The Naturalisation Interview in the Canton of Zurich
What the interview is
After the canton’s preliminary check, your commune of residence examines whether you are integrated. It can invite you to a naturalisation interview (Einbürgerungsgespräch) for this. The cantonal ordinance (KBüV § 13) leaves the choice to the commune: it may hold an interview, it does not have to.
The interview is a conversation, usually with staff of the commune’s naturalisation office or members of a citizenship committee. They prepare the case. The decision on communal citizenship is taken by the competent body of the commune, usually the communal council.
Will there be one?
That depends on your commune. According to the canton’s 2025 study, 51 per cent of Zurich communes always held an interview, down from 71 per cent in 2022. Others hold one only when something is unclear. Three examples:
- City of Zurich: the city checks your German, basic knowledge, social integration and participation in working life or education. If questions remain open, it invites you to a personal interview with someone from its naturalisation department.
- Bülach: in principle no interview; only in individual cases, for example when there are doubts about German or basic knowledge.
- Otelfingen: in principle no interview; only when needed.
The handbook says an interview is useful mainly when the commune cannot judge certain criteria from your documents. If the documents are enough, the commune can do without it. Ask your commune early whether it holds interviews and when.
What it covers
The ordinance says the commune checks in particular these integration criteria, which the handbook lists:
- Taking part in social and cultural life: for example going to public events and festivals, being a member of an association or doing voluntary work.
- Contact with Swiss people: neighbours, colleagues, friends, parents at your children’s school.
- Respect for the values of the Federal Constitution: for example the rule of law, equal rights for women and men, freedom of religion and freedom of expression.
- Supporting your family’s integration: helping your spouse or children with language courses, school and social activities.
The commune usually checks these from the self-declaration you sent with your application. The interview is where it can ask about anything that is unclear. If there are concrete doubts about respect for constitutional values, the handbook says the commune can raise them in the interview; statements made there or on social media can count.
Some communes also use the interview to check German or basic knowledge when they have doubts, as Bülach describes. For ordinary naturalisation, though, basic knowledge is normally proven with the knowledge test or with Swiss schooling, and German with a certificate or the cantonal German test.
The requirements for naturalisation are set exhaustively by federal and cantonal law. Motivation is not one of them, and neither is membership of an association. The handbook stresses that people may choose not to join clubs, and that shift work, disability, care duties or limited money can limit how much someone takes part. The commune must take such circumstances into account.
Language, company and record
- Language: you choose whether the interview is held in Standard German or in Swiss German dialect. Say so at the start; the handbook recommends that the commune asks you.
- Level: the commune must adapt the interview to the German that naturalisation requires, B1 spoken and A2 written. You do not need better German than that.
- Company: you may bring an adult person you trust.
- Record: the commune keeps minutes of the interview or records it on audio.
Children
The commune holds no interview with children under 12. In a family application they may be present and join in, but they are not interviewed. From 12, the commune may interview a child in a way that suits the child’s age. Up to 16, an adult person of trust must be present.
How it differs from the written test
| Knowledge test | Interview | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Everyone who is not exempt | Only if the commune holds one |
| Content | 50 questions from a published catalogue of 350 | Your own life and integration |
| Result | Pass with 30 correct answers | No score; the commune assesses the criteria together with your documents |
| Format | On a computer or tablet | A conversation, minuted or recorded |
| Language | Written German | Standard German or dialect, your choice |
If the commune intends to reject your application after its checks, it must first tell you in writing and give its reasons, and you can respond or withdraw the application. A rejection must state its reasons, as far as possible in simple German (A2), and explain how to appeal.
How to prepare
- Ask your commune whether it holds interviews, who leads them and how long they take.
- Reread your self-declaration and your application. The interview starts from what you wrote.
- Think of concrete examples of your life here: events you go to, an association, voluntary work, neighbours, colleagues, your children’s school.
- Practise speaking German about everyday topics: your work, your family, your commune, your week. B1 means you can talk about familiar things clearly; it does not mean perfect grammar.
- Know your commune: what it is called, its main services, how it is governed. The communal part of the knowledge test covers this kind of knowledge too.
- Bring someone if it helps you feel at ease.
- Answer honestly. The commune compares what you say with your documents.
In the city of Zurich, applicants receive access to a learning app for the knowledge test at the interview.
Next step
If you also have to take the knowledge test, start with the free questions. The whole procedure is on the page Zurich, step by step.