In Germany, growing numbers of migrants are reportedly bypassing official language and citizenship exams, with the help of organized fraud networks.
Recent police investigations reveal a thriving underground market where fake language certificates, paid impersonators, and leaked test questions are used to obtain residence permits, driving licenses, or even German citizenship — without meeting the required language standards.
Stuttgart police uncover shocking case
Just two weeks ago, police in Stuttgart exposed a particularly bold case. A 32-year-old woman tried to take a German language test using a forged passport belonging to a 45-year-old Iraqi citizen.
The incident took place at a language center in the Burgenlandstraße district of Stuttgart-Feuerbach.
Staff members quickly recognized the counterfeit document and called the police. The woman — who, according to authorities, holds German citizenship — was arrested and placed in pre-trial detention.
Investigators suspect she was paid to impersonate another applicant, suggesting a financially motivated organized scheme.
“Citizenship without exams” – TikTok as a black market
The case is far from isolated. Across Germany, social media platforms such as TikTok are being used to advertise illegal “services.”
Videos, often accompanied by Arabic-language captions and music, openly promote offers like:
- “Citizenship without school, without exams”
- “We help in all federal states.”
Investigative journalist Liv von Boetticher (RTL) uncovered that such sellers operate professionally, offering fake certificates even for fictional applicants abroad.
“The TikTok dealers act like a real business — fast, customized, and disturbingly efficient,” she reported.
A nationwide network of impersonators
In another major case, police in Heilbronn exposed a nationwide network of “doppelgängers” who took driver’s license exams on behalf of others.
The system allegedly involved:
- A 52-year-old driving school owner,
- A 38-year-old Bulgarian middleman, and
- A 37-year-old Syrian organizer, responsible for recruiting look-alikes who resembled the actual test-takers.
These stand-ins would travel across Germany, take the tests using the original applicants’ IDs, and charge up to €5,000 per attempt.
On June 25, 2025, authorities carried out a large-scale operation, issuing 12 arrest warrants and searching 29 properties across five German states and in Bulgaria. The main suspects are currently in custody.
Fake certificates with QR codes and professional websites
In Ellwangen and Backnang, two brothers from the Rems-Murr district built a highly professional fake certificate business.
Through a language school front, they sold more than 350 counterfeit documents between 2021 and 2024 — each costing up to €2,700.
Their operation included a dedicated server, a fake website, and QR codes that appeared to verify authenticity when scanned. The forgeries were even mailed directly to clients.
The Stuttgart District Court convicted both brothers — ethnic Serbs from Kosovo — and sentenced them to several years in prison.
Investigators estimated their total profit at over €300,000, with prosecutors initially alleging gains close to €880,000.
Leaked exam questions on Telegram
Fraud has also spread online in subtler ways. In North Rhine-Westphalia, investigators discovered Telegram groups offering leaked exam questions for the “German Test for Immigrants” (DTZ) — sometimes two days before official exams.
According to research by WDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk), access to these groups cost €50, with an additional €200 for the actual test materials.
Each group had around 50 participants, giving many the chance to pass the test unfairly.
Despite strict security protocols — such as sealed envelopes and centralized distribution of exam papers — the integrity of Germany’s testing system appears increasingly compromised.
Experts warn of rising trend
Experts describe these schemes as part of a worrying national trend.
Fake certificates and impersonation not only undermine public trust in immigration procedures, but also disadvantage honest test-takers who invest real effort to integrate.
Authorities are calling for tighter monitoring, stronger identity checks, and digital verification systems to prevent future abuse.
The challenge, however, lies in balancing security, fairness, and accessibility for genuine applicants who strive to make Germany their permanent home.
