Austria's citizenship test explained: 18 questions, two hours, and a pass rule with an "or" in it
To become Austrian you need German at B1 (see the ÖIF Integrationsprüfung) and, separately, a test on Austria's democratic order and history and on the history of your federal state: the Staatsbürgerschaftsprüfung, held by your state government (§ 10a StbG).
The rules are in the Staatsbürgerschaftsprüfungs-Verordnung (StbP-V), BGBl. II Nr. 138/2006 as amended by BGBl. II Nr. 260/2013. We read the consolidated version in force on 7 November 2026 in the federal legal database RIS.
The paper: 18 questions in three areas
18 questions, six from each of three areas (§ 3): 1) the democratic order of the Republic of Austria and its basic principles; 2) the history of Austria; 3) the history of your federal state.
Every question has four answers, of which at least one and at most three are right. A fully right answer scores one point. Where several answers are right, getting some of them earns partial points. If you tick a wrong answer, the whole question scores zero.
You have two hours, no aids, and the exam is not public (§ 4). The ministry's site staatsbuergerschaft.gv.at has an online practice test and the study material.
The pass rule has an "or"
§ 5 (2) StbP-V says you pass if you have at least half the points in each of the three areas, or at least two-thirds of the total points.
Our reading: two-thirds of 18 is 12 points. Half of six per area is 3, so 3 + 3 + 3 = 9 points spread evenly also passes. Equally, 12 points overall passes even if one area is weak. Some press reports describe it as two-thirds and half in each area; the regulation says oder. Either way, a wrong tick zeroes a question, so on a question with several right answers, tick only what you are sure of.
Help from someone else, using aids, or handing in late means Nicht bestanden (fail).
Dates and retakes
The state government holds the exam as needed, and at least once every half-year (§ 1). If you have applied for citizenship, it must tell you the time, place and the material at least eight weeks before. It may also agree a different date with you.
You can retake a failed exam as often as you like (§ 6), on a date agreed with the state government. A fail does not pause the time limit for deciding your citizenship application.
The regulation states no fee for the exam. Ask your state's citizenship office.
Who does not sit it
An Austrian school certificate in history and social studies at the stated level replaces the exam (§ 10a Abs. 4a StbG). Minors under fourteen, and people whose lasting physical or mental condition makes the proof impossible, certified by an official doctor, are exempt (§ 10a Abs. 2 StbG). Both are in our German for citizenship guide.
Mistakes worth avoiding
Ticking every answer that might be right.
Ticking only the answers you are sure of.
One wrong tick scores the whole question zero; a partly right answer still earns partial points.
Studying only Austrian history.
Studying your federal state's history as well.
A third of the paper, six questions, is about your own federal state.
Treating the citizenship test as the German test.
Proving German B1 separately, usually with the ÖIF Integrationsprüfung.
The Staatsbürgerschaftsprüfung tests civics and history, not German.
Questions
How many questions are in the Austrian citizenship test?
18 multiple-choice questions, six each on the democratic order, Austrian history and your federal state's history.
What do you need to pass the Austrian citizenship test?
Under § 5 StbP-V, at least half the points in each of the three areas, or at least two-thirds of the total points.
How long is the Staatsbürgerschaftsprüfung?
Two hours, without aids.
Can I retake the Austrian citizenship test?
Yes, as often as you like, on a date agreed with your state government.
Who runs the Austrian citizenship test?
The government of your federal state, at least once every half-year.
Last updated