Einbürgerungstest: cost, booking, results

Cost: €25 per attempt

The Einbürgerungstest costs €25 per attempt: the same everywhere in Germany (EinbTestV §2). You can retake it as often as you need, and there is no mandated waiting period between attempts. But: you pay the full fee every time, and you need a new seat every time.

Booking: be early

You usually take the test at a Volkshochschule (adult education centre). Dates typically run monthly, and they’re routinely booked out. In bigger cities you often wait 2–3 months for a seat, in some places up to a year.

The practical consequence: register as soon as your test is on the horizon, not once you feel fully prepared. The wait for your test date is your study time.

Results: weeks to three months

Your answer sheet isn’t graded on site. BAMF grades all tests centrally. The result usually arrives after several weeks, and depending on the backlog it can take about three months.

What 17 out of 33 means

In the test you answer 33 questions in 60 minutes. For naturalisation, 17 must be correct, just over half. That sounds relaxed, and statistically it is. Still, aim well above the line: a failed attempt costs €25, a new booking, and another wait for results, realistically 3 to 6 months.

By the way, the certificate isn’t only for naturalisation: it also works for the Niederlassungserlaubnis (permanent residence, §9 AufenthG) and, as far as current sources go, doesn’t expire.

Common questions