Obwalden citizenship test

How the Obwalden exam works

Obwalden checks basic knowledge with a written exam run by the vocational and continuing education centre (BWZ) Obwalden in Sarnen on behalf of the canton. The content is set by the cantonal Office of Justice. Most questions are multiple choice, and some you have to answer in your own words. The exam takes about 90 minutes.

The structure is strict: the exam consists of six question blocks.

1. The naturalisation procedure
2. Rights and duties
3. Structure of the state and the municipality
4. Geography and history
5. Political system
6. Society and customs

You need a minimum score in every block. According to the sample answer key, it is about 60 to 70 percent per block for adults. Anyone who scores too low in a single block fails the whole exam. So you cannot make up for gaps in one topic with another.

You take the exam before applying, after the language assessments. The certificate is valid for two years. The exam costs 60 francs, and an optional preparation course of about 15 lessons costs 280 to 290 francs. There is no public question catalogue. In justified cases, for example because of a disability, an exemption is possible.

What you should know about the canton of Obwalden

• Municipalities and territory: Obwalden has seven municipalities: Sarnen, Kerns, Sachseln, Alpnach, Giswil, Lungern and Engelberg. The capital is Sarnen on Lake Sarnen. Engelberg only joined in 1815 and is an exclave, separated from the rest of the canton by Nidwalden territory. The canton has just under 40,000 inhabitants.
• Authorities: The Kantonsrat has 55 members, and every municipality is entitled to at least four seats. The Regierungsrat has five members, and the Kantonsrat elects the Landammann from the government every year. Terms in the Kantonsrat are limited to 16 years. Obwalden has one seat each in the Council of States and the National Council. Voters abolished the Landsgemeinde in 1998; the constitution dates from 1968.
• People’s rights: A popular initiative needs 500 voters, a referendum 100 voters within 30 days. With the Volksmotion even a single person can propose a law.
• History: Together with Nidwalden, Obwalden formed Unterwalden, one of the three original cantons. The White Book of Sarnen contains the oldest known account of Tell and the Rütli oath. Niklaus von Flüe, known as Brother Klaus, lived as a hermit in the Ranft near Flüeli. His advice contributed to the Stans Agreement of 1481, and he was canonised in 1947. His tomb is in Sachseln.
• Nature: The highest point is the Titlis at 3238 metres. The geographical centre of Switzerland lies on the Älggi Alp. The world’s steepest cogwheel railway runs from Alpnachstad up Pilatus, and the Sarner Aa links Lake Sarnen and Lake Alpnach.
• Economy and culture: The company maxon in Sachseln builds precision motors that have ended up in Mars rovers. Engelberg-Titlis and Melchsee-Frutt are well-known winter sports resorts, and Engelberg Abbey has existed since 1120.

The naturalisation process in the canton of Obwalden

First come the language assessments and the exam at the BWZ. Only with the exam certificate do you submit the application to your municipality. The municipality and the canton assess your integration, and then the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) issues the federal naturalisation permit. With the canton’s decision you receive citizenship.

The residence rule in Obwalden is long: you must have lived in the canton and in the same municipality for five years without interruption, immediately before applying. As proof of language you need German at least at B1 spoken and A2 written.

How to prepare

The most important source is the information sheet of the Office of Justice, especially Annex 5 on basic civic knowledge. The preparation course at the BWZ also uses the textbook «Die Schweiz verstehen» (hep Verlag).

Because of the minimum score per block, study evenly. Go through the six blocks one by one and test yourself honestly: can you explain the naturalisation procedure? Do you know your rights and duties? The block on the naturalisation procedure is often underestimated, even though you know the answers from your own application. Our guides to the requirements and the process help here.

Check your knowledge with the practice questions and the mock test. The mock test uses a practice format with 30 questions because Obwalden does not publish a fixed format.