If you're applying for German citizenship, you'll almost certainly have to sit the Einbürgerungstest, the citizenship test. It's a short multiple-choice test, and every possible question is published in advance, so you can learn exactly what it covers.
Here's how the test works, what it costs, who can skip it and how to prepare.
How the test works
The format is set by the citizenship test regulation, the EinbTestV, and described by the BAMF, the federal office that runs it:
- you get a paper booklet with 33 questions, each with four possible answers and one right one;
- 30 questions cover three areas, "Leben in der Demokratie" (living in a democracy), "Geschichte und Verantwortung" (history and responsibility) and "Mensch und Gesellschaft" (people and society), and 3 are about the federal state where you have your main residence;
- you have 60 minutes under supervision, and you need at least 17 correct answers;
- each booklet is one of 100 unpublished versions drawn from the published catalogue.
The test papers are only in German, and you fill them in on paper, as the Munich Red Cross test centre confirms. So reading is the German skill this test checks.
Registration, fee and results
Ask your naturalisation authority (Einbürgerungsbehörde) which test centres are near you. The BAMF also publishes a list for each federal state. You register with the test centre directly and pay €25. Bring a valid photo ID on the day.
The BAMF marks every test centrally and sends you a certificate with your result. Plan for a wait: when it updated its page on 9 November 2026, the BAMF was marking tests sat up to 4 September 2026, about two months earlier. The certificate stays valid if you move to another town. If you score fewer than 17, you can take the test again.
If you apply from abroad, the Federal Office of Administration (BVA) registers you, and you take the test at the German embassy or consulate.
Who doesn't need to take the test?
According to the BAMF, the BVA and the Interior Ministry's guidance on the Nationality Act (AH-StAG), you can skip the test if:
- you have a German school-leaving certificate, from a Hauptschule or higher;
- you have a degree from a German university in law, social sciences, politics or public administration;
- you scored at least 17 points in the "Leben in Deutschland" test at the end of an integration course;
- you're under 16;
- illness, disability or age makes passing impossible.
The "Leben in Deutschland" test is the same kind of test. It uses the same catalogue, the same 33 questions and the same 60 minutes:
| Einbürgerungstest | "Leben in Deutschland" | |
|---|---|---|
| Who takes it | Citizenship applicants | Integration course participants, after the orientation course |
| Pass mark | 17 of 33 | 15 of 33 |
| Counts for citizenship | Yes | Only with 17 points or more |
| Fee | €25 | Part of the integration course |
How to prepare
The BAMF's free online test centre lets you work through the whole catalogue, shows the right answer after each question with short background notes, and has a full mock test. The catalogue is also available as a PDF. Some federal states run citizenship preparation courses, which the Nationality Act makes optional, and your naturalisation authority can tell you about them.
The test is only one part of the application. You also need B1 German, and most people find that the bigger job. Our guide to the German citizenship language requirement explains what counts as B1 proof and who is exempt.
Reading the questions is easier when the vocabulary of German public life already feels familiar. Our app, Copycat Cafe, teaches German through everyday scenes like this one from a B1 lesson about a local election:
„Weißt du schon, wen du bei der Kommunalwahl wählst?“
"Do you already know whom you're voting for in the local election?"
„Noch nicht. Einerseits brauchen wir mehr Busverbindungen, andererseits sollen die Fahrpreise nicht steigen.“
"Not yet. On the one hand, we need more bus services; on the other, fares shouldn't go up."
You hear each conversation at normal or slow speed and rebuild every line by ear, say the lines aloud and get a 0–100 pronunciation score on every word, then use the same German with Copy, your AI conversation partner. The German course has 50 lessons at each level from A1 to B2. Copycat Cafe costs $174 a year ($14.50 a month) or $29 a month in the US, with a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first payment.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions do you need to pass the German citizenship test?
17 of 33. You have 60 minutes, and every question has four answers with one correct.
How much does the Einbürgerungstest cost?
€25, paid to the test centre. Naturalisation itself costs €255 per adult.
Are the test questions published?
Yes. The BAMF publishes the full catalogue: 300 general questions and 10 for each federal state. The 100 test booklets built from it aren't published.
Can I take the German citizenship test in English?
No. The questions and answers are in German.
How long does it take to get the result?
The BAMF marks the tests centrally. In November 2026 it was about two months behind, marking tests sat in early September.