Language proficiency is a ‘must’ for Swiss citizenship, along with other requirements, but does speaking two, or even three, national languages makes the process easier?
Being proficient in a ‘Swiss’ language is one of the many criteria that all applicants for naturalisation must fulfil. (The others are the length of residency, C permit, as well as proof of integration — which includes financial self-sufficiency, respect for Swiss values and way of life, and involvement in / knowledge of local community’s affairs).
As far as language is concerned, a certain level of competence is required, that’s determined by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
That is B1 level for oral communication and A2 for written.
This is the minimum threshold on the federal level; some cantons may, however, have stricter rules in place.
For example, three Swiss-German cantons — Schwyz, Nidwalden, and Thurgau — all require B1 written level and B2 spoken, which is higher than required on the national level.
READ ALSO: Do all cantons have the same language rules for Swiss citizenship?
Canton-specific language
Your proficiency should be in the language of your canton.
So if you are fluent in French but don’t speak German, applying for citizenship in Zurich is not possible (and vice-versa).
A number of Swiss cantons have two official languages. These are Bern (German and French), Fribourg (German and French), Valais (French and German) and Graubünden (German, Romansh and Italian).
There are also two bilingual German/French cities: Biel/Bienne and Fribourg (German and French).
If you live in these cantons and/or municipalities, you may have to be proficient only in the language of your community, but it is best to check out the requirements ahead of time.
READ ALSO: How did Switzerland become a country with four languages?
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Now back to the original question: is knowing more than one official language helpful for naturalisation?
The answer is no.
While the federal government is involved in the naturalisation of foreign citizens to a limited extent, the primary responsibility in this area falls on the cantons and municipalities.
Therefore, it is reasonable and logical that you should be able to speak and understand the language of the canton where you live.
Though being proficient in, let’s say German and French, or French and Italian, or any combination of these three languages, may be a definite plus in your professional and social life, as well as for travelling from one linguistic region to another, it will likely not sway the local naturalisation committee in your favour.
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By the same token, you cannot obtain citizenship in a German-speaking canton if you only speak French or Italian (or both); the same goes for the French-language cantons and Ticino.
So the only way for you to be naturalised (provided that all the other requirements are met) is in the language appropriate to your canton.
Once you have your Swiss passport in hand, however, you are free to move to another canton, whether within the same or another linguistic area.
