English is widely spoken Switzerland, used either officially or informally in various settings. But does this mean you can also fill out your naturalisation application in English?
You may assume this to be the case because various official Swiss government websites have an English version, along with national languages German, French, Italian, and Romansh.
This includes, among others, the information site ch.ch, the official Federal Council page, and, even more pertinent to the question of citizenship, the site of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
The latter is the government organisation responsible for all the questions related to work permits, visas, as well as naturalisation requirements and procedures.
However, just because it publishes information in English (along with the other official languages) doesn’t mean you can apply for Swiss citizenship on English.
You can’t, and you certainly should not even try.
If you do, you can be certain that you will receive a letter back asking you to re-apply in one of the Switzerland’s national languages, based on the canton where you live.
Why is that?
The reason is simple: you must be proficient in a national language to qualify for Swiss citizenship.
And even though you may think that some of Switzerland’s rules are much too strict, the expectation that people who have lived in the country for at least 10 years (as you must, before being eligible for naturalisation), and want to become Swiss, is not unreasonable.
You must be able to answer all the questions on the exam, both written and oral, in one of the national languages.
READ ALSO: The ten most surprising questions on Switzerland’s citizenship exam
This is regardless of whether you apply for fast-track or regular procedure.
According to SEM, in order to apply for citizenship, you must have a B1 oral level, which means you “can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters, deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling, and produce simple coherent texts on familiar topics. They can also express opinions and explain plans.”
You must also have an A2 written level, meaning “you can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics.”
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There is a reason for that
Under the Swiss law, you can only be naturalised if you are sufficiently integrated, which includes being employed, obeying the law, complying with the Swiss values, as well as being involved in the life of your local community.
READ ALSO: When do the Swiss think a foreigner is successfully integrated?
Therefore, there is virtually no way for you to obtain citizenship in Switzerland if you can’t communicate in the language of your canton to the levels described above.
For that reason, you must fill out your application, and whatever other paperwork your canton requires in that language only.
And you should be able to answer all the questions asked of you during the interview process in your canton or community in that language as well.
You can find out about these language requirements from the immigration authorities in your place of residence.
