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Austrian citizenship test

The Staatsbürgerschaftstest (officially Staatsbürgerschaftsprüfung) is the written test on Austria's democratic order, its history and the history of your Bundesland. Most adults applying for Austrian citizenship must pass it, and the Land government sets the date.

Free practice for the Staatsbürgerschaftstest

The test at a glance

  • Questions18, 6 in each of three areas
  • Answers4 options per question, one to three correct
  • Time120 minutes, no aids allowed
  • Pass12 of 18 points, or 3 of 6 in every area
  • Retakesas often as needed
  • Feeset by each Land, free in Vienna

The three areas

AreaWhat it coversQuestions
Democratic orderHuman dignity, liberal state, rule of law, democracy, republic, federal state, separation of powers, EU membership6
History of AustriaEarly settlers, the Habsburgs, the 19th century, the end of the monarchy, 1918–1938, National Socialism, the Second Republic, modern Austria, Europe6
Your BundeslandHistory and civics of your Land, set by its own regulation6

The first two areas are the same everywhere; the third differs by Land. Our practice questions cover the first two areas for now.

How scoring works

Each question has 4 options, of which one to three are correct. A fully correct answer earns 1 point, a partly correct one earns partial points, and ticking any wrong option gives 0 for that question. You pass with 12 points in total, or with at least 3 points in every area.

Who takes it, who is exempt

  • Takes it: adults applying for the grant of citizenship, as part of the procedure at the Land government.
  • Children: minors under 14 years old when the application is made are exempt; minors at primary school, or at secondary school with a pass in German, count as having passed.
  • School proof: a pass in history and social studies (Geschichte und Sozialkunde) at least at the level of the 4th year of Hauptschule counts as proof.
  • Health: people who permanently cannot take it, shown by an official medical report (amtsärztliches Gutachten).
  • Special cases: for example descendants of victims of National Socialism and some former citizens.

Date, place and fee

  • Where: the citizenship office of your Land government or, where the Land delegates it, your district authority.
  • When: at least once every calendar half-year; you are told the date, place and topics at least 8 weeks ahead.
  • Retakes: as often as needed; the new date is agreed with you.
  • Fee: no national fee. Vienna charges nothing; Salzburg charges €24 for the pass certificate.
  • Vienna: missing your test date 2 times leads to the refusal of your application.

Good to know

  • Learning material: the federal government and every Land publish free official brochures, handed out when you apply.
  • Official practice test: staatsbuergerschaft.gv.at has a free online test with 27 questions on the first two areas.
  • Our questions: the real test can have up to three correct options; ours have one correct answer each.
  • German too: the test does not replace the German proof at level B1.

Independent practice

FreeExamPath is independent and not affiliated with the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Länder or the ÖIF. Our practice questions are our own, written from the law and official sources.

Official information

Questions about the Staatsbürgerschaftstest

How many questions does the Staatsbürgerschaftstest have?

18 questions in 120 minutes: 6 each on the democratic order, the history of Austria and the history of your Bundesland.

What is the pass mark?

12 of 18 points in total, or at least 3 points in each area. Partly correct answers earn partial points.

Can I retake the test?

Yes, as often as needed. Your Land government agrees the new date with you.

Are FreeExamPath's questions the official ones?

No. They are our own, written from the law and official sources. The official practice test is on staatsbuergerschaft.gv.at.

Official sources (11) · last checked 18 October 2026