Can you apply for naturalisation?
Five questions about your canton, residence, permit, age and language. Then you see which requirements you already meet and what is still missing.
Independent practice platform, not official.
Step 1 of 5Canton
Which canton do you live in?
The canton decides how long you must live in the canton and the municipality. The language level and the fees depend on it too.
How long have you lived in Switzerland?
Years with a B or C permit count. Years with an F permit count half, years as an asylum seeker (N) do not count. A stay abroad of more than six months usually interrupts the period of residence.
What residence permit do you have?
How old are you?
Filled in from your answers. Change it if you were not in Switzerland during that time. You must actually have lived here for at least 6 years.
How well do you speak the national language?
Swiss naturalisation: requirements at a glance
Residence
For ordinary naturalisation you must have lived in Switzerland for at least 10 years, including 3 of the 5 years before you apply. Years between the ages of 8 and 18 count double, years with an F permit count half. On top of that, the cantons require 2 to 5 years of residence in the canton and often a minimum period in the municipality.
Permit
You generally need a C permit (settlement permit). With a B permit (residence permit), ordinary naturalisation is not possible, but the years still count towards a later calculation.
Language
You must prove your skills in a national language: at least B1 spoken and A2 written. B2 spoken is required by Schwyz, Nidwalden, Zug, Solothurn and Thurgau. B1 written is required by Schwyz, Nidwalden, Zug, Basel-Country, Appenzell Outer Rhodes, St. Gallen and Thurgau. Which language is tested depends on your canton of residence.
Costs
The cost of naturalisation is made up of federal, cantonal and municipal fees. For one adult it ranges from CHF 500 to 3’800, depending on the canton and municipality.
Residence periods and language levels as set out in the cantons’ laws and fact sheets, checked on 12 November 2026.
You can practise for the test and the interview before you apply.
Each of the roughly 500 questions has an explanation and a key point. The first 25 questions are free, no account needed. The questions are in German and French.