The German citizenship test (Einbürgerungstest) is a 33-question multiple-choice exam that most adults must pass to naturalise in Germany. It checks basic knowledge of the country’s legal system, history, and society, and it costs €25 per attempt.
This guide explains the German citizenship test format, what the questions cover, who is exempt, how to register, and how to prepare using the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees’ (BAMF) free practice tools.
Key Takeaways
- The test has 33 multiple-choice questions: 30 general questions and three about your federal state.
- You need 17 correct answers in 60 minutes to pass.
- Each attempt costs €25, and you can book another attempt if you fail.
- Every question that can appear is public, and BAMF offers free online practice.
- Children under 16, holders of a German school-leaving certificate, and people unable to sit the test because of illness, disability, or age are exempt.
- The test is one naturalisation requirement; most applicants also need five years of legal residence and B1 German.
Table of Contents
What is the German citizenship test?
The German citizenship test is the standard way to prove the knowledge of Germany’s legal and social order and living conditions that the Nationality Act (StAG) requires for naturalisation. Section 10 of the Act says applicants usually prove this knowledge by passing the test. BAMF sets the questions, approves the test centres, and issues the results.
The Leben in Deutschland (Life in Germany) test at the end of an integration course uses the same question catalogue. A Life in Germany certificate showing at least 17 of 33 points counts as proof for naturalisation, so integration course graduates with that score do not need to sit the test again.
German citizenship test format at a glance
The Naturalisation Test Regulation (EinbTestV) and BAMF guidance set the rules for the German citizenship test. Table 1 sums them up.
Table 1: German citizenship test format at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | 33 |
| General questions | 30, drawn from a catalogue of 300 |
| State questions | 3, drawn from 10 questions on your federal state |
| Answer format | Multiple choice, four options, one correct answer |
| Time allowed | 60 minutes |
| Pass mark | 17 correct answers |
| Fee | €25 per attempt |
| Language | German |
| Retakes | Allowed; each attempt costs €25 |
| Sources: BAMF naturalisation test page; Einbürgerungstestverordnung (EinbTestV), sections 1 and 2. As of November 2026. | |
There is no oral part and no essay. Mark one answer for each question on the answer sheet. BAMF builds 100 questionnaires from the catalogue and keeps them unpublished, but every question that can appear is public.
What the German citizenship test covers
BAMF groups the 300 general questions into three subject areas: living in a democracy, history and responsibility, and people and society. Questions range from the Basic Law (Grundgesetz), elections, and fundamental rights to the Nazi era, German reunification, the European Union, and everyday matters such as schooling and work.
The three state questions depend on the federal state where you have your main residence. Someone living in Bavaria answers questions about Bavaria, and someone living in Hamburg answers questions about Hamburg.
German citizenship test questions added in July 2024
An amendment to the question catalogue took effect on 1 July 2024, days after Germany’s citizenship reform. It rewrote 17 entries in the general section and some state questions, adding topics such as Jewish life in Germany, antisemitism, the State of Israel, and the Stolpersteine memorial stones. If you study from an older book or app, check that it uses the current catalogue; the BAMF catalogue PDF is dated 26 May 2025.
Sample German citizenship test questions
These three questions come from the official catalogue as published in the Federal Law Gazette. The translations are ours; the real test is in German.
Question 182: Wie heißt das jüdische Gebetshaus? (What is a Jewish house of prayer called?)
Options: Basilika, Moschee, Synagoge, Kirche (basilica, mosque, synagogue, church). Correct answer: Synagoge (synagogue).
Question 206: Woran erinnern die sogenannten „Stolpersteine“ in Deutschland? (What do the Stolpersteine in Germany commemorate?)
Options: famous German politicians, the victims of National Socialism, road traffic victims, well-known Jewish musicians. Correct answer: the victims of National Socialism.
Question 149: Was ist ein Beispiel für antisemitisches Verhalten? (What is an example of antisemitic behaviour?)
Options: attending a Jewish festival, criticising the Israeli government, denying the Holocaust, playing football against Jews. Correct answer: denying the Holocaust.
Who is exempt from the German citizenship test?
Not every applicant has to sit the German citizenship test. The Nationality Act and the Interior Ministry’s application notes (AH-StAG) set out the exemptions and alternatives in Table 2.
Table 2: Who is exempt from the German citizenship test
| Who | What applies | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Children under 16 | No proof of civic knowledge needed | Section 10(1) StAG; AH-StAG 2025 |
| Holders of a German school-leaving certificate (Hauptschulabschluss or higher) | Test not needed | BAMF; AH-StAG 2025 |
| Graduates of a German university in law, social sciences, political science, or public administration | Test usually not needed; other subjects assessed case by case | AH-StAG 2025 |
| Holders of a German vocational school certificate | May count if the course included civic education | AH-StAG 2025 |
| People who cannot sit the test because of illness, disability, or age | Requirement waived | Section 10(6) StAG |
| Guest workers recruited by 30 June 1974 and GDR contract workers who arrived by 13 June 1990 | Requirement waived | Section 10(4) and 10(6) StAG |
| Integration course graduates with at least 17 points in the Life in Germany test | Certificate counts as proof | BAMF |
| Sources: Nationality Act (StAG), section 10; Interior Ministry application notes (AH-StAG, May 2025); BAMF. Your naturalisation authority decides each case. | ||
An exemption from the test does not cancel other requirements such as B1 German, unless a separate exemption covers them too. Ask your naturalisation authority whether your certificate or degree counts before you book a test.
How to register for the German citizenship test
- Find a test centre. BAMF approves test centres (Prüfstellen), and many are adult education centres. Your naturalisation authority can name centres near you, and the BAMF website lists them by federal state.
- Register at the centre and pay the €25 fee.
- Bring a valid passport or photo ID on the test day.
- Sit the test: 33 questions in 60 minutes, under supervision.
- Receive your certificate from BAMF and submit it with your application to the naturalisation authority.
Results take several weeks. In November 2026, BAMF’s German-language page said it was evaluating tests taken up to 4 September 2026, a lag of about two months. Book the test well before you plan to apply for citizenship.
If you score fewer than 17, you can retake the test. Each new attempt costs €25.
How to prepare for the German citizenship test
BAMF’s online test centre is free. Its question catalogue shows every general question and the questions for your federal state, with the correct answer after each one. Its sample questionnaire gives you 33 questions that work like the real test. BAMF also offers the full catalogue as a PDF.
Naturalisation courses (Einbürgerungskurse) are available too, but attendance is voluntary. Because every question is public, steady practice works well: learn the 300 general questions and your state’s 10, then take timed sample tests until you score comfortably above 17.
Where the German citizenship test fits in naturalisation
The German citizenship test is one requirement among several. Most applicants also need five years of legal residence, B1 German, the means to support themselves and their family, a clean criminal record, and a commitment to Germany’s free democratic basic order. Germany repealed its three-year fast track in October 2025, and it has allowed dual citizenship since 27 June 2024, so applicants no longer have to give up their previous nationality. The naturalisation fee for an adult is €255.
Our guide to the types of Germany visa covers the full naturalisation rules, and our guide to permanent residency in Germany explains the settlement permit that many applicants hold first. For a wider view, see the list of countries that allow dual citizenship.
Citizenship tests in other countries
Many countries test applicants for citizenship. The Life in the UK test is a close comparison: 24 questions in 45 minutes, with a pass mark of 75%. Our guides also cover the US citizenship test, the Canadian citizenship test, and the Australian citizenship test.
German citizenship test: frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the German citizenship test?
It has 33 questions: 30 general questions and three about your federal state. You need 17 correct answers to pass.
How much does the German citizenship test cost?
Each attempt costs €25. The naturalisation application has a separate fee of €255 for an adult.
Can I take the German citizenship test in English?
No. The questionnaire is in German, so you need enough reading German to understand the questions and answers.
What happens if I fail the German citizenship test?
You can book another attempt at a test centre. Each attempt costs €25, and only a pass certificate counts for naturalisation.
Do I need the test if I finished an integration course?
Not if your Life in Germany certificate shows at least 17 of 33 points. That certificate counts as proof of civic knowledge for naturalisation.
How long does it take to get the result?
Several weeks. In November 2026, BAMF was evaluating tests taken about two months earlier, so allow time before you apply.