The Einbürgerungstest (Leben in Deutschland) is the citizenship knowledge test required for most people applying for German naturalisation. Knowing the exact format before you start studying removes a lot of uncertainty and lets you plan efficiently.
How many questions are on the Einbürgerungstest?
33 multiple-choice questions. Of these, 30 are drawn from the nationwide question catalogue published by the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) and 3 come from a smaller set specific to the Bundesland (federal state) where you live. Each question has four answer options; exactly one is correct. You have 60 minutes to finish.
The nationwide catalogue, the Gesamtfragenkatalog, contains 300 questions in total. The state-specific sets add another 160 questions across Germany’s 16 Bundesländer, with each state having its own set of 10. Your test draws 3 of those 10 for your Bundesland.
What score do you need to pass?
17 of 33 correct. There is no subject-area minimum and no penalty for wrong answers, so you should answer every question, including any you are unsure about. Getting at least 17 right is the sole requirement.
The test is scored at the approved test centre. If you pass, you receive the Einbürgerungstest certificate. The certificate feeds into your wider naturalisation application alongside language and residence requirements.
What topics does the Einbürgerungstest cover?
The 30 nationwide questions are distributed across three subject areas, with these weightings in the official BAMF catalogue:
- Politik in der Demokratie (17 of 30 nationwide questions): the Grundgesetz (Basic Law), fundamental rights, elections, the rule of law, and the institutions of the German federal state.
- Geschichte und Verantwortung (8 of 30): German history, the National Socialist era and its consequences, the division of Germany and reunification.
- Mensch und Gesellschaft (8 of 30): life in Germany, the relationship between state and religion, family law, education, and the social insurance system.
The remaining 3 questions are about your own Bundesland. BAMF publishes each state’s 10 questions publicly.
Are the questions published in advance?
Yes. The Gesamtfragenkatalog is publicly available from BAMF and the test draws its questions unchanged from this catalogue. Unlike exams that rotate through unpublished question banks, the Einbürgerungstest holds no surprises: every question you can see on your real test is already in the public catalogue.
This app uses the 300 nationwide questions from the official catalogue, reproduced unchanged as the licence requires, with original plain-language explanations in six languages (German, English, Turkish, Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian). The 3 Bundesland-specific questions vary by state and are not in the app; you can review your state’s 10 questions directly on the BAMF website.
Einbürgerungstest format at a glance
| Questions | 33 (30 nationwide + 3 Bundesland) |
| Format | Multiple choice, 4 options, 1 correct answer per question |
| Time | 60 minutes |
| Pass mark | 17 of 33 correct |
| Wrong-answer penalty | None |
| Full catalogue size | 460 questions (300 nationwide + 160 state) |
| Official test fee | 25 euros |
With the format clear, the study path is equally clear: cover all 300 nationwide questions in the Gesamtfragenkatalog and you have accounted for the 30 general questions on your test. Then check your own Bundesland’s 10 questions to prepare for the remaining 3.
This app is an independent study aid built from the publicly available BAMF Gesamtfragenkatalog. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge or any German government authority.