Remitly, a leading digital financial services provider for immigrants and their families, has conducted a new global study, which reveals where it’s easiest (and most difficult) for natives to pass their own country’s citizenship test.
To find out where it’s easiest (and most difficult) to obtain citizenship around the world, Remitly conducted a study of 2,100 global participants, in some of the world’s most popular relocation destinations including: the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Germany, France and Spain.
Participants were tested on a simplified version of their nation’s citizenship test, using a selection of 15 questions from their country’s official practice assessments, to find out which were the most difficult to pass.
The easiest and most difficult citizenship tests to pass
The study found that Australia was the destination where it’s easiest for residents to pass their nation’s citizenship test, with 96% of Australian residents polled achieving the 75% needed to pass. The Australian test, which costs between $330 to $550 (AUD) to undertake, is designed to assess applicants’ understanding of Australian values, traditions, and governance. Prospective citizens are tested on 20 questions from a pool of a potential 200 – meaning those studying should cover a wide range of facts and history to be on the safe side.
Following closely behind were the residents of Germany, with an impressive 95% pass rate. The high pass rate is reflected in real life statistics, with over 200,000 people being granted German citizenship in 2023, according to the Federal Statistical Office – an increase of 19% compared to 2022.
Placing in the middle of the rankings, the US citizenship test ranked in third spot, with an average pass rate of 93%, while France and Spain tied in 5th spot, both with an average pass rate of 61%.
The research revealed that amongst the more difficult citizenship tests was the UK’s assessment, where just 42% of participants achieved the required pass rate in Remitly’s study. Despite the UK citizenship test emerging as one of the more difficult to pass, 202,041 people were granted British citizenship in 2023, with thousands of people studying to take the ‘Life in the UK’ test each year.
Canada ranked in seventh spot, with only 7% of participants meeting the 75% correct-answer pass rate. The Canadian test consists of 20 questions on the history, economy, and geography of Canada – and unlike some other countries’ citizenship tests, does not test language proficiency (in English or French). Despite the low pass rates in the Remitly study, Canada welcomed over 393,000 new citizens in April 2023 – April 2024, with hundreds of thousands of people successfully studying for the life-changing assessment.
| Rank | Country | Percentage of residents passing citizenship test* | Cost of citizenship tests |
| 1 | Australia | 96% | $330 – $550 (AUD) |
| 2 | Germany | 95% | €225 (adult) €51 (child) |
| 3 | US | 93% | $725 (USD) |
| =4 | France | 61% | €55 |
| =4 | Spain | 61% | €85 |
| 6 | UK | 42% | £69.20 – £219.20(+ £1,330 for citizenship application) |
| 7 | Canada | 7% | $630 (CAD) |
*based on a 75% correct answer rate
Ollie Cassel, Head of Growth Marketing at Remitly commented:“People pursue citizenship in countries other than their own for lots of different reasons, ranging from the practical to the emotional. Economic opportunities are a significant driver for some, while others seek citizenship in order to return to their cultural heritage or family.
It’s been really interesting to investigate how pass-able the citizenship tests are in some of the world’s most liveable countries, with tests in countries such as Australia, Germany and the US boasting particularly high pass rates in our study.
Conversely, the UK and Canadian citizenship tests were more difficult for natives to pass in our study, although with so many factors playing into how pass-able a citizenship test is – from the education of a country’s culture, to the difficulty of the test itself, it’s hard to truly know what makes a test easy to pass (or not).
The difficulty of citizenship tests varies widely across countries, reflecting different national priorities and perceptions of what it means to be a ‘citizen’. Some countries may emphasise knowledge of the nation’s history and government, while others focus on language proficiency. For this reason, those looking to take a citizenship test in their desired new home should ensure that their studying covers all bases, in order to give themselves the highest chance of passing as possible.”
To view full data from the study visit: https://www.remitly.com/gb/en/landing/citizenship-tests
