Citizenship test Basel-Stadt: an interview instead of an exam, procedure and requirements

Unlike the Canton of Zurich, for example, Basel-Stadt has no written citizenship test. Whether you are familiar with Swiss and local life is checked by the naturalisation commission of your Bürgergemeinde in a personal interview that has the character of a test and is recorded. Anyone who completed compulsory school entirely in Switzerland, with all of lower secondary school in Basel-Stadt, is no longer asked questions on geography, history, politics and society there.

7 Lessons
50 Questions

This page sums up what the canton, the Migrationsamt and the Bürgergemeinden of Basel, Riehen and Bettingen officially require: residence periods, proof of German, the interview, the five steps of the procedure and the fees, which were lowered on 1 July 2026. Every figure is tied to its source and was checked on 4 September 2026. Further down you will find our Basel lessons with practice questions on the canton's history, politics, geography and culture.

The requirements in the Canton of Basel-Stadt at a glance

Residence in Switzerland: 10 years in total, 3 of them in the 5 years before the application. The years between the ages of 8 and 18 count double, years with provisional admission count half.[1][7]
Permit: Settlement permit C.[1][4]
Residence in the commune: At least 2 uninterrupted years in the same commune of the canton: Basel, Riehen or Bettingen.[3][4]
German: B1 spoken, A2 written. Accepted are the fide language passport, Goethe certificate, telc Deutsch, ÖSD, the ECL exam and TestDaF (levels 3 to 4). A course attendance certificate does not count.[1][5]
Exemption from the language proof: German as mother tongue; at least 5 years of compulsory school in German in a German-speaking region; an upper secondary or tertiary qualification completed in German.[3][4]
Knowledge of local life: No written test. Basic knowledge of the federation, the canton and the commune is checked by the Bürgergemeinde in the naturalisation interview. Anyone who completed compulsory school entirely in Switzerland, with all of lower secondary school in Basel-Stadt, counts as familiar.[3][6]
Finances and record: No social assistance in the last 3 years unless fully repaid; no open debt enforcement or certificates of loss; no criminal record entries. Difficult personal circumstances are taken into account.[4][7]
Cantonal fee: None. Since 1 July 2026 the canton no longer charges a fee.[1][4][8]
Communal fee: City of Basel CHF 800 per person, CHF 950 for couples and families; Riehen CHF 1,700; Bettingen CHF 1,400. Free under 25, and free for people receiving premium reductions, supplementary benefits or social assistance through no fault of their own.[4][6][8]
Federal fee: CHF 100 per person, CHF 150 for married couples, CHF 50 under 18.[4]
Duration: Usually one and a half to two years.[1][4]
Application: Since 2026 online through the canton's ePortal to the Migrationsamt, or by post. From the age of 12 an application in one's own name is possible.[1][3][8]

Facts checked on 4 September 2026.

The naturalisation interview: how your knowledge is checked

Basel-Stadt does not require a multiple-choice test on a computer. Section 11 of the cantonal citizenship act spells out what being familiar with Swiss and local life means: basic knowledge of the geographic, historical, political and social conditions in the federation, the canton and the commune, participation in social and cultural life, and contacts with Swiss people. This is checked in the interview with the naturalisation commission of the Bürgergemeinde.

Beforehand, the Bürgergemeinde invites you to an information event at the Stadthaus, where the procedure, the requirements and the course offers are explained. The interview itself has the character of a test and is recorded. Afterwards the commission asks the Bürgerrat to approve, reject or postpone your application.

Anyone who completed compulsory school entirely in Switzerland, with all of lower secondary school in the Canton of Basel-Stadt, has already provided the proof of basic knowledge under the act and is no longer questioned on it.

To prepare, the Bürgergemeinde offers the voluntary Kompaktkurs Einbürgerung: three sessions of 1¾ hours on the political system at federal, cantonal and communal level and on the geography, history and culture of Switzerland and Basel, for CHF 120 per person or CHF 180 for couples and families. Children under 16 do not need a course. Our Basel lessons cover the same topics and come with practice questions.

The five steps of ordinary naturalisation in Basel-Stadt

The procedure has three tiers: the commune, the federal government and the canton all have to agree. The first point of contact is the Migrationsamt Basel-Stadt, and the Bürgergemeinde of your place of residence is always part of the decision. The canton expects one and a half to two years.

1
Advice and application at the Migrationsamt
The Migrationsamt Basel-Stadt advises you and receives the application, since 2026 online through the canton's ePortal with an upload of all documents, or still by post if you prefer. The cantonal and communal fees are paid in advance.
2
Fact-finding interview at the Migrationsamt
The Migrationsamt checks the requirements, carries out the necessary enquiries, talks to you and the family members included in the application, and writes the report for the commune and the federal government.
3
Information event and naturalisation interview at the Bürgergemeinde
The Bürgergemeinde of Basel, Riehen or Bettingen invites you. In the City of Basel the naturalisation commission holds the recorded interview with the character of a test and makes its recommendation to the Bürgerrat. With a positive decision you are admitted to communal citizenship.
4
Federal naturalisation permit
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) examines the file and issues the federal naturalisation permit.
5
Cantonal citizenship by the Regierungsrat
The Regierungsrat grants the citizenship of the Canton of Basel-Stadt; with this decision you acquire Swiss citizenship at the same time. The decision is published in the Kantonsblatt, and the Bürgergemeinde hands over the Bürgerbrief at a ceremony. A negative decision by the Bürgergemeinde can be appealed to the Regierungsrat, and its decisions to the administrative court.

Four sample questions from our Basel-Stadt lessons

This is what the practice questions in our lessons look like. The correct answer is marked and the explanation gives the background.

When did Basel join the Swiss Confederacy?

1460 with the university
1501 as the 11th cantonCorrect answer
1291 as an original canton
1833 after the division

Basel (city and countryside together) joined the Swiss Confederacy in 1501 as the 11th canton. The city brought valuable assets including Rhine River access, trade wealth, and the prestigious University of Basel. Basel remained a single canton until the countryside separated three centuries later, splitting it into Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft.

How many municipalities does Basel-Stadt have?

3 municipalities (Basel, Riehen, Bettingen)Correct answer
1 municipality (just Basel)
6 districts
86 municipalities

Basel-Stadt has 3 municipalities: Basel (the city, ~180'000 residents), Riehen (~22'800, northeastern suburb with Fondation Beyeler), and Bettingen (~1'300, tiny village). Uniquely in Switzerland, the city of Basel has no municipal authorities of its own: the cantonal parliament and government act for it. Only Riehen and Bettingen have their own municipal bodies.

How many members are in the Regierungsrat, Basel-Stadt's executive council?

5 members
9 members
3 members
7 membersCorrect answer

The Regierungsrat (Executive Council) of Basel-Stadt has 7 members, elected directly by the people every 4 years under a majority (Majorz) system. They form a collegial government in which all members have equal status. Unlike most cantons, Basel-Stadt does not rotate the presidency: since the constitution of 2005/06, voters elect the Regierungspräsident/in separately for the full four-year term, and that person heads the Präsidialdepartement.

What time does the Morgestraich begin to kick off Basel's Fasnacht celebrations?

2:00 AM
4:00 AMCorrect answer
Midnight
6:00 AM

The Morgestraich begins precisely at 4:00 AM on the Monday after Ash Wednesday. At this moment, all lights in the city center are extinguished, and costumed participants begin parading with lanterns while playing piccolos and drums. This dramatic start marks the beginning of Basel's three-day carnival celebration.

Lessons

Frequently asked questions about naturalisation in the Canton of Basel-Stadt

Is there a written citizenship test in Basel-Stadt?

No. The Canton of Basel-Stadt has no computer test. Basic knowledge of the federation, the canton and the commune is checked by the naturalisation commission of the Bürgergemeinde in a personal interview that has the character of a test and is recorded.

Who is not asked civics questions in the interview?

Anyone who completed compulsory school entirely in Switzerland, with all of lower secondary school in the Canton of Basel-Stadt. For these people the proof of basic knowledge under section 11 of the citizenship act counts as provided.

What level of German does Basel-Stadt require?

B1 spoken and A2 written. The Migrationsamt accepts the fide language passport, the Goethe certificate, telc Deutsch, ÖSD, the ECL exam and TestDaF (levels 3 to 4); a course attendance certificate is not enough. You can take the fide test at the Bürgergemeinde Basel, among other places, for about CHF 250. No proof is needed from native German speakers, from anyone who attended school in German for at least five years, or from anyone who completed an upper secondary or tertiary education in German.

How much does naturalisation cost in Basel-Stadt?

Since 1 July 2026 the canton no longer charges a fee. The City of Basel charges CHF 800 per person and CHF 950 for couples and families, Riehen CHF 1,700 and Bettingen CHF 1,400. Anyone under 25, or receiving premium reductions, supplementary benefits or social assistance through no fault of their own, pays no communal fee. Add the federal fee: CHF 100 per person, CHF 150 for married couples, CHF 50 under 18. A single adult over 25 in the City of Basel therefore pays CHF 900 instead of the previous CHF 1,750.

How long does naturalisation take in Basel-Stadt?

Usually one and a half to two years, from the application at the Migrationsamt through the interview at the Bürgergemeinde and the federal permit to the decision of the Regierungsrat. The canton receives about 1,000 applications a year and expects that number to double for a while because of the lower fees.

How long do I have to live in Basel-Stadt?

Ten years in Switzerland, three of them in the five years before the application, and at least two uninterrupted years in the same commune: Basel, Riehen or Bettingen. The years between the ages of 8 and 18 count double, years with provisional admission count half, and years on an L, N, G or S permit do not count at all.

Can I apply on my own as a teenager?

Yes, from the age of 12 with the consent of the holder of parental authority; from 16 you have to declare your wish in writing. Up to 25 no communal fee is charged, the canton bears the cost. Children under 16 also do not need a preparation course.

How do I prepare for the naturalisation interview?

The Bürgergemeinde Basel offers the voluntary Kompaktkurs Einbürgerung, three sessions of 1¾ hours for CHF 120 per person or CHF 180 for couples and families, and the Fit für Basel programme. The course requires that the fact-finding interview at the Migrationsamt has taken place. Our Basel lessons and practice questions cover the canton's history, politics, geography, economy and culture.

Sources

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The Basel-Stadt Handbook 2026

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The citizenship test in Basel-Stadt, in detail

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