Jura citizenship test

How the canton of Jura checks your knowledge

The Jura relies on an oral hearing with a questionnaire. The questions cover four topics: geography, history, civics and general knowledge, each about Switzerland and the Jura. The hearing is held by the municipal council or a naturalisation committee that includes at least one representative of the municipality. No pass mark is published, and no official question catalogue is available online. Minors under 16 are exempt from the hearing.

What you should know about the canton of Jura

• The youngest canton: The Jura is the 26th and youngest canton of Switzerland. On 23 June 1974 the people of what was then the Bernese Jura voted in a plebiscite for a canton of their own; on 24 September 1978 the Swiss people and all cantons approved it, and on 1 January 1979 the Jura became sovereign. 23 June is a cantonal public holiday.
• Moutier: On 1 January 2026 the town of Moutier moved from the canton of Bern to the Jura. Since then the canton has had four districts: Delémont, Porrentruy, Franches-Montagnes and Moutier. With Moutier it has 51 municipalities and about 82,000 inhabitants.
• History: For centuries the Jura belonged to the Prince-Bishopric of Basel, recalled by the red crozier in the coat of arms. In 1815 the Congress of Vienna assigned the territory to the canton of Bern. The separatist Rassemblement jurassien was founded in 1947. The 1977 constitution describes the Jura as a democratic and social state founded on fraternity. The anthem is «La Rauracienne».
• Authorities: The parliament is simply called the Parlement and has 60 deputies; the government is the Gouvernement, made up of five ministers elected by the people. Both are elected for five years. Parliament and government sit in Delémont, the cantonal court in Porrentruy. The official language is French.
• People’s rights: An initiative needs 2000 voters or five municipalities within twelve months, a referendum 2000 voters or five municipalities within 60 days. Foreign nationals with ten years in Switzerland and one year in the canton may vote at cantonal level; only the office of mayor remains closed to them.
• Geography: The Jura borders France as well as Bern, Solothurn and Basel-Landschaft. The Doubs forms the Clos du Doubs loop and flows through Saint-Ursanne, the Birse through Delémont. The Franches-Montagnes are a high plateau with wooded pastures and the Étang de la Gruère.
• Culture and economy: The Franches-Montagnes horse is the last Swiss horse breed, and the Marché-Concours takes place every August in Saignelégier. In Ajoie people celebrate the Saint-Martin in November, and Damassine is a fruit brandy with AOP status. The watch industry and microtechnology shape the economy. Dinosaur tracks discovered during construction of the A16 motorway are shown at the Jurassica museum in Porrentruy.

The naturalisation process in the canton of Jura

The municipality holds the hearing and is the first to decide, on municipal citizenship. The cantonal population service (SPOP) in Delémont handles the cantonal procedure. After the permit from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the canton grants citizenship.

French at A2 written and B1 spoken is required, along with ten years in Switzerland, the last two in the same municipality, and a C permit. Fees are 200 francs per person under 25 and 500 to 1000 francs per file from age 25.

How to prepare

The optional course by AvenirFormation in Delémont prepares you specifically for the interview on behalf of the canton: 18 lessons over six weeks for 250 francs. The programme is available online as a PDF and shows you which topics matter.

Because the hearing is oral and in French, practise wording answers freely. The history of the Jura matters personally to many of its people. If you can explain what is celebrated on 23 June and why Moutier changed canton, you show genuine interest in your new home.

With the practice questions and the mock test on this page you can check your knowledge before the hearing.