How the naturalization test works

The Einbürgerungstest (naturalization test) and the Leben in Deutschland test are the same test. It has 33 questions, runs for 60 minutes, and counts as passed once 17 answers are correct. This guide walks through the process from registration to the result.

What the test checks

Each of the 33 questions has four answer options, exactly one of them correct. 30 questions come from the federal catalog of 300 questions. 3 questions come from the 10 questions specific to the German state (Bundesland) where the person lives or takes the test. A computer draws the questions at random from the catalog, so no two test sessions use the exact same set.

Registering for the test

You register at a Volkshochschule (adult education center) or another test center approved by the responsible state authority. Your local Volkshochschule or the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) can point you to approved centers in your area. Registration usually requires a valid ID or residence permit. The fee is 25 EUR per attempt, usually paid at registration or on the day of the test. If you take the test at the end of an integration course, check with your course provider whether the fee is already included in the course price. This is not handled the same way everywhere.

On the day of the test

Bring a valid ID and arrive on time, ideally a little early. Without ID, most centers will not let you take the test. Aids such as dictionaries, notes, or phones are not allowed during the test. The test is set in German, with no translation printed in the booklet. If you are still working on your German, plan for that when you prepare, since the test checks language comprehension and factual knowledge at the same time.

You get 60 minutes for the 33 questions, a little under two minutes per question. For most people who have practiced the catalog beforehand, that is comfortably enough time. Depending on the center, you mark your answers on a paper answer sheet or select them on a screen.

Result and certificate

17 or more correct answers means you passed. You usually learn the result the same day or within a few days, depending on the center. If you pass, the center issues a certificate. Depending on what you registered for, this is either the "Zertifikat Leben in Deutschland" or serves as proof for the naturalization test. The content tested is exactly the same either way, what differs is only what the result is later used for.

If you do not pass

You can retake the test as many times as you need, there is no limit on attempts. Each new attempt costs the full 25 EUR fee again. It usually pays off to go back through the catalog and focus specifically on the questions you got wrong, rather than simply repeating the same preparation.

Leben in Deutschland certificate versus naturalization test: what is different

In practice this is the same 33-question test drawing from the same 300 federal and 10 state-specific questions. If you take it at the end of an integration course, you receive the "Leben in Deutschland" certificate, which can matter for a permanent residence permit among other things. If you take it specifically for citizenship, you often register it directly as the naturalization test. Both certificates meet the same legal requirement: proof of knowledge of Germany's legal and social order and living conditions. If you are not sure which registration applies to your situation, ask your Volkshochschule or the local naturalization office (Einbürgerungsbehörde).

Exact procedures can vary a little between states and test centers. Details like how long you wait for an appointment, how you pay the fee, or how quickly you get the result are best confirmed directly with the center you choose.