Switzerland does not ask for one German level. Each permit has its own rule, and the rule is split into speaking and writing. This guide shows the level for the family B permit, the C permit and Swiss citizenship, and which Goethe and telc certificates the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) accepts.
Switzerland sets a level per permit: A1 spoken for a family B permit, A2 spoken and A1 written for the C permit, B1 spoken and A2 written for citizenship. The SEM list names Goethe A1–C2, telc A1–B2 and telc C1 Hochschule.
Source: sem.admin.ch ·
Swiss rules separate spoken German (mündlich) from written German (schriftlich). A permit can ask for a higher spoken level and a lower written level, and some steps ask only for speaking. The table shows what applies to each step, from joining a family member to becoming a Swiss citizen (Einbürgerung).
| Step | Spoken German | Written German |
|---|---|---|
| Residence permit B (Aufenthaltsbewilligung) through family reunion | A1 | No written level is named |
| Settlement permit C (Niederlassungsbewilligung) | A2 | A1 |
| Swiss citizenship (Einbürgerung) | B1 | A2 |
Each step builds on the one before. If you plan to stay in Switzerland for the long term, it makes sense to aim past the level you need today: a B1 certificate for speaking and A2 for writing covers all three steps at once. The documents you must hand in, and any other conditions, are set by your canton or commune, so check with them before you book an exam.
The SEM list comes with guidelines for the cantonal authorities. They explain how a result on paper turns into a spoken and a written level. Knowing them helps you choose the right exam.
Your spoken level is the level you reach in the oral part of the exam, or in the part called speaking (Sprechen).
Your written level comes from the written part, or from reading (Lesen) and writing (Schreiben). If the certificate shows two different levels for these, the lower one counts. If they are far apart, the level in the middle counts.
If you did not pass the exam overall but reached a good enough result in the oral or the written part, that part can still be recognised. You may also combine result sheets from different recognised certificates.
A certificate counts if it was on the list on the day your application reached the authority. If you took the exam a long time ago and the authority doubts your current level, it can ask for a new language proof.
The State Secretariat for Migration publishes a list of recognised language certificates for permits and citizenship. The edition of 1 July 2026 is the current one, and the list is updated every three months. To be on it, an exam must carry the quality label (Q-Mark) of ALTE, the Association of Language Testers in Europe, or be in the process of getting it.
If you are moving from Germany, check your certificate before you apply. The German integration course exam, telc Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ), is not on the current list; it appears only among formerly recognised certificates, for applications made between 12 October 2017 and 5 June 2018. A standard Goethe or telc certificate avoids that problem.
fide is a Swiss test of everyday language at levels A1 to B1, in German, French or Italian. It has an oral part (speaking and understanding) and a written part (reading and writing), and you can take the two parts separately. You do not simply pass or fail: if you miss the higher level but reach the lower one, you are certified at the level you reached. The result is recorded in a language passport (Sprachenpass).
The fide dossier is not a classic exam. It is a simpler route for people who already speak at B1 or above but have no recognised certificate. You hand in evidence and attend a validation meeting where spoken and written German are checked. If you pass, you receive a language passport at B1.
The three levels that matter for Swiss permits are A1, A2 and B1. Here is how the two big exam providers test them. Exam fees are set locally by each centre, so check the price list of the Goethe-Institut or telc centre near you.
Reading, listening, writing and a group speaking test of about 15 minutes. You pass with 60 out of 100 points overall; the exam is not modular.
Reading and listening with 20 items each, two short writing tasks (a text message and an email) and a speaking test in pairs. The pass mark is 60 out of 100 overall.
Four separate modules: reading, listening, writing and speaking. You need 60 out of 100 in each module, and you can book or repeat one module alone. That suits the Swiss split between spoken and written German.
At A1 the oral test is in a group of up to four, at A2 in pairs. telc B1 is one exam with a written part and an oral part, and you must reach 60 percent in each part separately.
A1 in spoken German. Your canton or commune tells you which documents to hand in with the application, so ask them before you book an exam.
For the settlement permit C (Niederlassungsbewilligung) you need A2 in spoken German and A1 in written German.
B1 in spoken German and A2 in written German. A certificate that shows B1 for speaking and A2 for writing also covers the lower levels for the B and C permits.
Yes. The SEM list of 1 July 2026 names Goethe-Zertifikat A1 to C2, telc Deutsch A1 to B2 and telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule. A certificate counts if it was on the list on the day you applied.
All three are recognised. fide tests everyday language at A1 to B1, with oral and written parts you can take separately. Goethe and telc also help if you may later study or work in Germany or Austria.
It can. Under the SEM guidelines, if you reached a good enough result in the oral or the written part, the authority can recognise that part, and you may combine result sheets from different recognised certificates.
Not for new applications. The telc Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer is listed only among formerly recognised certificates, for applications made between 12 October 2017 and 5 June 2018. A Goethe, telc or fide certificate from the current list is the safe choice.
Fees are set locally by each exam centre and differ from place to place, so check the price list of the Goethe-Institut, telc centre or fide test centre where you plan to sit the exam.