles and variety of living together with reference to lawful and cultural integration. The third part (oral) is conducted in groups of maximum four. There is a short interval between parts.

A2

€ 160.00

A2 Integration Exam

Official proof of German language proficiency to fulfill the requirements of Module 1 of the Integration Agreement (IV) 2017 + as Language Competence Certificate in the European Higher Education Area (ERASMUS+)*. This exam includes language competence, value and orientation section.

The A2 Integration Exam tests both language competence (written, oral) and knowledge of values and orientation. The test consists of three parts:

  • the first part is written (80 min.)
  • the second covers values and orientation (40 min.)
  • the third part is oral (10 min.)

The first (written) part is composed of three subsections: reading (40 min.), listening (15 min.) and writing (25 min.) The second part (values and orientation section) consists of 18 exam items that address the central topics of everyday living together, like education and communication, work and business, health, living and neighbourhood environment as well as the principles and variety of living together with reference to lawful and cultural integration. The third part (oral) is conducted as an individual exam. There is a short interval between parts.

B1

€ 160.00

B1 Integration Exam

Official proof of German language proficiency to fulfill the requirements of Module 2 of the Integration Agreement (IV) 2017 + for the application for the Austrian citizenship (after minimum 10 years residence) + as Language Competence Certificate in the European Higher Education Area (ERASMUS+)*. This exam includes language competence, value and orientation section.

The B1 Integration exam tests both language competence (written, oral) and knowledge of values and orientation. The test consists of three parts:

  • the first part (language competence) is written (100 min.)
  • the second covers values and orientation (40 min.)
  • the third part is oral (15 min.)

The first part (written language competence) is composed of three subsections: listening (25 min.), reading (45 min.) and writing (30 min.) The second part (values and orientation section) consists of 18 exam items that address the central topics of everyday living together, like educations and communication, work and business, health, living and neighbourhood environment as well as the principles and variety of living together with reference to lawful and cultural integration. The third (oral) part takes place in pairs. There is a short interval between parts.

B2

€ 170.00

B2 Language Exam

Application for Austrian citizenship (after minimum 6 years residence) + for admission to certain Austrian universities + as Language Competence Certificate in the European Higher Education Area (ERASMUS+)*. This exam is NOT part of the Integration Agreement (IV) 2017, as there is no value and orientation section integrated.

The B2 language exam includes language competence (written, oral) and is structured as follows:

  • Part 1: language competence written, approx. 145 minutes
  • Part 2: language competence oral, approx. 15 – 25 minutes

The first part (written language competence) consists of the following parts: reading and language elements (approx. 90 minutes), listening (approx. 25 minutes) and writing (approx. 30 minutes). The second part (oral language competence) takes place in pairs. There is a short interval between parts.

To obtain the Austrian citizenship an additional test (“Staatsbügerschaftsprüfung”) – independent of the ÖIF – is required. In the federal state of Carinthia this is taken by the Carinthian Academy of Administration. The test includes questions about the Austrian history and basic democratic principles as well as questions related to the respective federal state, e.g. geography, administration, politics, economics. An online test, which prepares you appropriately, you find here.

* Notwithstanding the name, the Integration Test is actually a language examination, which was developed by the highly respected company telc (The European Language Certificates) and which is widely recognized throughout Europe. Thus, the exams of the ÖIF (Austrian Integration Fund) represent valid proof of language competence in the European higher education area (ERASMUS +). Please verify in advance whether the examination is actually recognized by the university in question. We recommend this procedure for all exams, regardless of the provider.

1660

candidates tested

15

certified examiners

157

exams held

Last update: March 24, 2022

Prerequisites for Participation

Important: If you don’t have the listed documents with you, you can NOT take the exam without exception!

  • Exam Registration

    The first step is to register for an exam. This can only be done online without exceptions.

  • Photo ID

    Please bring your valid official photo ID with you to the examination. Valid means that the expiration date must not be earlier than the examination date! Exceptions are passports, convention passports and alien’s/foreign passports: They are allowed to be expired for max. one year.

    The following IDs are accepted: passport, convention passports acc. to § 94 FPG, alien’s/foreign passports acc. to § 88 FPG, driver’s license (issued in Austria), ID card (issued in the EU), photo ID for EEA citizens, legitimation card, residence permit card (issued in Austria), Residence permit for reasons worthy of special consideration acc. to § 54 AsylG, card for asylum seekers acc. to § 51a AsylG (blue card), card for persons entitled to subsidiary protection acc. to § 52 AsylG (grey card), residence permit card acc. to § 51 AsylG 2005 (white card), procedural card acc. to § 50 AsylG 2005 (green card), alien’s/foreign identity card acc. to § 94a FPG, residence permit card acc. to § 46a Abs 4 FPG (“Duldungskarte”).

    Attention: In any case, please bring the exact ID you presented or uploaded when you registered! If you show a different photo ID during the exam (e.g. your driver’s license), this can lead to problems with identification and the examiners may not be able to admit you to the exam!

  • Residency Certification

    Please bring your current residency certification with you to the exam. It is issued by the responsible registration authority (municipal office or magistrate) and, if a citizen card is available, can also be requested online from the Central Registration Register (ZMR).

  • e-card

    If you have an e-card, please take it with you to the exam.

  • Writing Utencils

    You need a ballpoint pen for the exam. Pencils are not allowed.

Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted.

David Bly

Integration Agreement

The information given does not constitute a legal advice.

Objective of the Agreement

The objective of the Integration Agreement (IV) 2017 is to integrate third-country nationals legally domiciled in the federal territory and to enable them to participate in the social, economic and cultural life in Austria. Within the framework of this agreement third-country nationals are obliged to acquire knowledge of the German language as well as of the democratic order and the basic principles deriving from it.

German Before Immigration

Elementary German skills (Level A1) are already required before immigration to Austria for the issuance of certain first-time residence permits. This, however, is not part of the Integration Agreement. Proof of having attained this level (language diploma or certificate issued by an institution designated by the regulation) may not be older than one year on the date of the initial application.

Module 1 of the Integration Agreement

Advanced Basic Language Usage A2

The agreement applies to third-country nationals who have been granted a residence permit for the first time as from 1st of October 2017. By signing the integration agreement 2017, third-country nationals undertake to comply with Module 1 of the Integration Agreement according to the provisions of the Integration Act (IntG) and the Integration Agreement Ordinance (IV-V) within two years from the first issuance of the residence permit.

Compliance with Module 1 can be proven by providing one of the following documents:

  • proof of the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) of the successful completion of the A2 integration exam
  • equvialent proof of the successful completion of the integration exam
  • a school leaving certificate corresponding to the general university entrance qualifications as set out by § 64 (1) University Law 2002 BGBl. I No. 120/2002 or a vocational secondary school
  • residence permit “Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte”
  • residence permit “artist” pursuant to § 43a of NAG.

The proof of completion of Module 1 may not be older than two years at the time of submission of an application for renewal.

Excluded from the requirement are third-country nationals who

  • will be minors at the end of the two-year period
  • due to their physical or psychological state of health are unable to comply with the requirements (public health officer’s report required)
  • declare in writing that the duration of their stay in Austria is not to exceed 24 months within 3 years (in which case the application for a further renewal after the first renewal request is irrevocably denied).

Module 2 of the Integration Agreement

Independent Language Usage B1

Upon submitting an application for the residence permit “permanent residence EU” third-country nationals must have fulfilled the requirements of module II of the Integration Agreement.

Module 2 is fulfilled if third-country nationals

  • submit proof issued by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) of the successful completion of the integration test
  • submit equivalent evidence of the successful completion of the integration test
  • are minors who have attended a primary school or have attended the previous semester within the scope of compulsory schooling
  • are minors who attend a secondary school within the scope of general compulsory schooling and have received positive marks in the teaching subject “German” on the last issued certificate or school report
  • have attended at least five years of an Austrian compulsory school and have successfully completed the subject “German”
  • have successfully completed the subject “German” at a foreign secondary school after having had the subject “German” for a minimum of four years
  • submit a final apprenticeship examination or a skilled worker’s test certificate
  • have studied at least two years at a postsecondary institution (German as language of instruction) and have been granted at least 32 ECTS credits (16 semester hours) or have a postsecondary degree.

Excluded from the fulfillment are third-country nationals who

  • at the time of application are minors and are not yet subject to compulsory schooling
  • are not able to comply with the regulation due to their permanent poor state of health, either physically or mentally (public health officer’s report required).