The ability to communicate in everyday life in a national language, orally and in writing, is one of the integration criteria for Swiss naturalisation (art. 11 let. a SCA). In Geneva, French proficiency is a key part of the application.
This condition also applies to facilitated naturalisation (art. 20 para. 1 SCA), including people married to a Swiss citizen (art. 21 SCA).
B1 spoken and A2 written
Applicants must demonstrate spoken proficiency equivalent to at least level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and written proficiency of at least level A2.
How can you prove your language skills?
To show that the language requirements are met, applicants must establish one of the following situations:
- They speak and write a national language that is also their mother tongue.
- They attended compulsory school in a national language for at least five years.
- They completed upper-secondary or tertiary education taught in a national language.
- They hold a certificate confirming language proficiency, based on a procedure meeting recognised quality standards for language testing.
Certificates recognised by the SEM
Depending on your schooling and education, a language certificate may therefore be necessary. Where required, the application is incomplete without it.
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) maintains a list of recognised language certificates. Certificates on that list are accepted for the B residence permit, C settlement permit and naturalisation.
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