Swiss citizenship test
There is no single Swiss citizenship test. Federal law asks for basic knowledge of Swiss geography, history, politics and society, and each canton decides whether and how to test it, often through your commune. Below: the federal rules, and how Zurich and Aargau do it.
Free practice for the Swiss citizenship test
The test at a glance
- Set byyour canton, often run by your commune
- Topicsgeography, history, politics, society of Switzerland, plus your canton
- ZurichThe Grundkenntnistest, booked through your commune
- Aargau45 questions, pass with 34 correct
- LanguageB1 spoken, A2 written, proved separately
- Federal feeCHF 100 for the naturalisation permit, plus canton and commune fees
Zurich and Aargau compared
| Zurich | Aargau | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Grundkenntnistest | Test of civic knowledge (staatsbürgerlicher Test) |
| Topics | Switzerland, the canton of Zurich and its communes: geography, politics, history | Switzerland and the canton of Aargau; your commune is checked in the interview |
| Format | Set by the canton; the commune tells you when and where | 45 questions, the same cantonal test in every commune |
| Pass mark | Not stated on the canton's page | 34 of 45 (three quarters) |
| When | Before or after you apply, depending on your commune | Before you apply; the certificate goes with your application |
| Who | Applicants 12 years old and over, unless exempt through Swiss schooling | Applicants 16 years old and over |
| Fee | Differs by commune and test provider | CHF 50 |
| Retakes | Ask your commune | After at least 2 months |
Other cantons have their own tests and rules: check with your canton or commune before you prepare.
What federal law requires
- Knowledge: basic knowledge of Swiss geography, history, politics and society, plus taking part in social and cultural life and contact with Swiss people.
- Test: the canton may require a test; if it does, it must offer suitable materials or courses to prepare.
- Language: the test must be passable with the language level required for naturalisation, B1 spoken and A2 written.
- Residence: lived in Switzerland for 10 years, with a C permit, plus 2 to 5 years in the canton and commune.
Who is exempt in Zurich
- At school now: you attend compulsory school, an apprenticeship or a Gymnasium in Switzerland.
- Past schooling: you completed 5 years of compulsory school in Switzerland, at least 3 of them at lower-secondary level.
- Qualification: you completed an apprenticeship or a Gymnasium in Switzerland.
Good to know
- Official practice: Zurich publishes a practice test, a learning brochure and the full list of questions; Aargau's communes publish a practice test and the full question catalogue.
- Our questions: they cover the federal level only (constitution, institutions, history, geography); learn your canton's part from its official material.
- Interview: many communes also hold a naturalisation interview, for example on local knowledge in Aargau.
- Timing: Zurich puts the whole procedure at about 2 years; Aargau adds about 10 months for the canton and the Confederation after the commune.
Independent practice
FreeExamPath is independent and not affiliated with the SEM, any canton or any commune. Our questions are our own, written from the Federal Constitution, federal law and official sources, not from cantonal question lists.
Official information
Questions about the Swiss citizenship test
Is there one citizenship test for all of Switzerland?
No. Federal law only asks for basic knowledge; each canton decides whether and how to test it.
How many questions does the Aargau test have?
45 questions; you pass with at least 34 correct answers.
What language level do I need?
At least B1 spoken and A2 written in a national language. Some cantons ask for more.
Are FreeExamPath's questions the official ones?
No. They are our own, on federal topics. The official question lists are published by the cantons.
Official sources (10)
- Die ordentliche Einbürgerung — Staatssekretariat für Migration (SEM), checked 19 October 2026
- Verordnung über das Schweizer Bürgerrecht (Bürgerrechtsverordnung, BüV), SR 141.01 — Bundeskanzlei — Fedlex, checked 19 October 2026
- Bundesgesetz über das Schweizer Bürgerrecht (Bürgerrechtsgesetz, BüG), SR 141.0 — Bundeskanzlei — Fedlex, checked 19 October 2026
- FAQ – Schweizer Bürgerrecht — Staatssekretariat für Migration (SEM), checked 19 October 2026
- Grundkenntnistest — Kanton Zürich — Gemeindeamt, checked 19 October 2026
- Übungstest: Staatsbürgerlicher Test im Kanton Aargau — Fachverbände der Aargauer Gemeinden (Gemeindeammänner-Vereinigung), checked 19 October 2026
- Ordentliche Einbürgerung — Kanton Aargau — Departement Volkswirtschaft und Inneres, checked 19 October 2026
- Ordentliche Einbürgerung — Kanton Zürich — Gemeindeamt, checked 19 October 2026
- Verordnung über das Kantons- und das Gemeindebürgerrecht (KBüV), SAR 121.213 — Kanton Aargau — Gesetzessammlungen, checked 19 October 2026
- Gesetz über das Kantons- und das Gemeindebürgerrecht (KBüG), SAR 121.200 — Kanton Aargau — Gesetzessammlungen, checked 19 October 2026