The naturalisation interview: what really awaits you
After a test or as the test itself: what the municipality wants to know in the interview and how to prepare.
By Kai SchniderUpdated: Reading time: about 5 minutes
Contents 7 sections
Why there is an interview
Many people think the naturalisation test is the final hurdle. That is not true everywhere. In many cantons the naturalisation interview (Einbürgerungsgespräch) is the most important part, and in some it is the test itself: in Nidwalden, Zug, Fribourg, Basel-City, Appenzell Inner Rhodes and Jura. Where there is a written test, the interview usually comes afterwards. Some call it an interview, others a hearing or a questioning session. It always means the same thing: the municipality or the canton wants to get to know you.
Not every canton handles this the same way. In Zurich you sit before a naturalisation commission made up of several people. In small municipalities it is sometimes a relaxed conversation with the municipal clerk. In Neuchâtel the canton tests you orally in an interview with 16 questions, in Valais the municipality holds a hearing, and in Geneva an interview follows the written test.
How the interview works
Duration: usually 30 to 60 minutes. Sometimes shorter, rarely longer. You receive an invitation by post with date, time and place. You must be on time, of course.
The atmosphere is generally friendly. It is not an interrogation. The people on the other side want to see whether you have settled in Switzerland. Whether you know your way around, whether you have got involved, whether you know how everyday life works here.
In the interview it is not about reciting dates but about showing that you live here, not just that you reside here. Where the interview is the test, though, there are also questions on geography and history.
Typical questions
The questions almost always revolve around three themes: your life in Switzerland, your integration, and basic knowledge about your municipality and canton.
About you and your life
“Why do you want to become Swiss?”
The classic question. Answer honestly. “Because I have built my life here” is enough. No memorised speeches.
“What does your everyday life look like?”
Work, family, leisure. Just tell it naturally. They want to hear that you lead a normal life.
“Are you active in clubs or organisations?”
Football club, parents’ council, fire brigade, neighbourhood association: it all counts. If the answer is no, that is fine too, but give a reason.
About your municipality
“Who is the mayor?”
You should know this. Check your municipality’s website beforehand.
“What do you like about your municipality?”
Be specific. “The lake”, “the Saturday market”, “the library”. Not “everything is great”.
“Where do you dispose of used glass?”
Sounds trivial. But it genuinely comes up. Know your collection points.
Basic knowledge of Switzerland
“How does direct democracy work?”
Be able to explain the popular initiative and the referendum. Not perfectly, but in principle.
“Which social insurance schemes do you know?”
AHV (old-age pension), IV (disability insurance), unemployment insurance. Know that people in work pay AHV contributions from 1 January after their 17th birthday, people not in work from 1 January after their 20th birthday (AHVG, Art. 3).
What the commission really wants to hear
In short: that you are rooted here. Not that you know every fact.
The people on the commission notice immediately whether someone has memorised answers or genuinely knows what they are talking about. If you have lived in Winterthur for eight years and do not know that the Eulach river runs through the town, that seems odd. But if you can instead tell them you shop at the market every Saturday, that is worth far more.
Talk about what you actually do, not about what you think the commission wants to hear.
Clothing and demeanour
No suit required. But no tracksuit either. Clean, tidy everyday clothing is entirely sufficient. After all, you are not going to a job interview at a bank, but to a conversation with your municipality.
What happens afterwards?
The commission writes a report. In some municipalities the municipal assembly (Gemeindeversammlung) then votes on your naturalisation; in others, the municipal council (Gemeinderat) decides. Depending on the municipality, this takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
If the municipality and the canton agree to the naturalisation, the application goes to the SEM. If it grants the federal naturalisation permit, the canton takes the final decision. Only then do you receive municipal and cantonal citizenship (Gemeindebürgerrecht) and with it Swiss citizenship (SEM).
Questions and answers
How long does the naturalisation interview take?
Usually 30 to 60 minutes, sometimes less, rarely more. The date, time and place are in the invitation that arrives by post.
What questions are asked in the naturalisation interview?
Almost always three topics: your life in Switzerland, your integration and basic knowledge of your municipality and canton. Typical questions are “Why do you want to become Swiss?”, “Who is the mayor of the municipality?” or “How does direct democracy work?”.
Is the interview the same in every canton?
No. In Zurich you sit before a naturalisation commission of several people, and in small municipalities it is sometimes a relaxed conversation with the municipal clerk. In Nidwalden, Zug, Fribourg, Basel-City, Appenzell Inner Rhodes and Jura, the interview is the test itself.
What should I wear to the naturalisation interview?
Clean, tidy everyday clothing is enough. No suit is needed, but no tracksuit either.
What happens after the naturalisation interview?
The commission writes a report. Depending on the municipality, the municipal assembly then votes or the municipal council decides, which takes a few weeks to a few months. If the municipality and canton agree, the federal naturalisation permit follows and finally the canton’s decision.
This is what a practice question looks like. They are available in German and French.
How does your canton test you?
Written test or interview: each canton decides for itself.
Read more
Naturalisation test: a case study from Bern
A composite case study set in the canton of Bern: how preparation can go, what test day looks like and where it is easy to stumble.
Dual citizenship in Switzerland: can you keep your passport?
The short answer: yes, Switzerland allows it. The long answer is a bit more complicated.
Naturalising children in Switzerland: what parents need to know
Double counting, exemption from the test, 3rd generation: the rules for children and teenagers differ from those for adults.