A full characterization of accessibility is provided for nonlinear time-delay systems. It generalizes the rank condition which is known for weak controllability of linear time-delay systems, as well as the celebrated geometric approach for delay-free nonlinear systems and the characterization of their accessibility. Besides, fundamental results are derived on integrability and basis completion which are of major importance for a number of general control problems for nonlinear time-delay systems. They are shown to impact preconceived ideas about canonical forms for nonlinear time-delay systems.