Four weeks, as a rule
The VHS asks for citizenship test registrations roughly four weeks before the date you want. Language exam deadlines are set per sitting, so check both when you plan a naturalisation file.
Nordrhein-Westfalen · 590,000
German exam centres in Dortmund
Dortmund covers telc from A1 to C2, the DTZ and the citizenship test across three centres - the Volkshochschule, the Auslandsgesellschaft and IBZ. There is no Goethe-Institut in the city; for a Goethe-Zertifikat the nearest option is Düsseldorf.
telcDTZChecked July 2026
Where to sit the exam
4 verified centres in Dortmund
Each entry was checked on the centre's own website. Dates and fees change, so confirm directly with the centre before you pay.
| Centre | Exams | Levels | Frequency | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VHS DortmundCertified telc examination centre. Registration for the citizenship test is generally about four weeks before the desired date. | telc | telc Deutsch A1 to C1, Einbürgerungstest | See centre | Einbürgerungstest €25, card payment only |
| Auslandsgesellschaft.deLicensed telc centre and a BAMF-approved DTZ test site. One of only two approved centres for the Einbürgerungstest in Dortmund. | telcDTZ | telc A1 to C2, DTZ, Leben in Deutschland, Einbürgerungstest, Cambridge exams | See centre | See centre |
| IBZ DortmundFreistuhl 3 | telcDTZ | telc A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C1 Hochschule; DTZ; DSH through partner universities | See centre | See centre |
| Westfalia BildungszentrumBissenkamp 12-16Online registration per level, with a consultation appointment offered. Retakes are unlimited: "Sie können eine Prüfung wiederholen, sooft Sie möchten." | telcDTZ | telc Deutsch B1, B2, C1 Allgemein and C1 Hochschule; DTZ B1 | See centre | B1 and B2 €160 written and oral, or €140 for a single componentC1 Allgemein and C1 Hochschule €180, or €160 per component |
We do not publish individual sitting dates: they change too often to be safe. Follow the centre link for the current calendar.
Booking in this city
What is different about Dortmund
Card only, no cash
The €25 citizenship test fee is payable by EC or credit card. Bring the card as well as your ID.
Goethe means travelling
Dortmund has no Goethe-Institut. If a Goethe-Zertifikat is specifically required, Düsseldorf is the closest exam location; if any recognised certificate will do, telc at the VHS is far simpler.
One provider for language and knowledge
Because the VHS runs both the telc exams and the Einbürgerungstest, you can line up the language certificate and the knowledge test with the same institution and only learn one registration process.
You can pay for one component
Westfalia charges €160 for the written and oral parts together at B1, B2 and C1 Allgemein, with reduced fees if you only need one component. Useful when you have passed half the exam already.
Only two centres do the citizenship test
The Auslandsgesellschaft states it is one of just two approved Einbürgerungstest sites in Dortmund. With that little capacity in a city of 590,000, book as far ahead as the centre will let you.
The DTZ has its own centres here
The VHS route covers telc and the citizenship test; for the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer go to a BAMF-approved site such as the Auslandsgesellschaft or IBZ.
Have the date? Now get the score.
Booking is the easy half. Sit a full model test in the format you booked - Goethe, telc or DTZ - and let the analytics tell you which module needs the weeks between now and your date.
FAQ
Taking a German exam in Dortmund
Where can I take a telc exam in Dortmund?
At the Volkshochschule Dortmund, a certified telc examination centre offering telc Deutsch from A1 to C1.
How much is the Einbürgerungstest in Dortmund, and how do I register?
€25, payable by EC or credit card only. Register roughly four weeks before the date you want. The test is 33 questions - 30 national and 3 on the federal state - in 60 minutes, with 17 correct answers needed to pass.
Is there a Goethe-Institut in Dortmund?
No. The nearest Goethe exam location for the Ruhr area is Düsseldorf. For most residence and citizenship purposes a telc certificate at the same level is equally acceptable - check what the office asking for it will accept.
Official directories
The exam boards maintain their own centre finders. They are the authoritative list.
Preparing for an exam in Dortmund?
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