Einbürgerungstest 2026 — the complete guide

What is the Einbürgerungstest?

The Einbürgerungstest is the state-mandated knowledge exam that every adult applicant for German citizenship has to pass. It checks basic knowledge of Germany's legal and social order, history, and everyday life. The „Leben in Deutschland" test taken at the end of an integration course is identical in content — passing it automatically satisfies the citizenship knowledge requirement.

The question catalog is maintained by the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF). The full catalog — 300 general questions plus 10 state-specific questions per Bundesland (460 total) — is public, and the May 2025 edition is the binding version.

How the test is structured

The test itself has exactly 33 questions: 30 drawn randomly from the general catalog plus 3 from the catalog for your state of residence. You answer them on paper in a multiple-choice format (one correct answer out of four). No aids are allowed — no dictionaries, no notes — and the test is in German with no translations provided.

You have 60 minutes. You pass with 17 correct answers out of 33 — roughly half. The vast majority of candidates pass on their first attempt; the failure rate has stayed under 5% for years.

What does it cost?

The standard fee is €25 per attempt. If you're enrolled in (or have completed) a BAMF-funded integration course, the federal office covers the fee for the „Leben in Deutschland" final exam — which then counts as a passed Einbürgerungstest.

What topics are covered?

The catalog spans three thematic blocks:

• Living in a democracy — fundamental rights, elections, Bundestag / Bundesrat / Bundespräsident, federalism, parties, lawmaking.
• History and responsibility — Weimar Republic, Third Reich, the Holocaust, divided Germany, reunification, European integration.
• People and society — family law, schooling, religion, work, healthcare, social benefits.

Plus state-specific questions for one of the 16 Bundesländer: coat of arms, capital, minister-president, districts and regional facts. Pick your state for targeted prep:

• Baden-Württemberg
• Bayern
• Berlin
• Brandenburg
• Bremen
• Hamburg
• Hessen
• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
• Niedersachsen
• Nordrhein-Westfalen
• Rheinland-Pfalz
• Saarland
• Sachsen
• Sachsen-Anhalt
• Schleswig-Holstein
• Thüringen

What's the best way to prepare?

The only preparation method that actually works: go through all 310 relevant questions (300 general + 10 for your state) at least once, actively answering them. Reading alone makes you forget half. Practicing as multiple-choice with immediate feedback on wrong answers retains knowledge measurably longer.

Realistic pace: 30 minutes a day for 1–2 weeks. With ~20–30 questions per session you will have seen every variant by test day. People who already speak German and follow politics need less. Pay special attention to:

• Picture questions — especially coats of arms and ballot papers.
• Constitutional bodies: Bundestag, Bundesrat, Bundespräsident, Bundeskanzler. Who does what, who elects whom?
• The difference between „Grundgesetz" and „Verfassung", and terms like „Föderalismus", „Rechtsstaat", „Sozialstaat".
• Key dates in German history: 1949 (BRD/DDR), 1961 (Berlin Wall), 1989/90 (fall of the Wall, reunification), 1993 (EU).

Where do I sit the test?

At a BAMF-accredited test centre — usually a Volkshochschule (VHS), language school or recognised education provider. The full list of test centres lives on the official BAMF page. You register directly with the centre; waiting time is usually only a few weeks.

What happens after the test?

You receive a written confirmation within a few weeks. You submit it together with your citizenship application at the relevant authority (usually Einwohnermeldeamt or Ausländerbehörde). The pass is valid indefinitely — you never have to retake it, even if your naturalisation goes through years later.

Did not pass? You can retake the test as often as you like. Each retake costs the full fee, unless you are part of a BAMF-funded course.