Learning German in Indonesia
German is the step that decides how fast every other step goes. Start before you have chosen a route.
Where
- Goethe-Institut Jakarta and Bandung; Goethe-Zentrum / Wisma Jerman Surabaya.
- Exam centres also in Medan, Semarang, Bali, Makassar and Ambon.
- Triple Win nurses get the course from A1 to B1 free, in Bandung, over up to 12 months. See Nursing route.
- KP2MI training centres and the MOVE-ID counselling centres (part of a GIZ programme) also appear in the material. Their terms are not confirmed.
Which certificates count
- The German Federal Foreign Office accepts certificates from ALTE-standardised tests: Goethe, telc, ÖSD, TestDaF (from B2), ECL, DSD/KMK. Certificates from other language schools are not accepted for the visa.
- The exam date should normally be at most 1 year old when you apply.
- Required level by route: Triple Win nursing B1 before departure and B2 for the professional licence; Ausbildung in practice B1; Opportunity Card A1 German (or English B2); skilled worker often B1 to B2, depending on profession and employer; degree studies taught in German usually C1.
Prices (Goethe, July to December 2025; 2026 prices not confirmed)
| Item | Goethe students | External |
|---|---|---|
| A2 full exam | Rp 2,150,000 | Rp 2,400,000 |
| B1 full exam | Rp 2,700,000 | Rp 3,100,000 |
| B1 single module | Rp 950,000 | Rp 1,050,000 |
| B2 full exam | Rp 3,250,000 | Rp 3,500,000 |
| Course, per term | Rp 4,150,000 to 7,250,000 | |
| Placement test | Rp 350,000 | |
Prices outside Jakarta differ. Check the Goethe-Institut Indonesia site for the current list before you book.
Continuing in Berlin
Once you are here, vocational language courses (Berufssprachkurse, DeuFöV) run through BAMF take you from B1 to B2 and higher, and the Berlin Volkshochschulen are the cheapest general option. See After arrival in Berlin.
A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.