Einbürgerungstest Cologne: 5 Myths About the German Citizenship Test, Debunked

Many people in Cologne hear rumours about the German citizenship test before they ever see the real thing. Some say it is impossibly hard. Others think it is a formality. Both views cause problems, because they lead people to either give up too early or prepare too little. Here are five common myths, checked against the official rules.

Myth 1: "The test has hundreds of questions on the exam."

Fact: Your exam has 33 questions. The number people often quote is the size of the question catalogue, not the exam. You get 30 general questions and 3 questions about your federal state. Since you cannot know which 33 you will receive, you should study the whole catalogue, but you will not be asked all of them on one day.

Myth 2: "You need to answer almost everything correctly."

Fact: You need 17 correct answers, which is just over half. A pass is not about perfection. It is about being consistent enough to clear the threshold within the time limit.

Myth 3: "There is not enough time."

Fact: You have 60 minutes. That gives you roughly 1.8 minutes per question. Many well-prepared candidates finish early. The real time risk is reading questions slowly on the day, which practice tests under timed conditions can fix.

Myth 4: "The state questions are random trivia."

Fact: Three of your questions come from North Rhine-Westphalia, because Cologne is in that federal state. These questions are about the state's structure, government, and history. They are usually easier to learn than general questions, because the source material is public and specific. Read the official NRW government website and build your list from there.

Myth 5: "If I pass the test, my citizenship is guaranteed."

Fact: Passing the test is one requirement among several. Naturalisation also depends on your residence status, your ability to support yourself, your criminal record, and a B1 German language certificate. The test does not replace the language requirement. Under current law, the standard residence requirement is five years, as the City of Cologne's own information confirms for the amended law in force since 27 June 2024.

What to Do Next in Cologne

The city's naturalisation office sits within the Ausländeramt, and personal visits are only possible with an appointment and an invitation letter. You can request an appointment in writing by email, through the city's online contact form, or by post. If you have questions first, the city lists a counselling phone line, available Monday to Friday from 8 to 12 o'clock: 0221 / 221-29835. The line can be busy, so try early in the morning.

Official sources:

• Einbürgerung – City of Cologne
• Einbürgerung procedure – City of Cologne
• Federal test catalogue and information: bamf.de

A Practical Way to Prepare

Instead of studying everything at once, split your preparation into three blocks:

1. Federal basics: Constitution, the Bundestag and Bundesrat, and German history from 1918 to 1990.
2. NRW focus: The three state topics and their vocabulary in German.
3. Timed practice: Full 33-question tests, reviewing each wrong answer until you understand why the correct option is right.

Practise in our exam simulator and practice section.

Quick Reference

Item	Detail
Questions	33 (30 general, 3 NRW)
Time	60 minutes
Pass mark	17 correct
Test fee	25 euro per attempt
Language	German
Standard residence requirement	5 years

---

Sources: BAMF (bamf.de); City of Cologne (stadt-koeln.de)