If you are applying for spouse family reunification in Denmark, you may have heard that you must pass a B1 English test. That is not a universal requirement.
The answer depends on which integration conditions you and your partner can document, whether you already have accepted language evidence, and whether an exemption applies. Applicants from English-speaking countries should also check their school qualifications before booking a separate examination.
Understanding these distinctions can prevent unnecessary testing costs and help you prepare the correct documents.
How does the integration requirement work?
Under the ordinary national spouse-reunification rules, couples generally need to meet four of six integration conditions. Three concern the applicant and three concern the partner living in Denmark.
The partner in Denmark must satisfy the mandatory Danish-language condition, either through an accepted Danish examination or qualifying employment involving substantial communication in Danish. The couple then selects three of the remaining five conditions. Different rules apply to other routes, including accompanying family members and residence under EU law.
The applicant’s three possible contributions concern:
- An accepted Danish or English language qualification.
- Qualifying employment.
- Qualifying education.
The application form confirms that couples choose which optional conditions they want assessed and provide evidence accordingly. English B1 is therefore one possible way to support the application, rather than a test every applicant must take.
Before booking an examination, prepare a simple checklist showing which conditions each partner intends to meet and the documents supporting each one.
When is a B1 English test needed?
The English route becomes relevant when you intend to count the applicant’s language condition and do not already have other accepted evidence.
For that condition, the applicant can use Prøve i Dansk 1 or an accepted equivalent or higher Danish test, or qualifying English evidence at CEFR B1 or above.
Consider two illustrative situations:
A couple needs the applicant’s language condition.
Their document review shows that language evidence is necessary to complete their selected combination. They should establish whether an existing certificate or school qualification is accepted before arranging a new test.
A couple can document another qualifying combination.
They should assess that combination before assuming the applicant needs to spend time and money on an English examination.
These examples are a planning method. The underlying employment and education evidence must also satisfy the relevant conditions.
Do applicants from English-speaking countries need to take the test?
Coming from an English-speaking country does not, by itself, establish the language condition. However, qualifying English-medium schooling may be accepted without a separate B1 examination.
The Immigration Service’s official list allows completed schooling to be accepted where:
- The school is at least equivalent to Danish compulsory-school level.
- Most subjects were taught in English.
- The schooling took place in a country where English is a main language, or at an English-language international school.
Such qualifications may be accepted even when the certificate does not expressly state a CEFR level.
An applicant from the UK, USA, Australia or another English-speaking country should therefore begin with their actual school records. A passport establishes nationality; it does not explain the level, completion or teaching language of their schooling.
As practical preparation, collect the final certificate and, where necessary, ask the school for a letter explaining the qualification and medium of instruction. Do not assume that a university’s English-language admission waiver automatically establishes compliance with Danish immigration rules.
Which English tests are recognised?
The Immigration Service publishes examples of accepted examinations. Selected entries from its current list include:
| Examination | B1 entry or score shown in the official list |
| Cambridge PET | B1 |
| Trinity Integrated Skills in English | ISE I |
| IELTS | 4.0–4.5 |
| TOEFL iBT taken before 21 January 2026 | 42–71 |
| TOEFL iBT taken on or after 21 January 2026 | 3–3.5 |
| TOEIC | Listening & Reading 550 and Speaking & Writing 240 |
| Pearson PTE General | Level 2, 43–58 |
The list also includes higher-level qualifications.
Check the exact examination product before paying. A provider may offer several tests with similar names. The official list’s reference to Trinity ISE, for example, should not be treated as blanket acceptance of every Trinity examination.
Likewise, the Pearson entry specifically names PTE General. Do not assume that another Pearson product is interchangeable.
When contacting a provider, give the full examination title and ask for a sample result certificate. If the product name, delivery format or scoring system differs from the official list, obtain clarification from the Immigration Service before booking.
Must the examination assess all four language skills?
The official guidance for national English examinations requires assessment of reading, writing, listening and speaking, with evidence of B1 or higher. It also specifies language and institutional attestation requirements for the certificate.
This makes an examination described simply as “B1” worth checking carefully. A speaking-only assessment, course attendance certificate, or informal online placement result should not be assumed sufficient.
Before booking, ask:
- What is the exact examination name?
- Which skills does it assess?
- What result demonstrates the relevant level?
- What certificate will be issued?
- Can the result be verified with the examining organisation?
The Immigration Service identifies recognised providers, including ALTE-member organisations and established international testing organisations. It advises applicants unsure about a test’s level to contact the organisation.
Prepare the evidence before submitting
If you rely on an English examination, the application form asks for the diploma from a recognised language-testing organisation, with the relevant translation where required.
A useful preparation file contains:
- The complete certificate or result report.
- The precise examination title and test date.
- The score and any available CEFR information.
- Evidence connecting a previous name to your current identity, if necessary.
- Any written clarification obtained about the qualification.
For school-based evidence, keep the completion certificate and supporting explanation together. Label an explanatory school letter clearly so its purpose is apparent.
If you already hold a certificate, have it reviewed before booking another examination. Check whether its age, format or verification arrangements need clarification rather than assuming acceptance or rejection.
Does English B1 replace the Danish tests after approval?
No. The English evidence used for the integration requirement and the Danish tests following approval serve different purposes.
The separate post-approval guidance normally requires Danish A1 within six months and A2 within nine months. The starting point depends on the applicant’s circumstances: it can be CPR registration or the grant of the spouse permit for someone already lawfully resident in Denmark. The individual decision letter states the applicable deadlines.
Keep these obligations on a separate calendar. Passing an English examination before applying should not lead you to overlook instructions accompanying a later residence approval.
Can the integration requirement be waived?
The Immigration Service describes possible exemptions in particular circumstances, including certain cases involving minor children or serious illness or disability. These require an individual assessment.
An exemption argument is different from showing that you already meet the language condition through accepted schooling. Identify which position you are relying on and prepare the evidence supporting it.
For people searching “lawyer family reunification”, the most useful starting point is a review of the couple’s selected integration conditions and the applicant’s existing qualifications. familie-sammenføring.dk can be contacted to discuss that review before an examination is booked.
Frequently asked questions
I am a native English speaker. Should I book a test immediately?
Start by reviewing your completed school qualifications. Native-language ability and documentary proof are different questions; a separate examination may be unnecessary if your existing evidence is accepted.
Does an English-taught degree automatically replace B1 evidence?
Do not assume so. Ask for a review of the qualification against the official criteria, supplying the certificate and evidence of the teaching language.
Can I use any examination advertised as “B1 for a visa”?
Check the exact product against the Danish guidance. A test marketed for another country’s immigration system may have a different format or assess different skills.
Should I choose IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge?
First, check whether existing evidence can be used. If a new test is needed, compare the accepted product, available dates, assessed skills, result format, and total cost.
What should we do before applying?
Create a documented integration checklist, identify the conditions you intend to count, and resolve uncertainty about the language evidence before relying on it in the application.