Swiss naturalisation: the rules of all 26 cantons
On top of the federal rules (C permit, ten years in Switzerland), every canton requires a minimum period of residence in the canton or the commune: from 2 years (Zurich, Bern, Basel-Stadt, Schaffhausen, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Geneva, Jura) to 5 years (Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Basel-Landschaft, Appenzell Inner Rhodes, St. Gallen, Grisons, Aargau, Thurgau, Ticino, Valais). 8 cantons require better language skills than the federal minimum of B1 spoken and A2 written, and 10 check knowledge with a written cantonal test.
The rules of every canton
| Canton | Residence | Language spoken / written | Knowledge | Cantonal fee | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aargau | 5 years in the canton; 3 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / A2 | written cantonal test | CHF 750 | SAR 121.200 Office |
| Appenzell Inner Rhodes | 5 years in the canton, 2 of them right before applying | B1 / A2 | interview | CHF 1,000 | GS 141.000 Office |
| Appenzell Outer Rhodes | 3 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / B1 above the federal minimum | written cantonal test | CHF 1,000 | bGS 121.1 Office |
| Basel-Landschaft | 5 years in the canton; 2 to 5 years in the commune (set by the commune) | B1 / B1 above the federal minimum | interview | up to CHF 2,000 | SGS 110 Office |
| Basel-Stadt | 2 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / A2 | interview | free | SG 121.100 Office |
| Bern | 2 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / A2 | written cantonal test | CHF 1,150 | BSG 121.1 Office |
| Fribourg | 3 years in the canton; the commune may require up to 3 years | B1 / A2 | interview | no fixed amount | RSF 114.1.1 Office |
| Geneva | 2 years in the canton, 1 of them right before applying | B1 / A2 | written cantonal test | CHF 1,250 | rsGE A 4 05 Office |
| Glarus | 5 years in the canton; 3 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / A2 | written cantonal test | up to CHF 1,000 | GS I C/12/2 Office |
| Grisons | 5 years in the commune, 2 of them right before applying | B1 / A2 | the commune may test | CHF 100 to 1,300 | BR 130.100 Office |
| Jura | 2 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / A2 | questions at the interview | no fixed amount | RSJU 141.1 Office |
| Lucerne | 3 years in the commune within the last 5 years | B1 / A2 | test by the commune | CHF 350 | SRL 2 Office |
| Neuchâtel | 2 years in the canton without interruption before applying | B1 / A2 | questions at the interview | CHF 1,500 | RSN 131.0 Office |
| Nidwalden | 5 years in the canton without interruption before applying; 5 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B2 / B1 above the federal minimum | interview | CHF 1,000 to 1,500 | NG 121.1 Office |
| Obwalden | 5 years in the canton without interruption before applying; 5 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / A2 | written cantonal test | CHF 1,000 | GDB 111.2 Office |
| Schaffhausen | 2 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / A2 | interview | CHF 850 | SHR 141.100 Office |
| Schwyz | 5 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B2 / B1 above the federal minimum | the commune may test | CHF 100 to 500 | SRSZ 110.100 Office |
| Solothurn | 4 years in the canton, 2 of them right before applying; 2 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B2 / A2 above the federal minimum | written cantonal test | CHF 200 to 3,000 | BGS 112.11 Office |
| St. Gallen | 5 years in the canton without interruption before applying; 5 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / B1 above the federal minimum | test by the commune | up to CHF 2,000 | sGS 121.1 Office |
| Thurgau | 5 years in the canton; 3 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B2 / B1 above the federal minimum | test or interview | CHF 800 | RB 141.1 Office |
| Ticino | 5 years in the canton; 3 years in the commune, 2 of them right before applying | B1 / A2 | written cantonal test | CHF 800 | RL 141.100 Office |
| Uri | 5 years in the canton without interruption before applying; 5 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / A2 | written cantonal test | CHF 500 to 1,500 | RB 1.4121 Office |
| Valais | 5 years in the canton; 3 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / A2 | interview | no fixed amount | RS/VS 141.1 Office |
| Vaud | 2 years in the canton, 1 of them right before applying; the commune may require up to 1 year | B1 / A2 | test by the commune | CHF 450 | BLV 141.11 Office |
| Zug | 5 years in the canton; 3 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B2 / B1 above the federal minimum | interview | no fixed amount | BGS 121.3 Office |
| Zurich | 2 years in the commune without interruption before applying | B1 / A2 | written cantonal test | CHF 500 | LS 141.1 Office |
Fee for one adult, excluding commune and federal fees. Law versions: see the Law column.
The federal rules that apply everywhere
- You can apply for naturalisation with a C permit after ten years in Switzerland in total, three of them in the last five. Years between your 8th and 18th birthday count double, but the actual stay must be at least six years. (SCA Art. 9)
- Residence with a residence or settlement permit counts in full, temporary admission (F) counts half. If you deregister abroad or actually live abroad for more than six months, your residence counts as given up. (SCA Art. 33)
- In addition, cantons require a minimum residence in the canton of two to five years. (SCA Art. 18)
- Spouses of Swiss citizens can apply for facilitated naturalisation after three years of married life together and five years in Switzerland in total, including the year before the application. (SCA Art. 21)
C permit: the settlement permit →
All permits compared →
Moving to and from Switzerland →
Sources: FSO: demographic balance and permanent resident population by permit type · FNIA · VZAE · SCA · SEM · cantonal law collections · SLI-2026-10-10.39
Frequently asked questions
How long must I live in a canton to apply for Swiss citizenship?
Each canton sets it, between two and five years (SCA Art. 18). The shortest is 2 years (Zurich, Bern, Basel-Stadt, Schaffhausen, Vaud, Neuchâtel, Geneva, Jura), the longest 5 years.
What language level do I need?
The federal minimum is B1 spoken and A2 written. 8 cantons require more, for example Thurgau, Zug and Nidwalden B2 spoken and B1 written.
Is there a citizenship test?
10 cantons check knowledge with a written cantonal test, for example Zurich, Bern and Geneva. Elsewhere the commune tests or knowledge is checked in an interview.
How much does naturalisation cost?
Three fees apply: federal, cantonal and communal. The table shows the cantonal fee for one adult; Basel-Stadt has charged no cantonal fee since 1 July 2026.
Information, not legal advice. The laws and the decision of the cantonal migration office are authoritative.
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