Navigation

Inside a school for future citizens

Earning a Swiss passport is not easy – even if you meet the strict application criteria, a knowledge of the ins and outs of the country is also required. Preparation courses exist for those hoping to become citizens. (RTS/SWI)

This content was published on June 6, 2018

The recent case of a British-born, long-term resident in Switzerland, who was denied citizenship for purportedly not knowing the precise origins of the raclette dish (it’s canton Valais) is the latest example of the harsh vicissitudes of the Swiss naturalisation system.

+ Read more about "raclette-gate" and the man denied citizenship

And though authorities in the man’s local municipality in canton Schwyz have defended their decision and said that cheese was irrelevant to the outcome, the nature of the question – and the knowledge of Swiss history, geography, and culture that it implies – is not uncommon.

Do you know what Switzerland’s highest mountain is? In what year the confederation was founded? How many signatures are needed to bring a people’s initiative to ballot?

For those unsure of their Swiss chops, a diverse range of preparation courses are now available. In Payerne in canton Vaud, for example (see video), the local administration offers lessons, taught by volunteers, to foreigners who have lived in Switzerland for at least 10 years and are applying for citizenship.

The courses are optional, for now, and cost CHF150 ($152) per person, or CHF200 for a couple. Teachers try to transmit basic knowledge of geography, history, and socio-political affairs on three levels: national, cantonal, and local.

In canton Vaud, following a revision to a federal law on nationality that came into force in January 2018, naturalisation candidates now hand their application in at the cantonal, rather than local, level. As for the basic knowledge, they must learn the answers to some 160 questions.

Contributions under this article have been turned off. You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

Sort by

Change your password

Do you really want to delete your profile?

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you.

Weekly top stories

Keep up to date with the best stories from SWI swissinfo.ch on a range of topics, straight into your mailbox.

Weekly

The SBC Privacy Policy provides additional information on how your data is processed.