Where and How to Register for the Einbürgerungstest
How to book the German citizenship test: where the test centres are, how to register, the fee, the deadline, and what to bring on the day.
Once you have studied for the citizenship test, the next question is a practical one: where do you actually take it, and how do you sign up? The test is not booked through a central website, which is why people find this part confusing. Here is how it works.
Where the test is held
The Einbürgerungstest is taken in person at a test centre licensed by the BAMF. In most towns this is the local Volkshochschule, the adult education centre. Some Goethe-Institut locations and private education providers are also licensed to run it. You cannot take the official test online or from home. It has to be done at one of these approved centres.
If you are not sure which centres are near you, the BAMF website publishes a list of licensed test centres by federal state, and your local naturalisation authority can also point you to one.
How to register
You register directly with the test centre, not with the naturalisation authority. Most centres let you sign up online, by email, by phone, or in person, depending on how they are set up. You choose an available test date and book your place. There is usually a registration deadline, often around three to four weeks before the test date, so it is worth planning ahead rather than trying to book at the last minute.
What it costs
The test fee is 25 euros, paid to the test centre. This is separate from the naturalisation application fee. If you need to retake the test later, each new attempt costs another 25 euros.
What to bring on the day
On the day of the test, bring a valid photo identity document, such as your passport or residence card. The centre uses it to confirm who you are before the test begins. Arrive in good time, since late arrivals may not be admitted. The test itself is 33 multiple-choice questions with a 60-minute time limit, and you need 17 correct answers to pass.
After the test
You do not get your result on the spot. The test is marked centrally, and your certificate is sent to you afterwards, usually within a few weeks. Once you have it, the certificate does not expire, so you can use it whenever you submit your naturalisation application.
Walk in prepared
The booking process is straightforward, but the test still rewards real preparation, because a failed attempt means another 25 euros and another wait for a date. PassCitizen has the full official question catalogue, sorted by topic and with the state-specific questions for your federal state, plus mock exams that match the real 33-question format. It is free and needs no account.
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