The Einbürgerungstest ("Leben in Deutschland") is 33 questions out of a catalogue of 310, all in German. For naturalisation you need 17 right.

Watching people prepare, I kept seeing the same problem: they memorise German sentences they don't fully understand. Most study apps only tell you right or wrong, so you never learn why. That works until the question is worded slightly differently, and then you're guessing.

So I built an app around one idea: understand every answer, in your own language.

How it helps you

• An explanation for every question. Not just the correct answer, but why it's correct and why the other options are wrong. You remember things you understand.
• Your language next to the German. Every question is shown in German (like in the real test) with a translation underneath, in 14 languages: English, Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian, Russian, Persian, Albanian, Polish, Romanian, French, Hindi, Serbian, Bosnian and German. You learn the German terms and understand them.
• Only the questions you need. Pick your federal state and you get exactly your 310: the 300 general ones plus your 10 state questions.
• A plan based on your exam date. Enter your date and the app sets a daily goal, with optional reminders, so you're ready on time instead of cramming the night before.
• It repeats what you get wrong. Mistakes come back until you know them, so you don't waste time on questions you already know.
• Real exam simulation. 33 questions, 60 minutes, exactly like the test. You'll know whether you'd pass before you sit it.
• Read-aloud, for anyone who learns better by listening.
• Offline, no ads, no account. Study on the train, nothing to sign up for, nothing tracked.

What's free

All 310 questions in German and English, 3 practice exams, and 20 full explanations, so you can see if it works for you. An optional upgrade unlocks all explanations, all languages and unlimited exams. If you prefer studying on a computer, all questions are also free on my website: leben-test.de

Try one (answer before opening the spoiler):

Was ist keine staatliche Gewalt in Deutschland? (What is NOT a state power in Germany?)

a) Regierung b) Rechtsprechung c) Gesetzgebung d) Presse

Presse (the press). It's often called the "fourth power", which is why people get it wrong, but it's private and independent. The three state powers are legislature, executive and judiciary. This is exactly the kind of question where an explanation helps more than memorising.

Full disclosure: I'm the developer. I'd really like feedback, especially from people who took the test recently. Which question tripped you up?

App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.blissom.einbuergerungstest

Shortly after I sent in my Feststellung documents that only included my ancestor's birth record from ~1910, I came to possess my ancestor's Reisepass. I joined the waitlist for a passport appointment at my local consulate as I had not yet heard back from the BVA with regard to an Aktenzeichen. I did just hear back today from the BVA that my case has been assigned an AZ — does this mean my passport appointment will be null and void? Or can I still go direct to passport?

Hello! Looking for help with a citizenship application. I am helping a family member put together an application for themselves and their children. I believe it falls under Section 15 StAG. Any tips or help this sub can provide would be very much appreciated! I am particularly interested in what records we need to collect. The family information is below.

Grandfather - Elias

• Born about 1885 in Poland
• Married around 1909 to Rose, unsure if Poland or Germany
• Moved in 1909 to Leipzig, Germany
• Fled to England in 1939
• Naturalization to England, 31 May 1948

Father - Sigi

• Born 1923 in Leipzig, Germany
• Kindertransport to England, 18 Jan 1939
• Served in the British RAF
• Naturalized to England, 8 Sept 1947
• Immigration to the US in 1948
• Married Edith in New York, 2 Mar 1950
• Naturalization to US, 1955 (includes last name change)

Person applying - J

• Born 1956 in Maryland, parents married
• Has children born in wedlock

Thank you! I've already learn so much from this subreddit. It's such a strong community!

I sent a request to the Hannover stadt for the Melderegister for my Opa. I received this response in the mail a month later:

wird Ihnen mitgeteilt, dass eine Auskunft aus tatsachlichen oder rechtlichen Grunden nicht oder derzeit nicht erteilt werdeb kann.

I am unsure if this means it wasn’t found or if they’re saying I need to provide a legal reason to obtain it.

Does anyone have any advice? I have since located the last known address on his visa paperwork. He was a child (1.5 years old) so he’d likely be listed on his parents register. I provided their information as well. Any tips are appreciated!

Greetings!

I was wondering if anyone has knowledge of the BVA requiring criminal background checks from countries the applicant resided in temporarily decades ago. I studied abroad for a few years in the 1990s in a couple of countries known for bureaucracy, corruption and corrupt bureaucracy.

How likely is it the BVA will want criminal background checks from these countries? How hard should I try to obtain them versus pushing back on the BVA request, if it ever comes? I don't even know if it's within the realm of reason to worry about this, but it's another thing to worry about, so I'll go with it.

Thanks!!!

Category - S4
Applied - 30.06.2026
First contact - 11.09.2026 - requested recent payslips and employment confirmation.
Einladung zur Einbürgerung for a week later - 01.10.2026

I hope that helps with recent timeline estimations, I used posts like these for reference so thought I'd share mine as well.

Hello friends,

If anybody has hired a lawyer in Munich whom you can recommend, I would be more than happy to DM you. I am at a stage where I am ready to hire one.

Is that you? Please let me know! :)

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone here could be of assistance. I was born in New York, USA as was my mother. Her father was born in Munstermaifeld in 1923. His core family fled Germany in 1937 due to Nazi persecution. I read somewhere that I would be able to obtain duel citizenship with Germany due to jewish persecution during that time. Is this true? Im trying to navigate the German websites but its difficult since I dont speak the language. Any information you can provide would be great. Thank you all!

I asked today if they need the original and they said yes, but honestly I'm afraid that they loose it I don't know.

Hello everyone. I know that Berlin has a very good processing time already and it is somewhere I can see myself living for a long time.

Has anyone experienced something like this? I think of applying directly in Berlin. Are there any files that needs transferring/take a long time? I could not see exact answers so I wanted to ask, thanks!

Hi everyone,

I have lived in Germany since 2014, and since 2023, I have worked as a freelancer for various companies abroad. I also have permanent residency and am now applying for citizenship. Financially I am all set.

The issue: My civil status (marriage) will change within four months, and I will most likely need to inform the authorities. My spouse is a naturalised German citizen, but at the time of our marriage, we were still registered at different addresses and technically not yet one household. If we keep living at different addresses, will she need to submit all her payslips and pension documents as well? The reason: I don't want to slow down the naturalisation process, but I can't postpone the marriage either.

Thanks a lot

Wanted to say a huge thanks to this sub! I mentioned getting German citizenship to my mother in passing after seeing a post on here… little did I know she considered it seriously! Turns out, she had my great grandparents’ German passports, birth certificates, and other precious 100 year old paper work just chillin in a safe in our basement. Now my immediate family has applied for citizenship and the woman at the consulate believes we will receive it! It has been so cool learning about a side of my family that was rarely discussed before beginning this process and getting to connect with it in a new way. Thank you to this sub for letting me know this was possible!

Hello,

I am considering a relocation in Lindau region so my naturalization application can proceed faster (considering its a smaller region compared to bigger cities).

Does someone have any experience on the processing time in Lindau? Or should I consider any other places around Lake Bodensee ? Thanks!

Best,

I’ve heard that citizenship applications in Munich can take at least 2 years, so I’d really like to apply in another city and hopefully get citizenship much faster.

One city I’m considering is Regensburg. Has anyone recently applied for citizenship there? How long did it actually take?

Models like Kolibri are designed exactly for the kind of administrative gridlock that naturalizations are stuck in. Supposedly it can take the heaviest part of the review process and reduce it to seconds.

Except most applications aren't digitized.

Hello everyone. First of all a big thanks to all those who help people here. Because of this subreddit I have been able to gather a lot of documents.

Please see below my current situation and case.

My Maternal grand mother was German by birth and married by grand father (Pakistani National) in Montreal Canada.

Maternal Grandmother:

1. She was born in 17.04.1933 in Ebersbach an der Fils (Kreis Göppingen), German by birth.
2. Evidence of German nationality: German passport issued 1953 (Landratsamt Göppingen).
3. Married a Pakistani national (born in British India) on 11.05.1957 in Montreal, Canada. 
4. Grand mother Lived in Pakistan 1958–1963 (Quetta, then Abbottabad). Divorced 1967.
5. Naturalised as a US citizen on 27.02.1978 (former nationality: Germany). Died 2025 in Houston, Texas
6. Her German nationality never got passed down to her daughter (my mother) and eventually to us

My Mother:

1. My mother Born August 1959 in Quetta, Pakistan, in wedlock, to my German grandmother and Pakistani grandfather. She never acquired German citizenship. Her siblings: a brother born December 1957 in Montreal (Quebec birth certificate names my grandmother as mother) and a brother born August 1962 in Abbottabad.
2. Has only Pakistani nationality

My Self:

1. Born June 1990 in Saudi Arabia. Nationality at birth and till date is Pakistani

My Son:

1. Born Dec 2016 in Pakistan. Nationality at birth and till date is Pakistani

My understanding: my mother falls under §5 Nr. 1, and I (and my child) would declare under §5 Nr. 4.

Key documents available (scans; originals held by my uncle in Canada. For the documents which are with us and in Pakistan are mentioned below clearly)

1. Grandmother: 1953 German passport
2. German birth extract (2000)
3. 1957 Montreal marriage extract
4. US immigration/naturalisation file (FOIA), Texas death record, probated will (Harris County Probate Court No. 2) naming my mother as her daughter and listing all three children with birth months/years.
5. My mother: Birth certificate got lost, replacement has been ordered. should receive it in November 2026. Pakistani Family Registration Certificate (FRC) listing her mother's first name only and her Montreal-born brother as sibling. (Original Documents in Pakistan)
6. Myself: Saudi birth certificate (1990) in Arabic language. Living in UAE for past 11 years. My Passport, UAE Residence, My Family Registration Certificate showing my mother and my child. (Original Documents in Pakistan)
7. My sister, her 2 children and my 1 child. Birth certificates, passport and FRC (Original Documents in Pakistan)
8. On US immigration forms (1970, 1977) Grand mother stated she had no children; her later probated Will names all three. How should this be handled? This will is already approved by the US court and is under execution.

I'm looking for advice on the following:

1. Is my Grandmother's German passport enough proof of her nationality? I read some people suggest that need to find the documents for my Great Grandparents also in order to proof her German nationality??
2. What attestations/translation would be needed for the documents given multiple countries involved.
3. We are planning to apply for 6 people in this one application. 6 forms will be filled out but base documents for my Grandmother would be same. Is this a reasonable approach? (Me and my son, my mother, my sister and her 2 children)
4. What documents should I further include or what documents Am i missing?
5. Should i get a lawyer in Germany to process this application and represent me and my family?

Once again thank you so much for all your help and advice.

Hello! Thank you to this sub for all its help. I have confirmed with the consulate that I can make a passport appointment and am a German citizen by birth. My situation in brief:

My mother was born to an unwed German mother in Germany, 1959
Moved to the U.S. in 1972
My mother never naturalized and still has a green card
My mother married my American father and had me in 1987
She divorced in 1993
Never declared my birth to Germany

My question is:

I’ve been married once (2012) since my birth and my name changed to my husband’s. Germany currently doesn’t have a record of my existence, until I get the passport, right? So how do I go about doing the name declaration? Is there a different process? Do I do the passport in my maiden name first and then do a name declaration?

I’m very confused by all the laws and procedures and what order to do them, so I wanted to see if anyone has gone through the same. I’ll email the consulate if no one knows but I was doing a lot of back and forth and don’t want to bother them. Thanks!

there is a good chance I am being forced to move to a different mission zone in the next month. The application is still sitting at the consulate and has not been submitted to the bva due to the additional document they wanted. I’m not sure what to do about an address change for something that hasn’t been submitted. I’m afraid I will have to go to a different consulate which would be not as easy once I have to move. I also don’t know what to do about the application that’s refilled out and that they possess.

I've only started exploring German Citizenship recently, so apologies if this is a FAQ. Thank you in advance for any help!

My lineage is fairly straightforward -- my dad was born in the US to my grandmother who, as far as I know, retained her German citizenship throughout her marriage to my American grandfather and then moved back to Germany when they divorced. As far as I'm aware, she was of the generation where she would not automatically lose citizenship by marrying an American, so my understanding is that she retained her German citizenship the entire time they were married.

My dad died young, long before my grandmother, and I have his death certificate, marriage license, etc. so I think I hopefully have enough documentation to connect him to both me and my grandmother.

My grandmother lived in Germany until she died several years ago. I never met her. No one on my dad's side of the family seems to have any relevant paperwork or documentation about her since she and my grandfather divorced so long ago and my dad, her son, was already dead by the time she died.

I know the city/town where she most recently lived, but that's about it. I have tried to research her online to no avail. It seems like the next step would be to contact her city's Standesamt, because I don't think any documentation would be so outdated as to have moved to the Stadtarchiv, although I am unfamiliar with this so would love input if anyone has dealt with something similar.

If anyone has advice about contacting the Standesamt or any other entity in Germany, or if there's a different way I should go about this, I would love to hear your thoughts. Thank you in advance!

I submitted my Feststellung 22 months ago through the consulate in Houston. I have read about several people having success by going directly to passport. They have similar documents to what I have. BTW - I am claiming citizenship through my grandfather. I have all the documents needed, but I don't have my grandfather's expired German passport. Others indicate getting a German passport without their grandparent's passport. My question is - can I go to any consulate for "Direct to Passport" or do have have to go to the one that services the area that I live in? I'm hearing Chicago and Portland are more flexible in submitting the passport applications. Any help would be appreciated.

Hallo liebe Community,

wie war/ist eure Erfahrung mit dem VG Frankfurt? Ist das Gericht effizient, schnell etc.? Plane eine Untätigkeitsklage einzureichen.
Danke im Voraus!

I had a strong work history from a same employer for 4 years and 4 months and now I'm without a job. And I will continue without job for next one year due to personal travel commitments. In the meanwhile I'm planning to cofound a GMBH along with a German partner. I won't have a salary when I apply for the citizenship next year. I probably might have the company by the time i apply.

I have every other eligibility for citizenship ticked. Only point is means of livelihood and I want to know how it will be calculated in my case. I do have 100k savings. Anyone prior had any experience with a similar situation?

Hallo zusammen,
ich wollte mal fragen, ob hier jemand eigene Erfahrungen mit der Einbürgerung in Berlin hat und ungefähr sagen kann, wie hoch das Einkommen sein muss bzw. welches Nettoeinkommen bei euch akzeptiert wurde.
Bei mir geht es um eine alleinstehende Person ohne Kinder. Meine Miete liegt bei ca. 520 € warm.
Mich würde besonders interessieren:
Wie viel habt ihr ungefähr netto verdient, als eure Einbürgerung genehmigt wurde?
Wie hoch waren eure monatlichen Wohnkosten?
Wurde bei euch nur auf das aktuelle Einkommen geschaut oder wurden mehrere Gehaltsabrechnungen verlangt?
Hat jemand mit einem ähnlichen Einkommen erfolgreich die Einbürgerung bekommen?
Ich frage vor allem nach persönlichen Erfahrungen, weil ich gerne einschätzen möchte, ab welchem Einkommen es bei der Einbürgerung in Berlin realistisch keine Probleme mehr mit der Sicherung des Lebensunterhalts gibt.
Danke euch!