Citizenship Guides
Which language level you need for citizenship in the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, Sweden and Denmark in 2026, how to prove it, and who is exempt.
"You need B1" is the most common answer to the language question for citizenship, and it is wrong for about half of the popular destinations. France now asks for B2, Spain for A2, Canada uses its own benchmark scale, and the USA uses no level at all. This guide compares the citizenship language requirements of eight countries in 2026: the level, how to prove it, and who is exempt.
B1 is the most common level: the UK requires B1 in speaking and listening, and Germany requires B1. France requires B2 since 2026 and Denmark normally requires Prøve i Dansk 3, which relates to B2. Spain requires only A2. Canada requires CLB 4 in speaking and listening, and the USA tests basic English at the interview.
| Country | Level | Typical proof | Age exemption |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Basic English, no CEFR level | Interview: speaking, reading 1 of 3 sentences, writing 1 of 3 | 50/20, 55/15, 65/20 |
| UK | B1 speaking and listening | Approved English test (SELT) or degree taught in English | 65 and over |
| Canada | CLB/NCLC 4 speaking and listening | CELPIP, IELTS General, PTE Core, TEF or TCF Canada, or education in English or French | 55 and over (and under 18) |
| Germany | B1 | Zertifikat Deutsch or equivalent, such as the DTZ at B1 | Only for illness, disability or age-related inability |
| France | B2 spoken and written (since 1 Jan 2026) | TCF or TEF under 2 years old, or a qualifying French diploma | Refugees or stateless over 70 with 15 years' residence |
| Spain | A2 | DELE A2 or higher | Under 18 |
| Sweden | B1 reading and listening, A2 speaking and writing (since 6 Jun 2026) | School grades in Swedish, SFI course D or Tisus | 67 and over |
| Denmark | Prøve i Dansk 3 (B2), or Prøve i Dansk 2 in some cases | Danish language exam or Danish education | None |
US law asks applicants to read, write, speak and understand ordinary English, without a CEFR level and without certificates. Speaking is judged during the naturalization interview, and you must read one of up to three sentences and write one of up to three sentences correctly. Applicants aged 50 with 20 years of permanent residence, or 55 with 15 years, are exempt from English. Details are in our guide to the USCIS English test.
The UK requires B1 in speaking and listening only. Accepted proof includes an approved Secure English Language Test at B1 or above, a degree taught in English and recognised by Ecctis, nationality of a majority English-speaking country, or a B1 already accepted for settlement. According to GOV.UK, GCSEs, A levels and NVQs cannot be used. Applicants under 18, aged 65 or over, or with a long-term physical or mental condition are exempt.
Applicants aged 18 to 54 must show Canadian Language Benchmark (or NCLC) level 4 in speaking and listening, in English or French. Accepted proof includes CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada, a secondary or post-secondary program completed in English or French in or outside Canada, or LINC or CLIC classes at CLB 4. An application sent without proof is returned.
German naturalisation requires German at B1, usually proven by the Zertifikat Deutsch or an equivalent such as the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer at B1. Exemptions exist only where illness, disability or age makes it impossible to meet the requirement. The knowledge test is separate: the Einbürgerungstest, 33 questions with 17 needed to pass. See Leben in Deutschland Test vs. Einbürgerungstest for how it relates to the integration course test.
For naturalisation applications filed from 1 January 2026, France requires B2 in both spoken and written French, up from B1. According to Service-Public.fr, accepted proof includes the diplôme national du brevet, a French state diploma at level 3 or above, a qualifying professional certification, any diploma attesting B2, or a TCF or TEF result less than two years old. France also introduced a separate examen civique on 1 January 2026: 40 multiple choice questions, with 32 correct needed to pass.
Spain has the lowest level of the eight: DELE A2 or higher, or an official language school certificate at A2 or above. Nationals by origin of countries where Spanish is an official language are exempt from the DELE, as are applicants under 18. The separate CCSE knowledge test has 25 questions, and 15 correct answers pass.
Since 6 June 2026, Swedish citizenship requires knowledge of Swedish and of Swedish society for applicants aged 16 to 66. The target is B1 for reading and listening and A2 for speaking and writing. For now, Migrationsverket accepts passing grades in Swedish or Swedish as a second language, SFI course D, folkhögskola studies or the Tisus test. A dedicated Swedish language test is planned for autumn 2027 at the earliest. The society test, medborgarskapsprovet, was first held in August 2026.
Denmark normally requires Prøve i Dansk 3, which the test regulation relates to level B2, or an equivalent such as Danish upper secondary education. Prøve i Dansk 2 (B1) is enough for applicants who are self-supporting and have received public assistance for no more than three months in the last nine years. There is no age exemption. The separate citizenship test, indfødsretsprøven, is explained in Indfødsretsprøven vs Medborgerskabsprøven.
Free CivicPass quizzes in your browser for 8 countries, with explanations and no account.
Try the free Germany quizFor the number of questions and pass marks in each country's knowledge test, see how many questions are on each citizenship test, and for exemptions beyond age, citizenship test exemptions.
It depends on the country. B1 is the most common requirement: the UK asks for B1 in speaking and listening and Germany for B1. France requires B2 for applications filed from 1 January 2026, Denmark normally requires Prøve i Dansk 3, Spain requires A2, Canada requires CLB 4 in speaking and listening, and the USA tests basic English at the interview without a CEFR level.
No, in almost every country they are separate. The language requirement is usually proven with a certificate or diploma, while knowledge of the country is tested in a civics test such as the Life in the UK test, the Einbürgerungstest, the Spanish CCSE or the French examen civique. The USA is the exception: both are tested in the same interview.
In several countries, yes. Canada exempts applicants aged 55 and over, the UK those aged 65 and over, and Sweden those aged 67 and over. The USA exempts applicants aged 50 with 20 years of permanent residence or 55 with 15 years. Denmark has no age exemption, and France only exempts refugees or stateless people over 70 with 15 years of residence, besides medical cases.
Yes, in two countries. France raised the level from B1 to B2 for naturalisation applications filed from 1 January 2026 and introduced a separate civic exam. Sweden introduced requirements for knowledge of Swedish and of Swedish society from 6 June 2026, although its dedicated Swedish language test is planned for autumn 2027 at the earliest.