You need to prove your language level at several points of your stay in Switzerland: A1 spoken for family reunification, B1 or A2 spoken with A1 written for the C permit, and B1 spoken with A2 written for naturalisation. The language is the one spoken where you live. The Swiss fide certificate is the most common proof, but other recognised certificates and your schooling can also count.

In short

  • Family reunification: A1 spoken, or proof that you have signed up for a language course (Art. 43 and 44 FNIA).
  • C permit: early C after 5 years, B1 spoken and A1 written (Art. 62 para. 1bis OASA); ordinary C after 10 years, A2 spoken and A1 written (Art. 60 para. 2 OASA).
  • Naturalisation: B1 spoken and A2 written as a federal minimum (Art. 6 SCO). Cantons can ask for more.
  • Spoken and written levels are separate. Check that your certificate covers both at the right level.
  • Exceptions exist for schooling in the language, disability, illness and other important personal reasons (Art. 77d and Art. 77f OASA).

The rules and the levels

Two sets of law apply. For residence, the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration (FNIA, SR 142.20) and the Ordinance on Admission, Residence and Gainful Employment (OASA, SR 142.201). For naturalisation, the Swiss Citizenship Act (SCA, SR 141.0) and the Citizenship Ordinance (SCO, SR 141.01). The acts name the criteria; the ordinances usually set the levels.

What counts is the language of your canton of residence: German, French, Italian or, in Romansh-speaking municipalities of Graubünden, Romansh. Levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR):

  • A1: you can introduce yourself and ask and answer simple questions.
  • A2: you understand everyday expressions and manage simple routine situations.
  • B1: you understand the main points of clear standard language and can talk about familiar topics.
  • B2: you understand complex texts and speak fluently.
  • C1 and C2: close to native level.

Swiss migration law usually asks for A1, A2 or B1. Spoken (speaking and listening) and written (reading and writing) are assessed separately, and requirements often differ between them, for example B1 spoken and A2 written. This is the most common source of mistakes: one certificate at one level is often not enough.

What you need at each stage

Cantons and municipalities can be stricter, especially for naturalisation.

Family reunification: A1 spoken

If you are joining a spouse in Switzerland (Art. 43 and Art. 44 FNIA), you generally need A1 spoken in the language of the canton before your first permit, or proof that you have registered for a language course. You can show A1 with, for example, a fide or Goethe certificate obtained in your home country. How cantons check course registrations is not set federally, so ask the migration office.

Early C permit after 5 years

For a C permit after five years instead of ten (Art. 34 para. 4 FNIA), you need B1 spoken and A1 written in the local language (Art. 62 para. 1bis OASA). The early C is at the authority's discretion, not a right. Confirm the level with the migration office before you apply.

Ordinary C permit after 10 years

For the ordinary C permit (Art. 34 para. 2 FNIA), the ordinance requires A2 spoken and A1 written in the local language (Art. 60 para. 2 OASA). If you do not reach these levels, expect a delay. The authority can make an exception for important personal reasons (Art. 77f OASA with Art. 58a para. 2 FNIA); see the exemptions below.

B permit renewal

There is no fixed federal level for renewing a B permit, but language is one of the integration criteria (Art. 58a FNIA). Cantons may ask for proof, especially if there are warning signs such as social assistance, long breaks from work or years of unemployment. What level they expect varies, so ask your migration office.

Ordinary naturalisation

The SCA treats language as an integration criterion: you must be able to communicate in everyday life in a national language, spoken and written (Art. 12 para. 1 let. c SCA). The levels are in the ordinance: B1 spoken and A2 written in the same national language (Art. 6 SCO).

The language is usually that of your canton; in multilingual cantons (BE, FR, VS, GR), that of your municipality. Cantons can add integration criteria (Art. 12 para. 3 SCA) and so ask for more.

Facilitated naturalisation

Facilitated naturalisation (Art. 21 SCA and following, for example for spouses of Swiss citizens) also requires successful integration under Art. 20 and Art. 12 SCA, with the same B1 spoken and A2 written (Art. 6 SCO). The SEM assesses it. See paths to naturalisation.

Which certificates count

Under Art. 77d para. 1 let. d OASA and SEM directives, a language certificate from a test that meets recognised quality standards is enough. These usually qualify:

  • fide (see below);
  • telc Deutsch, Français or Italiano, A1 to C2;
  • Goethe certificates, A1 to C2, for German;
  • ÖSD (Austrian German diploma);
  • DELF/DALF and TCF for French;
  • CELI, CILS or PLIDA for Italian;
  • DSH or TestDaF, university German tests designed mainly for study admission.

Whether a certificate is accepted in your procedure depends on the current SEM directives and cantonal practice, so ask the migration office before you book a private exam. Your certificate also needs to be recent enough: older ones can be questioned because they may no longer show your current level.

The fide certificate

The SEM developed fide for the Swiss migration context, and it is the most used option.

  • Four separate modules: speaking, listening, reading and writing. You can take them one at a time. For example, you can do speaking and listening for A1 now for family reunification, and reading and writing later for the C permit. Most European certificates are one combined exam.
  • Test centres: accredited centres across Switzerland, such as adult education centres, cantonal integration offices, Migros Club Schools and private schools. The official list is on fide-info.ch.
  • Cost: in many cantons it is free or heavily subsidised if you attend a cantonally funded integration course. Otherwise you pay per module; ask the centre or check fide-info.ch. It is usually cheaper than a full commercial exam because you take only what you need.
  • Languages: German, French and Italian. For Romansh, Graubünden has its own procedure; ask its integration office.

Which language applies where

  • German: ZH, BE (mostly), LU, UR, SZ, OW, NW, GL, ZG, SO, BS, BL, SH, AR, AI, SG, AG, TG.
  • French: GE, VD, NE, JU.
  • Italian: TI, and the Italian-speaking valleys of Graubünden (such as Misox, Calanca, Bregaglia and Poschiavo).
  • Multilingual cantons, where your municipality's language counts: BE (the Bernese Jura is French-speaking), FR (German and French), VS (Upper Valais German, Lower Valais French) and GR (German, Romansh and Italian).

If you move to another language region, for example from ZH to GE or from BE to TI, you must prove the level in the new language. A B1 in the old language does not count. See changing canton.

Exemptions

Schooling in the language (Art. 77d para. 1 OASA)

Your language skills count as proven if the language is your mother tongue (let. a), you attended compulsory school in it for at least three years (let. b), or you completed upper-secondary or tertiary education in the local national language (let. c). In practice this covers compulsory schooling, vocational training or a Matura, and university studies. What matters is the language of your education, not where you studied. You will usually have to show a certificate or diploma.

Important personal reasons (Art. 77f OASA)

Under Art. 77f OASA, implementing Art. 58a para. 2 FNIA, the authority must take account of your situation and can depart from the criteria, including language, if you cannot meet them or can only with great difficulty because of:

  • a physical, mental or psychological disability;
  • a serious or long-term illness;
  • other important personal reasons, such as major difficulty learning, reading or writing, being poor despite working, caring for family, or the effects of domestic violence or forced marriage.

Older age combined with little schooling also plays a role in practice. These are discretionary decisions: apply with reasons and evidence such as a medical certificate, school records or a social report. If you are refused, you can usually appeal to the cantonal administrative court.

Naturalisation

Art. 12 para. 2 SCA requires the authorities to take account of people who cannot meet the integration criteria, including language, because of a disability, illness or other important personal reasons. Whether the certificate is waived or the level lowered is up to the cantonal or municipal naturalisation authority.

Children and young people

Children under 16 have no direct language requirement, because school in the local language counts as proof, and they are generally exempt in family reunification. Young people in training or study prove the language of that education; an apprenticeship in German, for example, usually proves German (Art. 77d para. 1 OASA). For adult children joining family, where the law allows it, a requirement similar to the spouse rule (A1 spoken) usually applies; check with the migration office.

Courses

  • Cantonal integration courses. Every canton has an integration office that runs or subsidises courses. For B and C holders, provisionally admitted persons and refugees they are often free or cheap. They are funded by the Confederation and cantons through the Cantonal Integration Programmes (CIP). Sign up through the integration office, your municipality in some cantons, or local integration contact points in cities.
  • Private schools such as the Migros Club School, Eurocentres and alphabeta teach all levels. They are not subsidised, and prices vary a lot.
  • Apps such as Duolingo, Babbel, Italki or Lingoda help you learn but give no certificate recognised in migration procedures.
  • Informal learning such as language cafés, tandem partners and conversation groups helps integration but does not replace a certificate.

From course to certificate

  1. Contact your cantonal integration office and take a placement test to find your level and a suitable course.
  2. Take a course. How long you need per level depends on what you already know and how intensively you study.
  3. Register for the fide test at an accredited centre, for single modules or several. In cities, dates can be booked up well ahead.
  4. Receive your certificate and submit it to the cantonal migration office with your permit or naturalisation application.

Naturalisation interviews

For naturalisation you usually need both the certificate (B1 spoken, A2 written under Art. 6 SCO) and an interview with the municipality in its language. Even with a pass, your spoken level will be noticed in the interview. Municipalities run interviews differently. Some cantons require higher levels under Art. 12 para. 3 SCA, and some municipalities raise the bar further; check your cantonal citizenship act and naturalisation authority. See the Citizenship Act glossary.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong level: taking one module when you need, say, B1 spoken and A2 written.
  • Wrong language: a certificate in the old language after moving to a new language region.
  • Old certificate: the authority may question it; ask what it accepts.
  • Unrecognised proof: app "diplomas" do not count.
  • Booking too late: fide centres have limited dates. If you face a renewal or naturalisation deadline, book early.

See also the FNIA and OASA glossary, the integration agreement and the C settlement permit.