TestDaF Dates, Fees and Registration Guide (2026)
Verified: 18 July 2026 · 10-minute read
Do not choose a TestDaF sitting by exam date alone. For a university application, calculate exam date + result time + safety margin. Digital results take about three weeks and paper results about six. Not every centre offers every central sitting, and the official portal is the final source for availability and the price in your country.
Freshness note: These dates were checked on 18 July 2026. A place in your country is not guaranteed; check the live TestDaF centre search before paying.
Verified remaining 2026 sittings
| Exam | Format | Published close* | Estimated result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 September 2026 | Digital | 11 September | around 13 October |
| 15 October 2026 | Paper | 11 September | around 26 November |
| 12 November 2026 | Digital | 30 October | around 3 December |
| 10 December 2026 | Digital; selected centres | 27 November | around 31 December |
*A centre or country may close earlier or not offer the date. Result estimates use the official approximate three/six-week windows; do not present them to a university as guaranteed dates.
Open the official live date and centre search →
How much does TestDaF cost?
The TestDaF FAQ lists €210 for digital and €215 for paper in Germany. Those are not universal prices. Your applicable country fee is displayed by the test centre or during online registration. Check the portal instead of converting the German fee.
International registration in five steps
- Create an account in the participant portal; an existing onSET, TestAS or DUO login may be reusable.
- Prepare an accepted photo ID and a current photograph.
- Select your country and compare only the centres, dates and formats actually shown as open.
- Confirm the local fee in the portal and pay; a place may not be secured before payment completes.
- Monitor the portal for the final start time and room details.
Planning practice: which sitting works?
Scenario 1
Your university needs the certificate by 1 November 2026. Choose between 22 September digital and 15 October paper.
Solution
22 September digital. Its normal result window reaches mid-October; paper would reach late November.
Scenario 2
Your deadline is 15 January 2027. You type slowly but write graph-and-argument texts better by hand.
Solution
15 October paper may be sensible: six weeks points to late November and leaves a buffer. Verify your performance with a paper model test.
Scenario 3
You plan to register on 2 November for the 12 November digital sitting.
Solution
You are probably too late. The published closing date is 30 October. The date shown for that sitting overrides the general eight-day rule.
Exam-day document check
- The same accepted photo ID used for registration.
- For paper TestDaF, a printed and signed Zulassungsschreiben.
- A black or blue ballpoint pen for the paper exam.
- No dictionary or learning material; aids are not permitted.
Work backwards from your date
Use a full mock to identify the skill with your lowest estimated TDN, then give it more of the final four weeks.
Open the TestDaF study plan →