Citizenship tests and language requirements in 2026: UK, Canada, Australia, USA, Germany and more
Last reviewed 2026-10-27. Rules, fees and processing times in this area change often. Check the official source before you act, and tell us if something looks out of date.
Most countries that offer naturalisation test you on language, civics or both. Formats and pass marks differ, and several countries have proposed or announced changes. Official pages were hard to reach, so only the UK and Australian details below are from government sources. Everything else is from law-firm or news pages and is marked as such.
At a glance
| Country | Test | Pass mark | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Life in the UK, 24 questions, 45 minutes, GBP 50 | 18 of 24 (75%) | English at B1 (separate requirement) |
| Canada | Knowledge test, 20 questions (secondary source) | 15 of 20 | CLB 4, ages 18 to 54 |
| Australia | 20 questions, 45 minutes, no separate fee | 15 of 20, plus all 5 values questions | Basic English tested |
| USA | Civics: 20 asked from 128 (applications from 20 October 2025) | 12 correct | Reading, writing, speaking at interview |
| Germany | 33 questions, EUR 25 | 17 of 33 | B1 German (not confirmed on pages read) |
| Netherlands | Civic integration exam | Not found | A2 |
| Spain | CCSE 25 questions plus DELE A2 | 15 of 25 | A2 Spanish |
Country notes
United Kingdom. The government page states a fee of GBP 50 per attempt, a 75% pass mark and exemptions for under-18s, people aged 65 or over, and long-term conditions. A secondary source says the pass does not expire. The Home Office said in October 2025 it intended to update the content, but we found no new handbook as of August 2026, so a revision is planned, not in force. For residence years, see our UK earned settlement post.
Canada. A secondary source says applicants aged 18 to 54 take the test and show CLB 4 in English or French. We could not confirm the application fee or residence requirement, so check IRCC.
Australia. The Home Affairs page says the test has 20 multiple-choice questions and requires at least 15 correct plus all five Australian values questions. There is no separate test fee, because it is covered by the application fee.
United States. A law-firm explainer says a new civics test took effect on 18 September 2025 and applies to N-400 applications filed on or after 20 October 2025. Officers ask up to 20 questions from a 128-question bank and stop at 12 correct answers or 9 wrong ones. Older filers keep the 2008 test (10 questions, 6 correct). Applicants aged 65 or over with 20 years as green card holders get a shorter version. We could not confirm the N-400 fee, so check USCIS.
Germany. A law-firm source gives 33 questions from a 310-question catalogue, EUR 25 and a pass mark of 17. Exemptions include under-16s and holders of a German school-leaving certificate. A news source says the 3-year fast track was abolished by a Bundestag vote on 8 October 2025, leaving a standard 5 years, but the exact start date was unclear. We could not confirm the language level on pages we read, though B1 is widely cited.
Netherlands. A law-firm page says naturalisation needs the civic integration exam at A2 level, with a 5-year standard residence period. Reported proposals to lengthen residence to 10 years, or to 6 years with B1 under a coalition agreement, are not law per that source.
Ireland. We could not confirm any current formal test. The Irish Post reported on 10 September 2026 that a draft bill would raise residence from 5 to 8 years and add an English or Irish language requirement and a civics test. That is a proposal, not law.
New Zealand. 1News reported on 6 May 2026 that a new in-person test of 20 multiple-choice questions (pass mark 75%) would apply to applications from the second half of 2027. It is not in force yet, and details are still being confirmed.
Portugal. A law-firm page says a new nationality law took effect in May 2026, with 10 years of residence for most nationals, A2 Portuguese and an assessment on culture and civic rights, but the page contradicts itself on whether it is in force. See Portugal citizenship: 10 years, and check the official gazette.
Spain. The CCSE has 25 questions with 15 needed to pass and costs EUR 85 per a secondary source, and DELE A2 costs EUR 130. Residence years were not verified.
How to prepare
- Use the official handbook or question bank for your country, not third-party apps that may be out of date.
- Book early. Some tests need an appointment weeks ahead.
- If you are an Indian citizen abroad, read OCI and citizenship first, because many countries require you to give up Indian citizenship.
- Learn the glossary terms in our immigration glossary.
Sources
- UK Government Web Archive: Life in the UK test (13 August 2026)
- Connaught Law: Life in the UK test
- Davidson Morris: UK citizenship test
- Immigration.ca: tests and hearings for Canadian citizenship
- Home Affairs: Australian citizenship test
- CI Law Group: US naturalization civics test changes
- Migrando: Germany ends 3-year naturalisation
- Anwalt.org: Einbürgerungstest
- FindLawyer.nl: Dutch citizenship 2026
- Irish Post: proposed new citizenship requirements
- 1News: new NZ citizenship test
- Sovereign Group: Portugal nationality law update
- Balcells Group: Spanish nationality exams
Figures were gathered in October 2026. Official government pages were often unreachable, so many figures come from law-firm, adviser and news pages; each is marked where it rests on one source, and anything we could not confirm is labelled. Rules, fees and thresholds change often, so confirm everything with the official body before you apply or pay. Visa Ray is a rule-based reference tool, not a law firm or medical, tax or financial adviser. You can run a free assessment on Visa Ray for your own profile.
