How can employees around the world be trained efficiently and consistently in ID and identity verification? Our project report shows how the Goethe-Institut and onysID worked together to create an international eLearning program. Read more about this project here.
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Identity Verification as a Quality Standard: eLearning Training for the Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Institut offers German language courses and examinations worldwide. For various official and professional purposes, including citizenship texts, these examinations serve as proof of language proficiency. Conducting these examinations also involves the responsibility of reliably verifying the identity of participants.
In practice, this can be challenging. People sometimes try to bypass identity checks or trick Goethe-Institut staff who are responsible for verifying participants before exams. In some cases, individuals attempt to gain access to examinations under a false identity in order to take the test on behalf of someone else or by using forged identity documents.
To raise awareness of these risks among employees worldwide and provide them with practical guidance, the Goethe-Institut launched an international training project on document and identity verification.
Since November 2025, approximately 2,000 employees in 100 countries have been trained through an eLearning program provided by onysID GmbH. The training is available in both German and English and is intended for employees involved in verifying participants’ identities as part of language courses and examinations.
The learning content is based on existing eLearning courses developed by onysID and has been structurally adapted to meet the specific requirements of the Goethe-Institut and aligned with the institute’s visual identity.
The training program consists of two courses:
The first course covers the fundamentals of document verification. Participants learn how to assess the authenticity and plausibility of official identity documents, such as passports and national identity cards, without requiring detailed knowledge of the security features used by every issuing country.
The second course focuses on biometric identity verification. It addresses the question of whether the photograph on an identity document actually matches the person presenting it. The training covers the key principles and methods of facial comparison and highlights the importance of verifying the individual as a complement to document inspection.
A Deliberate Choice for eLearning
One of the main challenges of the project was the international distribution of the target audience. The training needed to be accessible to employees across different countries and time zones.
By using a web-based eLearning system, the training content can be accessed anytime and from anywhere. Participants complete the courses at their own pace and have the flexibility to pause or revisit learning content as needed.
Thank You
We would like to thank all Goethe-Institut employees who contributed to the success of this project. The collaboration was characterized by open, constructive, and professional communication throughout.
We are pleased that the eLearning courses are now being used worldwide and wish all participants continued success in their learning journey.
About the Goethe-Institut
The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global presence. It promotes the German language abroad, supports international cultural exchange, and fosters dialogue on cultural, social, and political topics. With 154 institutes in 100 countries and numerous partner organizations, the Goethe-Institut maintains a worldwide network and offers language courses, examinations, and educational programs across the globe.
For more information about the Goethe-Institut and its global network, please visit the official website: Goethe-Institut.
Stay Alert: Current Examples from Practice
Attempts to circumvent identity checks in examination environments are not merely theoretical scenarios. Cases continue to emerge in which examinations are taken by third parties or forged identity documents are used.
In February 2026, both Bayerischer Rundfunk and the Bavarian Police reported on a suspected fraud case involving German language and naturalization tests. Further information is available in the reports published by Bayerischer Rundfunk (https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/betrug-bei-deutsch-und-einbuergerungstests-fliegt-auf,VAj5nX6) and the Bavarian Police (https://www.polizei.bayern.de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/098052/index.html).
