After the test: results, waiting times, next steps

The 33 questions are answered, the answer sheet is handed in, and then nothing happens for a while. For a lot of people this stretch is the hardest part of the whole process, mostly because there is little to do but wait and it is not always clear what counts as normal. This guide covers what happens after the naturalization test or Leben in Deutschland test, how long the wait for a result usually takes, and what comes next on the way to citizenship.

What happens right after the test

Unlike many other exams, there is no result on the day itself. The answer sheet is not marked at the test centre. It is evaluated centrally by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). The test centre, usually a Volkshochschule (adult education centre), collects the answer sheets and forwards them. So when you leave the room, you do not yet know whether you passed. That is expected and not a sign that anything went wrong.

How long the waiting time is

The result arrives by post, usually as a letter with the certificate or a written notice. A common range is 4 to 8 weeks, and in some regions it can take noticeably longer. How long exactly depends on the office handling it and how much work is currently in the queue, and it varies by location. If several weeks have passed with nothing arriving, the test centre where you took the test is the right place to ask. They can check whether the result has already come through or whether something is missing, for example an address issue.

The certificate and the two pass marks

If you passed, you receive a certificate stating how many of the 33 questions you answered correctly. One detail matters here: there are two different thresholds, depending on what the result is used for.

• For the naturalization test, the certificate you need for citizenship, the pass mark is 17 out of 33 correct.
• For the "Leben in Deutschland" certificate at the end of an integration course, the pass mark is lower, 15 out of 33 correct.

Both certificates come from the same test with the same 33 questions drawn from the shared catalog. If you need the certificate for naturalization, aim for 17 correct answers, even though 15 would be enough to complete an integration course. The guide to the Leben in Deutschland test covers how the two certificates relate to each other in more detail.

If you did not pass

The test can be repeated as many times as needed, there is no limit on attempts. Each new attempt costs the full fee again, currently 25 euros. To take it again, you register at a test centre just as you did the first time. It usually helps to go back and focus specifically on the topics that caused trouble last time, rather than restudying the entire catalog from scratch. The guide to how the test works covers registration and the test day in more detail.

Next steps toward naturalization

The certificate is only one document among several needed for a naturalization application. Others typically include a German language certificate at level B1, proof of income, proof of your residence status, and identity documents. The application itself goes to your local naturalization office (Einbürgerungsbehörde), usually run by the city or district. Processing times there vary widely by location and often run to several months. The overview of citizenship requirements after the 2024 reform covers the other conditions for naturalization.

Keep the original certificate somewhere safe, together with your other important documents. It is worth making at least one copy for the application itself, so the original does not have to be handed over.

Does the certificate expire

No, the certificate has no expiry date. Once issued, it stays valid and does not need to be renewed or retaken, even if the naturalization application is filed years later.

What to do while you wait

• Make sure your address and contact details on file with the test centre are current, so the letter actually reaches you.
• If several weeks pass with no news, contact the test centre directly instead of just continuing to wait.
• Start gathering the other documents for the naturalization application, such as the language certificate and proof of income.
• If you need one, book an appointment or an advice session at the naturalization office. In some places that alone takes a while to arrange.
• Do not compare your own timeline too closely with what you read in forums or hear from others. Waiting times differ a lot by region and current workload.

Rules, fees, and processing times can change and differ between states and offices. For your own situation, the local naturalization office and the test centre where you took the test are the most reliable sources.