Einbürgerungstest (Leben in Deutschland): What You Need to Know in 2026

The Einbürgerungstest — officially the "Leben in Deutschland" test — is a 33-question multiple-choice exam you must pass for German citizenship. You have 60 minutes, need 17 correct answers to pass, and pay €25 to sit it. It tests civic knowledge, not language. Your B1 language proof is a completely separate requirement.

If you are working through a naturalisation application, you will at some point encounter two requirements that often get confused: the language proof (your B1 certificate) and this civic knowledge test. They are administered by different bodies, sat at different locations, and test completely different things. This guide covers exactly how the Einbürgerungstest works, what is in the question catalogue, who does not need to sit it, and the most efficient way to prepare.

How is the Einbürgerungstest different from the B1 language exam?

This distinction trips up a lot of applicants, and the confusion is understandable — both are required for citizenship, and both have "German knowledge" at their core. But they are entirely separate:

1. Language proof (B1 certificate): A document showing you can communicate in German at CEFR level B1 — for example, the Goethe-Zertifikat B1 or telc Deutsch B1. This certifies your German-language ability. For the full breakdown of which certificates count and how to prepare, see the B1 for German citizenship guide.
2. Civic knowledge (Einbürgerungstest): A 33-question multiple-choice test administered by BAMF, assessing what you know about Germany's constitution, history, democratic institutions, and society. The test is conducted entirely in German, but it is not a language assessment — it does not score your grammar, vocabulary, or speaking ability.

The B1 language exam is run by certified exam centres: Goethe-Institut, telc, or ÖSD. The Einbürgerungstest is run by BAMF-authorised test centres. You register for each separately, receive two separate certificates, and submit both to your Einbürgerungsbehörde as part of your naturalisation application. Passing one does not substitute for the other.

One practical consequence: even if you have lived in Germany for twenty years and speak excellent German, you still need to sit the Einbürgerungstest unless one of the exemptions below applies to you. Conversely, passing the Einbürgerungstest with a perfect score does nothing for your language requirement.

How is the test scored?

The pass threshold is 17 out of 33 correct answers — roughly 52%. There is no negative marking, so you should answer every question even if you are guessing. You have exactly 60 minutes; most candidates finish in 30 to 40 minutes. Each question presents exactly four answer options and one is correct.

The test is paper-based at a BAMF test centre. Once you finish, the invigilator collects your answer sheet. You receive your result and, if you passed, a Einbürgerungstestzertifikat by post from BAMF. That certificate has no expiry date — it is valid indefinitely.

What is in the 310-question catalogue?

BAMF publishes every question the Einbürgerungstest can ever ask as a free PDF and an interactive online tool. There are no hidden questions — the test can only draw from this public catalogue. That means working through every question in the catalogue is not just good preparation; it is a complete and sufficient preparation strategy.

The catalogue contains 300 general questions (the same for everyone across Germany) plus 10 state-specific questions for each of Germany's 16 Bundesländer. Your personal relevant pool is therefore 310 questions. On test day, the 33 questions you receive are drawn proportionally: 30 from the general pool and 3 from your state's specific questions.

The question counts for the three general areas above are approximate — BAMF does not publish an official sub-category breakdown. Constitutional law and fundamental rights dominate; questions about democratic principles and the Grundgesetz appear frequently and are worth focusing on first. The history section reliably covers National Socialism and reunification. State-specific questions vary considerably: Bayern, for instance, includes questions about Ludwig II and the Oktoberfest; Berlin covers the Wall and postwar division.

Download the full catalogue PDF (in German) or practice interactively, selecting your Bundesland, at the official BAMF Online-Testcenter.

Who does not need to take the Einbürgerungstest?

Several groups are exempt by law. If one of the following applies to you, you do not sit the test — ask your Einbürgerungsbehörde which supporting document they require.

• German school-leaving certificate (Schulabschluss): Completing a German school with a formal leaving certificate — Hauptschulabschluss, Realschulabschluss, Abitur, or equivalent — exempts you. The reasoning is that four-plus years of German schooling already covered this material.
• Completed vocational training or university degree in Germany: A finished apprenticeship (Berufsausbildung) or a degree from a German university also qualifies, as Germany considers these routes equivalent evidence of civic familiarity.
• Physical or mental illness, disability, or age-related incapacity: If a doctor certifies that you are unable to take the test due to health or cognitive reasons, the requirement is waived. The authority has discretion in assessing this.
• Long-term guest workers: The 2024 Staatsangehörigkeitsrechtsmodernisierungsgesetz (effective 27 June 2024) introduced a streamlined naturalisation path for foreign nationals who came to Germany as Gastarbeiter in the 1950s–70s. Recognising that structured integration support was not available to them at the time, these applicants may be exempt from the standard test requirement. Confirm eligibility with your local authority.

Children under 16 who are naturalised alongside a parent are also generally not required to sit the test independently. This is a standard rule, not a hardship exemption.

What does the test cost, and how do you register?

The fee is €25 per attempt, set nationally by BAMF. It does not vary between test centres or federal states. If you fail, you pay €25 again for the next attempt — but there is no mandatory waiting period, so you can schedule a second date right away.

To register, contact your local Einbürgerungsbehörde (usually part of your city or district council, sometimes called Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde). They will direct you to the nearest BAMF-authorised test centre or give you a list. You can also search for test centres by Bundesland directly on bamf.de. Bring a valid photo ID on test day.

If you receive Bürgergeld (formerly ALG II) or similar state benefits, ask your Jobcenter whether they will cover the €25 fee before you pay out of pocket. This is a discretionary decision, but it is worth asking. Some Volkshochschulen and community organisations also offer free preparatory courses for the test — availability varies by region.

How to prepare for the Einbürgerungstest

The most efficient approach: work through all 310 questions in the published catalogue until you can answer every one correctly. Because the test is closed — it can only use questions from the official catalogue — there is a firm ceiling on what you need to learn. You are not preparing for an open-ended exam.

Three concrete steps that work reliably:

1. Use the official BAMF Online-Testcenter. The free tool at oet.bamf.de lets you practise interactively with immediate feedback. Select your Bundesland at the start so the state-specific questions are included. This is the single most authoritative resource and requires no registration.
2. Download the catalogue PDF and mark your weak areas. Reading through all 310 questions in one pass gives you a mental map of the material. On a second pass, focus on the questions you got wrong or were uncertain about. The PDF is free on bamf.de.
3. Focus first on constitutional law. Questions about the Grundgesetz, fundamental rights, and democratic institutions make up the largest share of the general section. Getting those solid before tackling history and society questions is a higher-return use of study time.

The test is entirely in German — you read the question stem and four answer options and select one. If your German reading level is not yet solid, work on that in parallel. The B1 Wortliste on this site covers a lot of the civic vocabulary that appears in the catalogue, and the Modelltest builds the reading speed and comprehension you need for formal German prose. For the language exam itself — structure, timing, and cost — the Goethe B1 Prüfung guide has everything in one place.

One reassuring data point: the pass rate among candidates who work through preparation courses is consistently above 90%. The Einbürgerungstest is a knowledge test with a published answer key. The work is rote, but it is finite.

Try five questions from the catalogue

The questions below come from the publicly available BAMF catalogue — the same pool your actual test draws from. They are presented in German, as in the real exam, with an English translation beneath each. Select your answers, then click "Check answers."

FAQ: Einbürgerungstest (Leben in Deutschland)

Last updated: 3 July 2026 · General information only — not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with your Einbürgerungsbehörde and bamf.de. GoethéB1 is independent and not affiliated with BAMF or the Goethe-Institut.