The Federal Council has cleared the way for a reform of nationality law. In order to become German, you usually have to pass the naturalization test. Can you answer the questions?
Interior State Secretary Peter Altmaier (CDU) promised that the naturalization test would be “no more difficult than a driving test” when the test was introduced in 2008. Ten years later, criticism of the test, which the opposition and some migrant associations viewed as unnecessary harassment, has largely died down. Maybe because the exam is designed in such a way that hardly anyone fails. The success rate nationwide has been stable between 98.2 and 98.8 percent for years. The participation fee of 25 euros is also not an insurmountable obstacle.
In 2022, 168,500 people became German through naturalization. Syrians made up the largest group of naturalized people in 2022, with a share of 29 percent. A total of 48,300 Syrian citizens were naturalized.
The test may be repeated as often as desired
The idea behind the test, which must be taken at a testing center run by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees: Anyone who wants to become German should have an idea of the rules and customs that govern the lives of their new compatriots. To ensure this, since September 1, 2008, there has been a nationwide requirement that every new citizen not only speaks German, but also successfully completes a written “naturalization test”. Three of the 33 questions relate to the federal state in which the foreigner has his or her primary residence. The success rate hardly varies between the federal states.
The good test results certainly have something to do with the fact that you can find all the questions and answers for practicing on the Internet. And so that everyone who applies for naturalization can repeat the test as often as they want. When the foreigner takes the test, he or she has to answer 33 questions. He has passed the test if he has ticked the correct answer at least 17 times.
“Naturalization test has proven itself”
Without successful participation in the test, only people who cannot meet this condition due to a “mental or emotional illness or disability or age-related” will be naturalized. In addition, immigrants who have acquired a German school qualification or who have achieved a certain number of points when completing a language and integration course. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, there are no exceptions for illiterate people. According to the Citizenship Act, anyone who cannot read will only be naturalized “for reasons of public interest or to avoid particular hardship”.
Ten years after its introduction, the ministry has drawn positive conclusions and no changes are planned. A spokesman says: “Given the fact that the test participants had to deal intensively with questions of the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany, the naturalization test has proven itself.”
The naturalization test to replay: How many points do you achieve?
Source of questions: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees,
Source of the images in the test: Wikimedia,
Text: Anne-Béatrice Clasmann / DPA / wue / km
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
