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 center. It is evaluated centrally by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). The test center, usually a Volkshochschule (adult education center), 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

For the naturalization test, BAMF sends the result by post as a written notice (Bescheinigung). For the Leben in Deutschland test in an integration course, BAMF issues the Zertifikat Integrationskurs if you pass the test and reach level B1 in the language test. Otherwise it issues a Bescheinigung with your results. Where needed, BAMF also informs your course provider of the results. There is no fixed waiting time. It depends on how much work BAMF currently has. The Volkshochschule (VHS) Pankow in Berlin, for example, says the result arrives from BAMF after 6 to 8 weeks, and it can take longer. The BAMF page on naturalization (in German) shows up to which test date BAMF is currently marking tests. After marking, the result still has to be sent to you. If your test date is well before that date and you still have no result, contact BAMF. VHS Pankow also says that it cannot give information about results.

The certificate and the two pass marks

Every participant receives a written result, not only those who pass. For the naturalization test, it states 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 test at the end of an integration course, the pass mark is lower, 15 out of 33 correct. A result of 17 or more there also counts for naturalization.

Both tests use the same catalog and the same format with 33 questions. If you need the result for naturalization, aim for at least 17 correct answers, even though 15 are enough to pass the Leben in Deutschland test. If you are unsure which result your naturalization office (Einbürgerungsbehörde) accepts, ask there. The guide to the Leben in Deutschland test covers how the two tests relate to each other in more detail.

If you did not pass

The naturalization 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 center just as you did the first time. If you took the Leben in Deutschland test in an integration course, ask your course provider what comes next. 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

The rules for the tests set no expiry date for the certificate. If you apply for naturalization years later, ask your naturalization office whether it still accepts the certificate.

What to do while you wait

Make sure your address and contact details on file with the test center are current, so the letter actually reaches you.
If your test date is well before the date on the BAMF page and no result has arrived, contact BAMF 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. The wait for the result depends on BAMF's current workload, and processing times at naturalization offices differ a lot by region.

Rules, fees, and processing times can change and differ between states and offices. For your own situation, the local naturalization office is the most reliable source. For questions about your result, contact BAMF.