Leben in Deutschland Test 2026: booking, questions, pass mark and free practice
"Leben in Deutschland" is the civic-knowledge test of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). In the same shape it is the final test of the orientation course and the naturalisation test (Einbürgerungstest) for German citizenship. There is no national exam date: you register at a BAMF test centre (Prüfstelle), which sets the date. The paper has 33 questions in 60 minutes, and for naturalisation you need 17 right. This guide explains registration, the fee, the pattern, the question catalogue and how to prepare.
Leben in Deutschland at a glance
| Conducting body | Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) |
| What it is for | Naturalisation; also the final test of the integration course's orientation course |
| Mode | On paper at a BAMF test centre |
| Questions | 33: 30 general and 3 on your federal state (Land) |
| Time | 60 minutes |
| Marking | 17 right for naturalisation (15 passes the orientation course); a wrong answer scores 0 |
| Language | German |
| How often | Dates set by each test centre; you can sit it again |
| Official website | bamf.de |
Test dates and booking
There is no national date. BAMF's naturalisation page (checked 20 October 2026) says you register for the test at one of BAMF's test centres. Your local naturalisation authority (Einbürgerungsbehörde) can tell you which centres are near you, and the page has a list of test centres by federal state under its downloads. Each centre sets its own dates, so ask when you register.
The fee on that page is 25 euros. If you are taking an integration course, the Leben in Deutschland test comes at the end of the orientation course and is arranged through your course.
How to register
- Check with your naturalisation authority that you need the test. You do not if you have a German school-leaving certificate, or if illness, disability or age prevents you from meeting the requirement.
- Find a test centre in your federal state from the BAMF list, or ask the authority.
- Register with the centre and pay the 25-euro fee.
- On the day, bring a valid photo identity document.
- After the test, BAMF issues a certificate with your result. Add it to your naturalisation application.
A Zertifikat Integrationskurs, or at least 17 of 33 on a Leben in Deutschland test taken in the course, may be accepted instead of a separate naturalisation test; ask your authority.
Exam pattern
| Part | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 33 multiple choice, each with four answers and one right |
| General questions | 30, from Living in a democracy, History and responsibility, and People and society |
| Land questions | 3, on the federal state where you live |
| Time | 60 minutes |
| Pass mark | 17 right for naturalisation; 15 right passes the orientation course |
| Negative marking | None: only correct answers are counted |
The papers are drawn from the published catalogue, but the papers themselves are not published, so expect the same questions in a different combination.
Syllabus
The questions are taken from BAMF's catalogue: you prepare from 300 general questions and the 10 questions for your own federal state, 310 in all. BAMF publishes the full catalogue (300 general and 160 state questions, ten per state) as a PDF, with a sample test sheet.
- Living in a democracy: basic rights, the Basic Law, the federal system, elections, parties, courts
- History and responsibility: National Socialism, the post-war period, the GDR and reunification, Europe
- People and society: family, education, religion, equality, everyday life
- Your Land: its capital, coat of arms and institutions
Our Leben in Deutschland syllabus sets these out.
A plan for the weeks before your test
| Week | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Download the catalogue. Take a practice test to see your level. Learn your Land's 10 questions. |
| 2 | Living in a democracy: about 30 questions a day, reading the German carefully. |
| 3 | History and responsibility, then People and society. |
| 4 | Go through all 310 questions once more. Mark the ones you get wrong. |
| 5 | Practice tests every day, plus BAMF's own online test centre, until you reach 25 or more of 33 consistently. |
Since a wrong answer costs nothing, answer every question. Read each question's German slowly: a single word such as "nicht" changes the answer.
Useful links
- Naturalisation and the Einbürgerungstest (bamf.de)
- Question catalogue download (bamf.de)
- Final examination of the integration course (bamf.de)
- Free Leben in Deutschland practice tests
- Leben in Deutschland syllabus
- Leben in Deutschland test dates
- Life in the UK Test 2026: booking and pass mark
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for the Einbürgerungstest?
At least 17 correct answers out of 33. The orientation course itself treats 15 as a pass, but 15 or 16 is not enough for naturalisation.
How do I register for the Leben in Deutschland test?
At a BAMF test centre (Prüfstelle). Your naturalisation authority can name nearby centres, and BAMF lists them by federal state.
How much does the Einbürgerungstest cost?
25 euros, according to BAMF's naturalisation page (checked 20 October 2026).
Is the test in English?
The sample paper and the question catalogue BAMF publishes are in German, and the test is prepared from them.
Can I retake the Leben in Deutschland test?
Yes. BAMF says a result below 17 can be sat again.