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What Is the Einbürgerungstest? A Complete Guide for 2026

If you’re planning to become a German citizen, one of the key steps is passing the Einbürgerungstest — the German citizenship test. This guide covers everything you need to know about the test in 2026.

What Is the Einbürgerungstest?

The Einbürgerungstest (also called “Leben in Deutschland” test) is a standardized exam administered by the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF). It tests your knowledge of German law, history, society, and the political system.

Passing this test is a requirement for obtaining German citizenship through naturalization.

Test Format

The test consists of 33 multiple-choice questions drawn from an official catalog of 460 questions:

  • 300 general questions covering politics, history, and society in Germany
  • 160 state-specific questions (10 per Bundesland) about your state of residence

Of your 33 test questions, 30 are drawn from the general catalog and 3 come from the 10 questions specific to your Bundesland.

You have 60 minutes to complete the test, and you need to answer at least 17 out of 33 questions correctly to pass — that’s just over 50%.

What Topics Does It Cover?

The questions fall into several broad categories:

  • Democracy and the political system — How does the Bundestag work? What are fundamental rights?
  • German history — Key events from the Weimar Republic, Nazi era, division, and reunification
  • Society and daily life — Education system, social security, cultural norms
  • Your Bundesland — Capital city, coat of arms, political structure of your state

How to Prepare

The entire question catalog is publicly available from BAMF, which means you can study every possible question before the test. Here are some effective strategies:

  1. Focus on the 310 questions relevant to you — You only need to learn the 300 general questions plus the 10 questions for your specific Bundesland. The other 150 state questions won’t appear on your test.
  2. Focus on your weak areas — Track which questions you get wrong and review them.
  3. Take practice tests — Simulate the real test conditions with 33 questions and a 60-minute timer.
  4. Don’t neglect your state questions — 3 of your 33 test questions will come from just 10 state-specific questions — that’s an easy win if you study them.

Registration and Costs

To take the test, you need to register at a local Volkshochschule (VHS) or another authorized test center. The test fee is 25 euros. You can retake the test as many times as needed if you don’t pass on the first attempt.

What Happens on Test Day?

On the day of the test:

  1. Bring a valid photo ID (passport or residence permit)
  2. You’ll receive a test booklet with 33 questions
  3. Mark your answers on the answer sheet
  4. You have 60 minutes — most people finish much earlier
  5. Results typically arrive by mail within a few weeks

Pass Rate

The good news: the pass rate is very high. According to BAMF statistics, over 90% of test-takers pass on their first attempt. With proper preparation using the official question catalog, you can feel confident going into the test.

Start Studying Today

The best way to prepare is to practice consistently with the official questions. Our app includes all 460 questions from the BAMF catalog with a smart study algorithm that focuses on the questions you find most challenging.