Einbürgerungstest · German citizenship
The Einbürgerungstest (Leben in Deutschland)
The 33-question test about the legal and social order and the living conditions in Germany that you take to become a German citizen.
The Einbürgerungstest is the test about the legal and social order and the living conditions in Germany that people take to become German citizens. It is also called “Leben in Deutschland” in the longer form of its name. It shows that you know the basic order of the country that you want to join.
It is a written multiple-choice test of 33 questions in German, in 60 minutes. Thirty questions come from the official catalogue of 300 questions of the whole country, and three are about the Land where you live. You pass with 17 right answers.
Here you can read a guide to each of the six topics, study the full official catalogue with your Land’s ten questions, and take a timed practice exam. The questions are the public questions of the BAMF.
The test is only one requirement of naturalisation. You also need to show German at level B1, among other requirements. Practise German itself with the practice exams. Practise German exams
The exam at a glance
Questions
33, multiple choice (30 general + 3 about your Land)
Time
60 minutes
To pass
17 correct answers (50%)
Fee
25 euros at the time of writing: check before you register
Language
German
Where
An approved test centre, often a Volkshochschule
Practise
Study the questions first, then take the timed practice exam to see where you stand.
Study the questions
Every question of the practice bank with its answer, by topic. Check yourself, reveal the answer and mark what you don’t know yet.
Timed practice exam
33 questions drawn at random from the bank, with the real exam’s time limit and pass mark.
Coming soon
The other parts of the exam
The language parts are practised on the skill pages, at your level.
Reading
German texts with questions, for the language requirement (B1).
Listening
Everyday German audio with questions.
Writing
Write short texts and get them corrected.
Speaking
Say sentences aloud and get feedback.
What the exam covers
Democracy and the stateThe Basic Law, elections, the Bundestag, the Chancellor, the BundesratRead the guide
Fundamental rights and the rule of lawHuman dignity, freedoms, equality, the courtsRead the guide
History and responsibilityWeimar, National Socialism, the division, 1989 and 1990Read the guide
People and societyFamily, school, religion, holidays, clubsRead the guide
Work, economy and social securityYour rights at work, the five insurances, taxesRead the guide
The Länder and geographyThe 16 states, your own Land, the map, the symbolsRead the guide
Photo credits
- Democracy in Germany: the Basic Law, elections and the state: Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Fundamental rights and the rule of law: Photo: Guido Radig at German Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- German history and responsibility: Photo: Pierre-Selim Huard, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- People and society in Germany: Photo: Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Work, the economy and social security: Photo: Marco Almbauer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- The Länder and the geography of Germany: Photo: Rkoster, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
All photos are public domain or freely licensed (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA). Every guide shows the credit of each of its photos.
Guides
- Democracy and the Rule of Law (Demokratie und Rechtsstaat)What the Einbürgerungstest actually asks about German democracy and the rule of law: the Bundestag, elections, the Basic Law, and the separation of powers — explained, with a real exam question.Democracy and the stateRead the guides
- German History (Geschichte Deutschlands)The German history the Einbürgerungstest actually tests: the Nazi dictatorship, division into East and West, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and reunification — with dates and a real exam question.History and responsibilityRead the guides
- Society and Culture (Gesellschaft und Kultur)The everyday society-and-culture questions on the Einbürgerungstest: religious tolerance, who may legally live together, and German customs and holidays — with a real exam question.People and societyRead the guides
- Economy and Work (Wirtschaft und Arbeit)What the Einbürgerungstest tests on the German economy and labour market: the social insurance system, who pays for it, and workers' rights — with a real exam question.Work, economy and social securityRead the guides
- Geography of Germany (Geografie Deutschlands)The geography facts the Einbürgerungstest tests: the 16 Bundesländer, their role in federal government, and Germany's neighbouring countries — with a real exam question.The Länder and geographyRead the guides
- Fundamental Rights (Grundrechte)The fundamental rights (Grundrechte) the Einbürgerungstest tests: human dignity, freedom of speech, equality, and why these rights cannot simply be voted away — with a real exam question.Fundamental rights and the rule of lawRead the guides
How it works, step by step
Check the requirements for naturalisation
The test is a part of the application for German citizenship (Einbürgerung). Before you study, make sure that you can apply, and ask your naturalisation authority what it needs from you.
- In general you need to have lived in Germany legally for a number of years (the law of 2024 sets five years as the normal period, and a shorter time in special cases of very good integration).
- You must be able to support yourself and your family, speak German at level B1, have no serious criminal record and commit to the free democratic basic order.
- You also prove your knowledge of the legal and social order, usually with the Einbürgerungstest, unless you are exempt, for example with a German school certificate.
- The rules are changing and depend on your case: ask the Einbürgerungsbehörde of your town and read the BAMF pages.
Know the format of the test
The test is the same in the whole country except for three questions. Knowing how it works takes away a lot of stress.
- 33 questions, each with four possible answers and one correct answer; some questions have a picture.
- 30 questions come from the general catalogue (300 questions), and 3 questions are about your Land.
- You have 60 minutes and need 17 right answers. The test is in German, on paper or on a computer, and it is always the same set of public questions.
- The test is open to everybody who lives in Germany; you can take it again if you do not pass, as often as you need.
Get the official catalogue of the BAMF
All the questions of the test are public. The BAMF publishes the 300 general questions and the 10 questions of every Land, with the answers.
- The catalogue is free as a PDF and as an app on the BAMF website.
- Our learning mode shows the same official questions, with the pictures, so that you can study them on Asagno, in the order you want.
- Learn the correct answer as it is written, but also understand why: the test often has two answers that look right.
Read the six topic guides
Our six guides explain the content of the catalogue in simple English and Arabic, with the German words that you will see in the questions.
- Democracy, fundamental rights, history, people and society, work and the economy, and the Länder and geography.
- They follow the three official areas of the test, “Leben in der Demokratie”, “Geschichte und Verantwortung” and “Mensch und Gesellschaft”.
- Read one guide a day. Six guides in six days is a good rhythm, and then you have time for the questions.
Learn your Land’s ten questions
Three of the 33 questions are about the Land where you live. They are the easiest points, because there are only ten possible questions for your Land.
- Pick your Bundesland in the learning mode: you see the 300 general questions and the 10 of your Land.
- Learn the capital, the head of government, the Landtag and the coat of arms of your Land.
- Learn them twice, once at the beginning and once the day before the test.
Study the whole catalogue
Go through the 300 questions in the learning mode and mark the ones that you do not know yet.
- See the question, think of the answer, then reveal it. Mark the questions that you get wrong or guess.
- Review the marked questions after two or three days, and again before the test.
- Do about 30 questions a day; in ten days you have been through the whole catalogue.
Take the timed practice exam
When you know most of the catalogue, take the practice exam in the same conditions as the real one.
- 33 questions under real conditions, with a timer of 60 minutes, without notes.
- You get the score and a review of every answer. Aim for at least 28 out of 33 to be safe over the 17 needed.
- Repeat it until you pass several times in a row.
Register at a test centre
The test is taken at approved test centres, which are often the adult education centres (Volkshochschulen). Dates and the fee depend on the centre, so check before you register.
- Find a test centre near you on the BAMF website and ask for a date. Many centres have waiting lists, so register early.
- The fee is set by the rules in force and was 25 euros at the time of writing. Check the current amount, because it can change.
- Bring a valid identity document, and the registration confirmation if the centre asks for it.
Test day, the result and the application
Arrive early and stay calm. You answer all the questions on the paper or on the screen, and you get a certificate if you pass.
- Read each question and all four answers, and do not leave any question open: there is no minus point for a wrong answer.
- If you pass, you get a certificate (Zertifikat) that you give to the naturalisation authority with your application.
- If you do not pass, you can repeat the test, usually after registering and paying again. Use your results to see which topics need more work.
- Then you continue with the other documents of the application; the authority tells you which ones.
Questions people ask
What is the Einbürgerungstest?
It is the test about the legal and social order and the living conditions in Germany that you take as a part of the application for German citizenship. It has 33 multiple-choice questions in German.
How many questions are there, and how many must I get right?
There are 33 questions and you need 17 right answers (about 50%). You have 60 minutes. A wrong answer takes no points away, so answer every question.
Where do the questions come from?
From the official catalogue of the BAMF: 300 questions for the whole country and 10 questions for each of the 16 Länder. The catalogue is public, so the real test has no surprise questions.
Are the questions on Asagno the real ones?
The questions in the learning mode are the official questions of the BAMF catalogue, with the pictures, so you can study the real ones. The practice exam draws 33 questions from them under exam conditions. Always check that you use the current version of the catalogue.
Which Land questions do I get?
You get three questions about the Land where you live. Pick your Bundesland in the learning mode and learn the ten questions of that Land; the test will use three of them.
How much does the test cost, and where do I take it?
You take it at an approved test centre, often a Volkshochschule. The fee was 25 euros at the time of writing; check the current amount and the dates with the centre and on the BAMF website before you register.
Who is exempt from the test?
Some people are exempt, for example people with a German school-leaving certificate or a degree in a related subject, and people who cannot take the test because of age, illness or disability. The rules depend on your case, so ask your naturalisation authority.
Do I also need to prove my German?
Yes, for most applications: the language requirement (usually level B1) is separate from the test. The test itself is also in German, so you must read the questions yourself. That is why we show the German text first, with English and Arabic help.
What happens if I fail?
You can take the test again as often as you need, usually after registering and paying again. Look at the review of your practice answers to see which topics to study more.
How long should I study?
For most people three to six weeks of regular study is enough: read one guide a day, then go through the 300 questions and your Land’s ten, and finish with several practice exams. If your German is at an early level, give yourself more time for the vocabulary.
Which topics are the most important?
The largest area is “Leben in der Demokratie” (democracy, the Basic Law, elections and fundamental rights). “Geschichte und Verantwortung” and “Mensch und Gesellschaft” follow. All the questions are public, so you can prepare all of them.
Does the test ask for my own opinion?
No. It tests whether you know the order of the Federal Republic and its basic values. Answer as the Basic Law and German law say, for example about equality of women and men, freedom of religion or violence, even if it is different where you come from.
Can I use the test result later?
The certificate has no expiry date set by the test itself, but your authority decides what it accepts. Keep the original and ask the authority which documents it needs.
Can the practice exam replace the official catalogue?
The practice exam is made from the official catalogue, so it is a good test of what you know, but read the guides to understand the reasons behind the answers, which helps you to remember them and to avoid the answers that only look right.
Official sources
Rules, fees and test centres change and depend on your case; always check the BAMF and your naturalisation authority before you register. Asagno is not affiliated with the BAMF or the German government.
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