Ticino citizenship test

How the course and test work in Ticino

Ticino combines learning and testing in the Corso di formazione alla cittadinanza: a compulsory civics course of 40 lessons. It is organised by the canton and run by the Institute for Continuing Education (IFC) at schools designated by the education department (DECS), for example in Camorino, Viganello/Lugano and Mendrisio. It ends with a test on the geographical, historical, political and social conditions of Switzerland and Ticino.

The test is graded «sufficiente» or «insufficiente» (sufficient or insufficient). The number of questions and the threshold are not published, nor is an official question catalogue. The course and test together cost 500 francs, and a retake of the test 70 francs. You can retake it after six months at the earliest.

Who is exempt

Anyone who attended compulsory school in Ticino for at least five years is exempt from the course and the test. With an upper secondary or tertiary qualification from Ticino you can apply for exemption from the course, but you must take the test.

What you should know about the canton of Ticino

• Language: Ticino is the only canton with Italian as its sole official language. In Bosco Gurin a Walser German dialect is traditionally spoken.
• Structure: Bellinzona has been the permanent capital since 1878, and the largest city is Lugano. Ticino has eight districts, about 100 municipalities since 2025 and about 359,000 inhabitants. The municipal executive is called the Municipio and is chaired by the Sindaco (mayor).
• Authorities: The Gran Consiglio (Grand Council) has 90 members and the Consiglio di Stato (Council of State) five. Both are elected every four years, the Council of State by proportional representation with the whole canton as one constituency. They meet in the Palazzo delle Orsoline in Bellinzona. The court of appeal sits in Lugano. The constitution dates from 1997.
• People’s rights: A legislative initiative needs 7000 signatures, a constitutional initiative 10,000. A referendum can be called by 7000 voters within 60 days or by a fifth of the municipalities.
• History: Before 1798 the Ticino territories were bailiwicks of the Swiss cantons. In 1478 the Confederates and the people of the Leventina defeated Milan at Giornico. In 1798 the people of Lugano cried «Liberi e Svizzeri» (free and Swiss), and in 1803 Ticino became a canton with equal rights.
• Geography: Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano lie partly in Italy. The lowest point in Switzerland is on Lake Maggiore, and the highest summit in Ticino is the Rheinwaldhorn (Adula). The Gotthard links Ticino with Uri, the Lukmanier with Graubünden. The Gotthard Base Tunnel and the Ceneri Base Tunnel of 2020 have shortened distances.
• Culture: The three castles of Bellinzona and Monte San Giorgio with its fossils are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Locarno Film Festival takes place in August, and the Bellinzona carnival is called Rabadan. Merlot is the most important grape variety, and a grotto is a rustic tavern. USI is the only Italian-speaking university in Switzerland, and Mario Botta from Mendrisio is one of the country’s best-known architects.

The naturalisation process in the canton of Ticino

The Municipio of your municipality processes the application and decides on municipal citizenship. The canton organises the course and test. After the permit from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), the canton grants cantonal citizenship.

Italian at B1 spoken and A2 written is required, for example with fide. The residence rule is five years in the canton and three years in the municipality, the last two before applying without interruption. The cantonal fee is 600 francs for an individual procedure, plus municipal fees, the course and test, and the federal fee.

How to prepare

The course is your most important preparation. Attend all lessons and take notes, because there is no public question catalogue. Register with the IFC early so that you get a place near you.

Because the course and test are in Italian, it pays to know the key terms in Italian: Gran Consiglio, Consiglio di Stato, Municipio, Sindaco, iniziativa, referendum. Our practice questions are also available in Italian, where you learn the content directly in the language of the test.

With the practice questions and the mock test on this page you can consolidate the knowledge taught in the course.