Naturalisation by canton
The roughly 500 questions apply to all cantons. What differs is the test: written, oral or in an interview. Here you see for each canton how it tests and what naturalisation costs.
Choose your canton on the map. Small cantons are also in the list below.
How does your canton test?
9 cantons test with a written test, 2 orally. In 6 cantons knowledge is checked in an interview, in 8 the municipality decides how. 1 canton has not published the format and scope.
- AG
Written test from age 16: 45 questions in 40 minutes, passed with at least 34 correct answers.
Capital Aarau, costs CHF 1’100 to 3’800, 12 to 30 months
- AI
No written test. Hearing before the Law and Security Committee of the cantonal parliament.
Capital Appenzell, costs CHF 500 to 1’400, 10 to 18 months
- AR
Civics test at the cantonal Office of Internal Affairs (Amt für Inneres), before the application. Format and scope are not published.
Capital Herisau, costs CHF 600 to 1’800, 10 to 20 months
- BS
No written test. Interviews at the Migration Office and with the citizens’ community (Bürgergemeinde).
Capital Basel, no cantonal fee since 1 July 2026, 10 to 18 months
- BL
No cantonal test. The citizens’ council (Bürgerrat) of the municipality checks basic knowledge, for example in the interview.
Capital Liestal, costs CHF 1’000 to 3’100, 12 to 24 months
- BE
Written multiple-choice test: 48 questions in 90 minutes, passed with at least 60%.
Capital Bern, costs CHF 900 to 2’900, 12 to 24 months
- FR
No written test. Knowledge is assessed in interviews, first at the cantonal office.
Capital Fribourg, costs CHF 800 to 2’500, 12 to 24 months
- GE
Written test at the cantonal Service naturalisations. You need the confirmation before you apply.
Capital Geneva, costs CHF 900 to 2’600, 12 to 30 months
- GL
Oral exam at KBS Glarus before the application, followed by an interview with the municipality.
Capital Glarus, costs CHF 600 to 1’500, 10 to 18 months
- GR
No cantonal test. The citizens’ community (Bürgergemeinde) always holds an interview and may add a written test.
Capital Chur, costs CHF 800 to 2’400, 12 to 24 months
- JU
Assessment in the naturalisation interview using a questionnaire on Switzerland and the Jura.
Capital Delémont, costs CHF 600 to 1’500, 10 to 20 months
- LU
No cantonal test. The municipality checks basic knowledge, in the city of Lucerne during the naturalisation interview.
Capital Lucerne, costs CHF 1’200 to 3’300, 12 to 30 months
- NE
Oral test in an interview with the canton (COSM): 16 questions, passed with at least 10 correct answers.
Capital Neuchâtel, costs CHF 600 to 1’500, 8 to 18 months
- NW
No written test. The municipality of residence checks knowledge in the naturalisation interview.
Capital Stans, costs CHF 700 to 1’800, 10 to 20 months
- OW
Written exam at BWZ Obwalden before the application, six blocks of questions, expected to take 90 minutes.
Capital Sarnen, costs CHF 600 to 1’700, 10 to 18 months
- SH
No cantonal test. The municipality checks, in the city of Schaffhausen in an interview with the city council.
Capital Schaffhausen, costs CHF 800 to 2’100, 10 to 20 months
- SZ
Depending on the municipality, assessment in the interview or a written exam at BBZ Pfäffikon or Goldau.
Capital Schwyz, costs CHF 1’100 to 3’600, 12 to 24 months
- SO
From age 18, a compulsory course of 20 lessons with a written final exam, passed with a grade of 4.0 or higher.
Capital Solothurn, costs CHF 800 to 2’400, 12 to 24 months
- SG
No cantonal test. Naturalisation interview in the municipality, some municipalities also hold a test.
Capital St. Gallen, costs CHF 1’000 to 3’100, 12 to 24 months
- TG
No cantonal test. The municipality checks with a test or in an interview, Frauenfeld with both.
Capital Frauenfeld, costs CHF 800 to 2’500, 12 to 24 months
- TI
Electronic test at IFC Camorino: 44 questions in 4 areas, 6 of 11 correct in each area.
Capital Bellinzona, costs CHF 900 to 3’100, 12 to 24 months
- UR
Civics test at bwz uri, twice a year, in standard German. In justified cases, the test is oral.
Capital Altdorf, costs CHF 600 to 1’500, 12 to 24 months
- VS
No uniform test. The municipality assesses in a hearing and may add a written test.
Capital Sion, costs CHF 700 to 2’100, 12 to 24 months
- VD
Written multiple-choice test in the municipality of residence: 48 questions in 60 minutes, passed with at least 70%.
Capital Lausanne, costs CHF 700 to 1’900, 12 to 24 months
- ZG
No written test. Civics interview with the canton, followed by an interview with the citizens’ council (Bürgerrat).
Capital Zug, costs CHF 1’100 to 3’100, 12 to 20 months
- ZH
Written test on a tablet: 50 questions in 60 minutes, passed with at least 30 correct answers.
Capital Zurich, costs CHF 1’100 to 3’600, 12 to 24 months
Calculate and check for your canton
Do you meet the requirements? Five questions on canton, permit, residence, age and language.
Confederation, canton and municipality separately, with a comparison of all cantons.
Find the 26 cantons and their capitals on the map.
Terms such as Bürgergemeinde, settlement permit or Council of States, explained briefly.
How to prepare
In writing or in an interview: what is tested is your knowledge of Switzerland. Here you practise knowledge about Switzerland, with an explanation and a key point for every question and a simulation of 48 questions in a row.
The practice questions are in German and French. You are tested in the official language of your canton, and in 25 of the 26 cantons that is German or French. Practising in that language means you know the words when you hear them in the test or the interview.
25 questions in German or French, no account needed.
Practise by area
- Geography 217 questions
- History 90 questions
- Politics and the state 110 questions
- Culture and society 82 questions
Language test for Swiss naturalisation: B1, A2 or higherNaturalising children in Switzerland: what parents need to knowNaturalisation test: a case study from Bern