What German Level Do You Need for Swiss Citizenship?

Last updated: 20 July 2026

B1 oral and A2 written is the federal minimum, and it is lower than many people expect. Your canton can ask for more, and a few of them do.

This article explains what the law requires for the German level for Swiss citizenship (Einbürgerung), where cantons go beyond it, which certificates are accepted, and who does not need a separate language certificate (Sprachzertifikat) at all.

This article explains what the law requires, where cantons go beyond it, which certificates are accepted, and who does not need a separate language certificate (Sprachzertifikat) at all.

The standard German level for Swiss citizenship

The federal minimum is B1 for speaking and A2 for writing. It helps to read that as two separate levels, not one. Speaking and listening count as the oral part. Reading and writing count as the written part. So “oral” already includes listening, which people often forget when they prepare.

This is also why “B1 German” is not an accurate way to describe the requirement. You need B1 in the oral skills and A2 in the written skills. Those are different levels, and they are assessed separately.

What can change the German level you need?

The standard is B1 oral and A2 written. Two things decide whether that changes for you: the canton where you live, and the type of naturalisation you apply for. Your canton can raise the level. The type of naturalisation can mean a German certificate is not needed at all. The next sections go through both.

Can your canton set a higher German level for Swiss citizenship?

The German level for Swiss citizenship is not the same everywhere. Like so many things in Switzerland, it depends on the canton you live in.

The federal government sets the minimum. Cantons are allowed to go beyond it, and several German-speaking cantons do.

All other German-speaking cantons currently stay at the federal minimum of B1 oral and A2 written. However, these rules can change. Aargau, for example, is currently considering an increase to B2 oral and B1 written. The cantonal parliament approved the proposal in a first reading in April 2026, but the higher requirement is not yet in force.

Always verify the current rule with your canton or municipality before booking a test.

These higher levels apply to ordinary naturalisation (ordentliche Einbürgerung). In this procedure, the language proof follows your place of residence, not your mother tongue. Someone whose mother tongue is Italian and who applies in Zürich still has to prove their German, at the level that canton requires, even though they speak another national language.

What about simplified naturalisation?

Simplified naturalisation (erleichterte Einbürgerung) works differently. Here the level is set by the federal government, not the canton. If you are married to a Swiss citizen and meet the conditions for this procedure, the requirement stays at B1 oral and A2 written, wherever you live.

There is one more difference. For simplified naturalisation, you may prove the skills in any Swiss national language, not only German. A German certificate can therefore become unnecessary if you can already show the required level in another national language. An Italian native speaker, for example, may meet the requirement in Italian, even while living in a German-speaking canton.

B1 oral and A2 written still applies. It simply does not have to be in German. It can be in any other Swiss national language.

Which German certificates are accepted?

Only certificates that appear on the SEM list valid at the time you submit your application are accepted. Common options for German include SDS, fide, Goethe and telc.

Good to know: the fide test only certifies up to B1. If you live in a canton that asks for B2 in the oral skills, the fide test cannot show that level. You would then need a format that goes up to B2, for example SDS, telc or Goethe.

Who does not need a language certificate?

You do not need a separate German certificate if German is your mother tongue, if you attended at least five years of compulsory school in German, or if you completed education at upper-secondary or tertiary level (Sekundarstufe II or Tertiärstufe) in German. In these cases the skills count as proven, and the schooling does not have to have taken place in Switzerland.

As described above, the same applies for simplified naturalisation if you can already show the required level in another Swiss national language.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need B1 in all four skills?

No. The requirement distinguishes between B1 for the oral skills and A2 for the written skills. In most cantons you do not need B1 across the board.

How well do I need to speak to reach B1?

At B1 you can take part in an everyday conversation, talk about your life, your work and your plans, and give reasons for what you say. You can handle common situations such as making an appointment or explaining a problem. You do not need many complex structures or fancy words. In my experience, what matters more than perfect grammar is that you can express yourself, that your sentences are connected, and that the other person can follow you easily.

I did a German course and have a course confirmation. Is that enough?

No. A course confirmation (Kursbestätigung) only shows that you took part in a course. For naturalisation you need a recognised certificate that states your level and appears on the SEM list. Online placement tests do not count either. There is one route worth knowing about: through the fide-Dossier, course confirmations from level B2 upwards and other evidence of your German can be assessed, followed by a validation interview. The comparison of recognised German exams [Internal link: comparison of recognised German exams] goes through this in more detail.

Is the SDS certificate accepted for Swiss citizenship?

Yes. SDS is on the SEM list of recognised certificates. It can show the standard B1 oral and A2 written, and also the higher B2 that some cantons ask for.Can I use the certificate from my C permit application?

Can I use the certificate from my C permit application?

Yes, as long as it is on the SEM list valid when you submit your application and already shows the levels required for citizenship. I explain the German level for a C permit in a separate article.

What this means for your application

For most people, the German level for Swiss citizenship is B1 for speaking and A2 for writing. But the type of naturalisation and your canton decide the real target, and both need to be settled before you choose a test. Check those first, then pick a format that can actually certify the levels you need.

Sources

• State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), language requirements for integration and naturalisation, sem.admin.ch, checked 20 July 2026
• SEM, list of recognised language certificates (valid from 1 July 2026), checked 20 July 2026
• Kanton Bern, Sprachnachweis for ordinary naturalisation, einbuergerung.sid.be.ch, checked 20 July 2026
• Kanton Zürich, Kantonaler Deutschtest für die Einbürgerung, zh.ch, checked 20 July 2026
• Kanton Thurgau, ordentliche Einbürgerung, hz.tg.ch, checked 20 July 2026
• Kanton Solothurn, Sprachnachweis ab 01.01.2026, so.ch, checked 20 July 2026
• Official cantonal naturalisation pages for Zug, Schwyz, Nidwalden, St. Gallen, Basel-Landschaft and Appenzell Ausserrhoden, checked 20 July 2026
• fide, information on the fide-Test (levels A1 to B1), fide-admin.ch, checked 20 July 2026