Uri citizenship test

How the Uri civics test works

Uri checks basic knowledge with a civics test (Staatskundetest) run by the vocational and continuing education centre of Uri (bwz uri) on behalf of the Justice Department. The test is usually written, and in justified cases oral. It only takes place twice a year, so anyone planning to apply should book the next date early.

How many questions are asked, how long the test lasts and how many points you need is not published. There is no public question catalogue either. The canton therefore recommends attending the course «Politik und Gesellschaft» at the bwz uri beforehand. You pay the costs of the course and the test yourself.

Who does not have to take the test

Exempt are people who attended primary school or upper secondary school in Switzerland for a total of five years, people under 16, and people whose knowledge is evident.

What you should know about the canton of Uri

Uri is small but central to Swiss history. Many questions revolve around the founding story, transport routes and Uri’s particular form of democracy.

• Authorities: The parliament is the Landrat with 64 members. Elections are held in the municipalities, which serve as constituencies. The government, the Regierungsrat, has seven members. It is chaired by the Landammann, whose deputy is the Landesstatthalter. Both are elected for two years, the other authorities for four.
• People’s rights: A cantonal initiative needs only 600 signatures, a referendum 450 signatures within 90 days. Cantonal laws are always put to a popular vote. The 1984 constitution even describes taking part in votes and elections as a civic duty. Uri held a Landsgemeinde (open-air assembly) until 1928.
• Municipalities and corporations: Uri has 19 municipalities (as of 2026). The constitution names the corporations of Uri and Ursern, which manage alpine pastures and forests, among other things. Uri has one seat in the National Council. The people also elect the high court (Obergericht) and the district court (Landgericht), which has covered the whole canton since 2023.
• History: In 1291 Uri formed the alliance with Schwyz and Unterwalden. The Rütli meadow on Lake Uri belongs to the Uri municipality of Seelisberg. The Tell monument has stood in Altdorf since 1895, and Schiller’s William Tell has been performed there at the Tellspiele since 1899.
• Transport: The Gotthard railway opened in 1882, the Gotthard road tunnel in 1980 and the 57-kilometre Gotthard Base Tunnel between Erstfeld and Bodio in 2016. The Devil’s Bridge stands in the Schöllenen gorge, where the Russian general Suvorov fought in 1799.
• Geography and economy: The capital is Altdorf. Uri has about 38,600 inhabitants. The Reuss flows from the Gotthard through the Urseren valley into Lake Uri. The highest mountain is the Dammastock at about 3630 metres, and a good half of the area is rock, scree, glacier or water. Tourism, hydropower, forestry and companies such as Dätwyler in Altdorf are important.

The naturalisation process in the canton of Uri

You submit your application to the canton’s Justice Department (Justice and Commercial Register division). The cantonal police prepare a report on your integration. Municipal citizenship is usually granted by the municipal assembly, where you may also be asked questions about where you live. Then follow the federal naturalisation permit from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and the decision of the Regierungsrat.

As proof of language you need German at level B1 spoken and A2 written. The residence rule is five years without interruption in the municipality. The cantonal fee ranges from 500 to 1500 francs depending on the case, the municipality charges similar amounts, and the federal fee comes on top.

How to prepare

Sign up early for the course «Politik und Gesellschaft» at the bwz uri, because the course and the test are not held often. Supplement the course with general study material about Switzerland, such as «The Swiss Confederation – a brief guide» from the Federal Chancellery.

For the Uri topics it helps to learn stories rather than numbers: why does the Tell monument stand in Altdorf, what did the Gotthard mean for the whole of Switzerland, and why is voting considered a civic duty in Uri? Once you know these connections, the details stick. For the municipal assembly you should know your municipality: who chairs it, when the assembly meets and what it decides.

Check your knowledge with the practice questions and the mock test on this page. Since Uri does not publish a fixed test format, the mock test uses a practice format with 30 questions.