Background: USA tightens requirements for Naturalization
From October 2025, the following will apply to the naturalization test in the USA: 20 questions will be asked from a list of 128 questions on the history, politics and institutions of the United States. At least twelve of these must be answered correctly. Previously, there were only ten questions from a pool of 100; six correct answers were sufficient.
The Trump administration introduced a similar tightening in 2020, but this was reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021. In addition to the knowledge test and English language skills, the requirements also include proof of 'good character' - a criterion that is to be interpreted more strictly under Trump in future.
Naturalization in Germany - How does the test work?
Similar to the USA, the naturalization test is one of the requirements for Naturalization in Germany. Since 2008, applicants have had to take the "Living in Germany" test to prove that they have basic knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in the Federal Republic.
Exceptions apply to children, people with proven health restrictions or people who have a German school-leaving certificate.
- List of questions: The "Living in Germany" test comprises a total of 300 general questions and 160 state-specific questions (ten for each state).
- Examination procedure: There are 33 questions in the test - 30 general and 3 specific to the federal state.
- Pass mark: 17 correct answers are sufficient to pass.
- Implementation: The test is created by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and is carried out at adult education centers and other recognized institutions.
- Time: You have 60 minutes to answer the questions.
Legal basis of the naturalization test in Germany
The mandatory proof of knowledge of life in Germany is laid down in Section 10 (1) No. 7 of the German Citizenship Act (StAG). It states that applicants for Naturalization must demonstrate "knowledge of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany".
The law does not specify how exactly this proof is provided - i.e. the number of questions asked, the pass mark or the level of difficulty. These details are regulated in the Naturalization Ordinance (EinbV). The EinbV is issued by the Federal Government on the proposal of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and comes into force with the approval of the Bundesrat.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is in turn responsible for compiling the questionnaire and conducting the test.
- BAMF: Creates and updates the questionnaire, organizes the test and provides materials.
- Federal government/legislator: Determines the framework conditions - i.e. decides how high the pass mark is or what the consequences of not passing are.
Could the "Living in Germany" test be tightened up?
Yes - but not as easy as in the USA.
A tightening of the naturalization test based on the US model would be possible in Germany in principle - but not (as in the USA) through a simple administrative decision by the BAMF or a government directive.
As the requirements for Naturalization are regulated in the Citizenship Act (StAG), a change to the test and the requirements would have to be decided politically and enshrined in law. Fundamental changes/tightening of the requirements therefore require amendments to ordinances or laws.
The "Living in Germany" test has already been discussed several times in the past, for example with regard to its informative value - i.e. whether it is actually suitable for measuring the integration performance of naturalization applicants. An amendment to the Naturalization Ordinance (EinbV) - for example with regard to the pass threshold or the expansion of the list of questions - is possible in principle, but requires a political majority in the Bundestag and Bundesrat.
Conclusion
There are currently no plans in Germany to tighten the requirements for the naturalization test. Unlike in the USA, the structure of the requirements for Naturalization in Germany depends less on changes in government and is firmly anchored in the law.
The BAMF can update the content of the questionnaire for the "Living in Germany" test, for example if social or political developments require new topics.
However, a fundamental change - for example, more questions, a higher pass threshold or a stricter structure - would have to be made by amending the Naturalization Ordinance (EinbV) or even the Citizenship Act. This would require the approval of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.
This means:
- Fine-tuning (e.g. exchange of individual questions): Task of the BAMF.
- Structural changes (e.g. tightening up the entire test): Task of the federal government and other legislators (Bundestag and Bundesrat).
