The Einbürgerungs­test canton by canton: what each of the 26 asks

How to read this page

Every entry is from the canton's own website, ordinance or leaflet, read on 1 October 2026. Where a canton does not publish a figure, the entry says so. Where a fact comes from a commune or from a school working for the canton rather than from the canton itself, the entry says that too.

The canton that counts is the one where you apply, and inside it often your commune: many cantons leave the knowledge check, or part of it, to the commune. The commune where you live can tell you which test or interview applies to you.

Jump to your canton

• ZH Zurich
• BE Bern
• LU Lucerne
• UR Uri
• SZ Schwyz
• OW Obwalden
• NW Nidwalden
• GL Glarus
• ZG Zug
• FR Fribourg
• SO Solothurn
• BS Basel-Stadt
• BL Basel-Landschaft
• SH Schaffhausen
• AR Appenzell Ausserrhoden
• AI Appenzell Innerrhoden
• SG St. Gallen
• GR Graubünden
• AG Aargau
• TG Thurgau
• TI Ticino
• VD Vaud
• VS Valais
• NE Neuchâtel
• GE Geneva
• JU Jura

Cantons with their own test (11)

These cantons require a test, a course exam or an oral exam that you must pass, set or run under cantonal rules.

• ZH

  ZurichGrundkenntnistest

  • The cantonal Grundkenntnistest draws 50 questions at random from a catalogue of 350: 35 on Switzerland, 10 on the canton and 5 on the commune. You pass with 60 percent, 30 of 50.
  • It is a digital test on a computer or tablet, and cantonal law lets it be taken orally or in writing. A commune may use its own test if it meets the cantonal criteria.
  • The fee depends on the commune and the test provider. In principle you can retake it as often as you need, and no waiting period may be set. Ask your commune how to register; depending on the commune you take it before or after you apply.
  • Exempt: five years of compulsory school in Switzerland with at least three at lower secondary level, upper secondary education completed in Switzerland, pupils now in compulsory or upper secondary school in Switzerland, and children under 12.

  Official material: All 350 questions with answers (PDF) · The canton's naturalisation brochure (PDF) · The official practice test, on zh.ch

  Source: Canton of Zurich, Grundkenntnistest · Canton of Zurich, Handbuch Einbürgerungen (Stand 24 September 2026)

• BE

  BernEinbürgerungstest

  • A written test of 90 minutes, which you take before you apply. You pass with at least 60 percent of the questions correct, and the confirmation never expires.
  • Providers must hold it at least three times a year, and your naturalisation commune tells you where. It is set in the official language of the commune's administrative district, German or French. For people with a disability, an illness or a marked learning difficulty it can exceptionally be oral.
  • You pay for it yourself. The canton's guidance to communes says it should cost between CHF 260 and CHF 390, and each commune sets its fee. You can retake it without limit.
  • Bern publishes no question catalogue. Exempt: children under 16, five years of compulsory school on the Swiss curriculum, and upper secondary education on the Swiss curriculum or tertiary education in Switzerland.

  Source: Canton of Bern, Einbürgerungstest · Canton of Bern, Wegleitung for communes (BSIG, 26 April 2024)

• UR

  UriStaatskundetest

  • Required by cantonal ordinance unless you are exempt. The bwz uri runs it twice a year for the Justice Directorate, and in justified cases it can be oral.
  • You pay for it; the amount is not published, and neither are the number of questions, the length or the pass mark. The canton recommends the bwz uri course Politik und Gesellschaft beforehand.
  • Exempt: at least five years in total at compulsory school and upper secondary level in Switzerland, applicants under 16, and people whose knowledge is evident.

  Source: Canton of Uri, Ordentliche Einbürgerung · Canton of Uri, Merkblatt ordentliche Einbürgerung (PDF)

• OW

  ObwaldenPrüfung über die staatsbürgerlichen Grundkenntnisse

  • Required by cantonal law: a written exam you take after the language assessment and before you apply.
  • Mostly multiple choice with some questions you answer in your own words, in six blocks with a minimum score in each, about 90 minutes. The BWZ Obwalden runs it and lists the exam at CHF 60. A pass is valid for two years.
  • An optional course is offered and the exam can be taken without it. Young people aged 12 to 15 take a simpler exam, and for children aged 9 to 11 the commune checks this knowledge in a reduced form in its interview.
  • Dispensation is possible for personal reasons such as a disability, a serious or long illness or a marked learning, reading or writing difficulty.

  Official material: BWZ Obwalden, course and exam

  Source: Canton of Obwalden, Merkblatt ordentliche Einbürgerung (Stand January 2026)

• GL

  GlarusPrüfung des kantonalen Vorbereitungskurses

  • The cantonal ordinance asks for a certificate, no more than four years old, that you passed the exam of the cantonal preparatory course for naturalisation. The commune can also hold an interview.
  • The course is organised by the Kaufmännische Berufsfachschule Glarus, which says it ends with an oral exam and lists the exam alone, without the course, at CHF 100.
  • The number of questions, the length and the pass mark are not published.

  Official material: KBS Glarus, naturalisation course

  Source: Canton of Glarus, Integrationsangebote · Canton of Glarus, Bürgerrecht · Canton of Glarus, Kantonale Bürgerrechtsverordnung (KBüV, GS I C/12/4)

• SO

  SolothurnNeubürgerkurs

  • From age 18, a compulsory Neubürgerkurs of 20 lessons that ends with a written exam of at most 1.5 hours: basic knowledge without notes and detail with notes. You pass with an overall grade of 4.0.
  • The course costs CHF 400. You can retake the exam once without repeating the course; if the retake fails too, you repeat the whole course.
  • You can ask to be excused if you had civics lessons in a three or four year vocational training or at a Mittelschule, or are in vocational training now. Your Bürgergemeinde must stamp and sign your registration.

  Source: Canton of Solothurn, Neubürgerkurse · Canton of Solothurn, Kurs- und Prüfungsreglement (from 1 January 2026, PDF) · Canton of Solothurn, Informationen zur Einbürgerung 2026 (PDF) · EBZ Solothurn-Grenchen, Neubürgerkurse

• AR

  Appenzell AusserrhodenStaatskundetest

  • You can apply for ordinary naturalisation only after passing the Staatskundetest, which you can register for after a first interview. It is held at the cantonal Amt für Inneres in Trogen.
  • The canton publishes the dates, such as 26 October 2026, 30 November 2026 and 25 January 2027. It does not publish the format, the fee or the pass mark. The registration form offers a first sitting and a retake.

  Source: Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Staatskundetest · Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, registration for the Staatskundetest · Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Merkblatt ordentliche Einbürgerung (January 2018, PDF)

• AG

  AargauStaatsbürgerlicher Test

  • You must pass it before you can apply. 45 multiple choice questions with four options and one correct answer, in 40 minutes, on a computer at your commune. You pass with 34 correct, three quarters.
  • From age 16, CHF 50 a sitting, and no exemptions beyond impairments. Retake as often as you need, after a two month wait. Your certificate may be no more than six months old when you apply.
  • The pool is about 330 questions, published with their answers, and the practice test uses the same questions as the real one. Communes may not set tests of their own; your commune checks local knowledge in the interview.

  Official material: All questions with answers, valid from 29 September 2025 (PDF, linked by the canton) · The practice test (linked by the canton)

  Source: Canton of Aargau, Ordentliche Einbürgerung · Canton of Aargau, Merkblatt (17 December 2024, PDF) · Canton of Aargau, Handbuch ordentliche Einbürgerungen (V.8, 30 June 2026, PDF)

• TI

  Ticinocorso e test di cittadinanza

  • A compulsory course followed by an exam at an accredited Ticino school, on the geography, history, politics and society of Switzerland and Ticino. The result is pass or fail.
  • You can ask to retake it when at least six months have passed since the last exam. At least five years of compulsory school or upper secondary education at a Ticino school exempts you from the course and the test; an upper secondary or tertiary qualification from Ticino can exempt you from the course on request, but not from the test.
  • Before you enrol, your commune office must confirm that you meet all the other conditions.

  Source: Canton of Ticino, Procedura ordinaria · Canton of Ticino, the training for naturalisation · Canton of Ticino, Regolamento della legge sulla cittadinanza (RLCCit, 141.110)

• VD

  Vaudtest de connaissances

  • Your commune runs a written test of 48 multiple choice questions in one hour, on history, geography, politics and society at Swiss, cantonal and local level. You pass with 70 percent.
  • At most three attempts, and the best result counts; after three failed written attempts it is held orally. The commune must hold it within six months and invite you at least three months ahead the first time.
  • You can practise on all 160 existing questions, with the correct answers, on the canton's A-Vaud-Test, and the canton offers an online course.
  • Exempt: born in Switzerland and lived here without interruption, five years of compulsory school in Switzerland, an upper secondary qualification such as a CFC or a maturité, or under 12 when you apply.

  Official material: A-Vaud-Test, the official practice quiz · The canton's online course for naturalisation

  Source: Canton of Vaud, Test de connaissances · Canton of Vaud, Règlement sur le droit de cité vaudois (RLDCV, BLV 141.11.1), articles 6 to 10

• GE

  Genevatest de validation des connaissances

  • A written test of history, geography and Swiss and Geneva institutions. Depending on your situation you must pass it before you can file, and the pass certificate never expires.
  • Its content and pass conditions are set by the service's own directives, which are not on its public pages. You register with the naturalisation service by phone, +41 22 546 46 20, or its contact form, and you may sit a later session if you fail. An interview follows once you have filed.
  • The canton publishes a course, Connaître la Suisse et Genève, a quiz and a list of 141 study questions with answers. It does not say these are the test's questions.
  • Exempt: under 12 when you apply. The department can also exempt people born in Geneva who lived there without interruption, and under 25s with five years of compulsory school, or upper secondary or tertiary education, in Geneva.

  Official material: Connaître la Suisse et Genève, the canton's course · 141 study questions with answers (PDF)

  Source: Canton of Geneva, filing an ordinary naturalisation application · Canton of Geneva, Règlement d'application de la loi sur la nationalité genevoise (RDCG), articles 18 to 21 · Canton of Geneva, Loi sur la nationalité genevoise (LNat), article 23

Cantons that ask in an interview (5)

These cantons have no separate written test. Your knowledge is checked in an interview or hearing that the canton or its parliament holds.

• ZG

  ZugStaatsbürgerliches Gespräch

  • No written test. If you did not complete compulsory school or training in Switzerland on the Swiss curriculum, the cantonal civil status and citizenship service invites you to a staatsbürgerliches Gespräch on history, civics and the rights and duties of Swiss citizens.
  • The canton publishes a self-study course for it as PDFs. The commune's Bürgerrat also meets you.

  Official material: Staatsbürgerlicher Kurs, part 1 (PDF, April 2026) · Part 2 (PDF) · Part 3 (PDF) · Part 4 (PDF)

  Source: Canton of Zug, Ordentliche Einbürgerung

• FR

  Fribourgentretiens

  • No test. Fribourg says it chose more informal interviews instead of real integration and knowledge exams. The cantonal service interviews you, and the communal naturalisation commission and the Grand Council's naturalisation committee may as well.
  • The interviews cover public and political life and institutions, and general knowledge of the country, its history, geography and culture. Children are heard from age 12.

  Official material: Informations civiques de base pour la naturalisation 2026 (PDF)

  Source: Canton of Fribourg, Naturalisation ordinaire · Canton of Fribourg, questions on naturalisation · Canton of Fribourg, La naturalisation

• AI

  Appenzell InnerrhodenAnhörung

  • No test. A commission of the Grand Council hears you. The canton's Handreichung marks the sections you need for a successful interview.
  • German at B1 spoken and A2 written, and the canton expects you to understand the Innerrhoden dialect.

  Official material: Handreichung für die Einbürgerung (PDF, April 2026)

  Source: Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Einbürgerung

• NE

  Neuchâteltest de connaissances

  • An oral test during your interview at the cantonal service for multicultural cohesion (COSM): 16 questions, four per theme (geography, history, politics and society), at least one per theme on Neuchâtel. You pass with 10 correct; a partial answer counts as wrong.
  • The canton publishes every question that can be asked, with and without answers.
  • Exempt: five years of compulsory school in Switzerland, an upper secondary diploma obtained in Switzerland, or passing the exam of the course Vivre en Suisse et à Neuchâtel.

  Official material: Questionnaire with answers (PDF, updated June 2026)

  Source: Canton of Neuchâtel, Préparation à la naturalisation

• JU

  Juraquestionnaire

  • No separate written test. During the procedure you answer a questionnaire on your knowledge of Switzerland and Jura in an interview, in four themes: geography, history, civics and general knowledge.
  • No question catalogue is published. The canton's page links a preparation course run for the cantonal population service.

  Source: Canton of Jura, Naturalisation ordinaire

Cantons where your commune decides (10)

These cantons publish no cantonal test. The commune or Bürgergemeinde checks your knowledge, in an interview and in some communes with a test of its own.

• LU

  LucernePrüfung durch die Gemeinde

  • No cantonal test is published for ordinary naturalisation. The commune examines your application, and cantonal law asks for basic knowledge of the Confederation, the canton and the commune.
  • The canton's 100 questions and answers are headed facilitated naturalisation and are for that procedure, not the ordinary one. Ask the commune office where you live how it checks your knowledge.

  Source: Canton of Lucerne, Ordentliche Einbürgerung · Canton of Lucerne, Kantonales Bürgerrechtsgesetz (SRL 2), § 25 (PDF) · Canton of Lucerne, Erleichterte Einbürgerung

• SZ

  SchwyzAnhörung oder Prüfung

  • No mandatory cantonal test. The commune's naturalisation authority checks your knowledge at a personal hearing, or requires you to pass an exam at your own cost at a recognised school, the BBZ in Pfäffikon or Goldau.
  • The topics are set by ordinance: history and geography, democracy and federalism, political rights, social security, school and training. Your commune tells you which way it checks.

  Source: Canton of Schwyz, Ordentliche Einbürgerungen · Canton of Schwyz, Bürgerrechtsverordnung (SRSZ 110.111), § 6 (PDF)

• NW

  NidwaldenEinbürgerungsgespräch

  • No test. The commune checks your familiarity with Swiss life in particular in a personal interview, the Einbürgerungsgespräch, which also covers basic knowledge of geography and history.
  • Nidwalden asks for German at B2 spoken and B1 written, above the federal minimum.

  Source: Canton of Nidwalden, Ordentliche Einbürgerung · Canton of Nidwalden, Merkblatt (Stand 1 January 2026) · Canton of Nidwalden, leaflet on the naturalisation interview (PDF)

• BS

  Basel-StadtEinbürgerungsgespräch

  • No cantonal test. The Bürgergemeinde holds an interview. The Bürgergemeinde Basel says it has the character of a test and is recorded, and it offers preparation courses.
  • You count as having the knowledge if you completed all of compulsory school in Switzerland, with the whole of lower secondary in Basel-Stadt.

  Official material: Bürgergemeinde Basel, courses

  Source: Canton of Basel-Stadt, the way to ordinary naturalisation · Bürgergemeinde Basel, naturalisation of foreign nationals · Basel-Stadt, Bürgerrechtsgesetz (BüRG, SG 121.100), § 11

• BL

  Basel-LandschaftIntegrationsgespräch

  • No cantonal test is mentioned. The Bürgerrat or Gemeinderat holds an integration interview, which covers basic knowledge of Switzerland, the canton and the commune, and the cantonal security directorate also meets you.
  • Basel-Landschaft asks for German at B1 spoken and written.

  Source: Canton of Basel-Landschaft, Einbürgerung · Canton of Basel-Landschaft, Merkblatt Verfahren (PDF) · Canton of Basel-Landschaft, Merkblatt Voraussetzungen (PDF)

• SH

  SchaffhausenPersönliches Gespräch

  • No test at cantonal level. The procedure includes a personal interview to check that you are familiar with communal, cantonal and Swiss life.
  • Communes prepare you their own way. The City of Schaffhausen, as one example, publishes a brochure on civic knowledge.

  Official material: City of Schaffhausen, brochure on civic knowledge (a municipal example)

  Source: Canton of Schaffhausen, Einbürgerung

• SG

  St. GallenEinbürgerungsgespräch

  • No cantonal test. The commune's Einbürgerungsrat holds the naturalisation interview, and the canton says some naturalisation authorities also give you a written or oral test.
  • The City of St. Gallen, as one example, asks applicants aged 15 and over, in principle, for a Staatskundetest by Arge Integration at CHF 120, no more than two years old when they apply.

  Source: Canton of St. Gallen, Einbürgerung · Canton of St. Gallen, Bürgerrechtsgesetz (sGS 121.1), article 17 (PDF) · Canton of St. Gallen, hallo.sg.ch, Mitbestimmen und Einbürgerung · City of St. Gallen, naturalisation of foreign nationals (a municipal example)

• GR

  GraubündenEinbürgerungsgespräch

  • No cantonal test. The Bürgergemeinde must always hold an interview, and may also check your knowledge of Switzerland, the canton and the commune with a written test.
  • Certificates from private naturalisation courses are not taken into account. The canton suggests asking your Bürgergemeinde how to prepare.

  Source: Canton of Graubünden, Ordentliche Einbürgerung · Canton of Graubünden, Merkblatt zur ordentlichen Einbürgerung (PDF)

• TG

  ThurgauTest oder Gespräch

  • No mandatory cantonal test. Unless your knowledge is evident, the commune checks it with a test or in an interview, and an interview is the usual part of its inquiries.
  • Thurgau asks for German at B2 spoken and B1 written.

  Source: Canton of Thurgau, Ordentliche Einbürgerung

• VS

  Valaisaudition

  • No cantonal test. The commune hears you, for 15 to 30 minutes, and may ask its questions in writing or orally; a written test is the commune's choice. No marks are given, but an overall positive assessment is needed. All adults and children from 12 are heard.
  • If your knowledge is not enough, the commune can suspend your file, as a rule for at most six months, before a new hearing. The canton publishes a list of possible questions, not exhaustive, with answers.

  Official material: Questionnaire de naturalisation, not exhaustive (PDF, updated 17 May 2021) · The answers (PDF, updated 11 August 2022)

  Source: Canton of Valais, Naturalisation ordinaire · Canton of Valais, Guide pour les communes (PDF)

Questions about the cantonal tests

More on the Einbürgerungstest and the rules

• EinbürgerungstestSample questions and how you are checked
• Knowledge checkThe federal rules ask you to be familiar with Swiss life.
• Practice runThirty practice questions in Swiss Standard German on the four federal areas, geography, history, politics and society, with an English translation and the answer hidden until you want it.
• Three levelsYou become Swiss at three levels at once: a citizen of your commune, of your canton and of Switzerland.
• Your ten yearsTen years in Switzerland, three of them in the last five before you apply, and a C permit on the day you apply.
• LanguageThe Citizenship Ordinance sets one standard for everyone, in German, French, Italian or Romansh: speaking at B1, writing at A2..
• Married to a Swiss citizenSimplified naturalisation is a federal procedure.

See all Swiss citizenship requirements

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