Basel-City citizenship test

How Basel-Stadt checks your knowledge

Basel-Stadt relies on an interview with test character rather than a written test. It is conducted by the naturalisation committee of the burgher community (Bürgergemeinde) where you live, that is Basel, Riehen or Bettingen. The interview is recorded. It checks basic knowledge of the geography, history, politics and society of the Confederation, the canton and the municipality. No score is published: the committee assesses whether your knowledge is sufficient and recommends admission, rejection or deferral.

Before this interview, the Migration Office holds an assessment interview with you.

A Basel speciality: anyone who attended all of compulsory school in Switzerland and all of lower secondary school in Basel-Stadt does not have to answer civics questions (§ 11 of the Citizenship Act, confirmed by the Federal Supreme Court in 2019). Children under 16 receive age-appropriate material.

What you should know about the canton of Basel-Stadt

• A city canton: Basel-Stadt consists of three municipalities: Basel, Riehen and Bettingen. At about 37 km² it is the smallest canton in Switzerland, with about 210,500 inhabitants. The canton itself runs the affairs of the city of Basel, so the Grosser Rat (Grand Council) is also the city parliament.
• Authorities: The Grosser Rat has 100 members, elected in five constituencies, and meets in the red town hall on the Marktplatz. The Regierungsrat has seven members. Unusually, the people elect the president of the government for the whole four-year term. The highest court is the Appellationsgericht (court of appeal). Basel-Stadt has one seat in the Council of States and four in the National Council. The constitution has been in force since 2006.
• People’s rights: An initiative needs 3000 voters, a referendum 2000 within 42 days. The residents’ municipalities may extend the right to vote on municipal matters to other residents.
• History: Basel joined the Confederation in 1501. In 1833 the countryside split off as a separate canton. In 2014 Basel-Stadt accepted a merger of the two Basels, but Basel-Landschaft clearly rejected it. The University of Basel, founded in 1460, is the oldest in Switzerland.
• Geography: At the Rhine knee the river turns north. Grossbasel with the Minster lies on the left bank, Kleinbasel on the right. At the Dreiländereck, Switzerland, Germany and France meet. The only Swiss neighbouring canton is Basel-Landschaft. The EuroAirport lies entirely in France, and the Badischer Bahnhof station is operated by Deutsche Bahn.
• Culture and economy: The Basel carnival (Fasnacht) begins at 4 a.m. on the Monday after Ash Wednesday with the Morgestraich and has been UNESCO intangible cultural heritage since 2017. The Schnitzelbängg satirical verses are part of it. The autumn fair (Herbstmesse) dates back to 1471. Pharma and chemicals with Roche and Novartis shape the economy, Art Basel the art world, and the Rhine ports link Switzerland to the North Sea. Besides three Christian churches, the Jewish community is recognised under public law.

The naturalisation process in Basel-Stadt

After you apply, the Migration Office holds the assessment interview. The burgher community then invites you to the interview before the naturalisation committee and decides on municipal citizenship. After the permit from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the Regierungsrat decides on admission to cantonal citizenship.

You need German at level B1 spoken and A2 written, ten years of residence in Switzerland and two years without interruption in the municipality.

On costs: since 1 July 2026 the cantonal procedure has been free of charge. The municipalities still charge fees: the city of Basel 800 francs from age 25 and 950 francs for married couples or families with children, Riehen 1700 francs and Bettingen 1400 francs. Under 25, and for people receiving supplementary benefits or health insurance premium reductions, the municipal fees are waived. The Confederation charges 100 francs for adults.

How to prepare

Read the canton’s leaflet «Der Weg zum Schweizer Pass 2026», the naturalisation guide and the information sheet of the burgher community of the city of Basel. The burgher community also offers the optional «Kompaktkurs Einbürgerung» with three lessons that explain the political system of the Confederation, the canton and the burgher community.

Because the interview is recorded, it feels more formal than an ordinary conversation. So practise answering calmly and in full sentences. Typically Basel and often asked: why is the Grosser Rat also the city parliament? What happens at the Morgestraich? Where is Kleinbasel? If you can answer questions like these with ease, you show that Basel is your home.

The practice questions and the mock test on this page help you check your knowledge before the interview.