C permit
fide test for the C permit: which level do I need?
For the settlement permit (C permit) you show your language skills in the national language where you live. For the ordinary C permit A2 spoken and A1 written are enough; for the early C permit you need B1 spoken and A1 written.
Levels at a glance
| Procedure | Spoken | Written |
|---|---|---|
| C permit (settlement permit) | A2 | A1 |
| Early C permit | B1 | A1 |
| Family reunification (B permit) | A1 | – |
These are the federal minimums. What your cantonal migration office tells you is what counts.
Who doesn’t need proof?
Under the Ordinance on Admission, Period of Stay and Employment (VZAE, art. 77d) the requirement is met if you:
- speak and write the national language as your mother tongue,
- attended compulsory school in this language for at least three years,
- attended upper-secondary or tertiary education in this language, or
- hold a recognised language certificate.
If you have a disability, a serious or long-lasting illness, significant learning, reading or writing difficulties, are among the working poor, have care duties, or live with the consequences of domestic violence or forced marriage, the authority can deviate from the requirements (VZAE, art. 77f).
Which tasks are there for A2?
- Spoken: describe a picture, make, move or cancel an appointment on the phone and give a reason, and talk about your habits or an experience.
- Listening: short everyday conversations – you choose the matching picture.
- Written (A1–A2): understand short texts, fill in a form with your details and reply to an email about an appointment.
In the A1–A2 written test you can reach up to A2. A2 written is later also enough for the written part of citizenship; there you also need B1 spoken.
Steps and cost
- 1Choose a test centre and register directly with it at least 15 days before the test.
- 2Oral part (40 minutes), then the written part (60 minutes), possibly on another day.
- 3Your result and language passport arrive by post after about 4 weeks; between mid-December and mid-January it can take 6 weeks.
- 4Submit the language passport to the migration office.
Cost: at most CHF 250 for both parts, CHF 170 oral only, CHF 120 written only.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need both parts for the C permit?
- Yes. Spoken (A2) and written (A1) skills are required. If you have already proven one part, you can take the other separately.
- Which language do I have to prove?
- Usually the national language where you live: German, French or Italian.
- What if I don’t reach A2 spoken?
- You get the level you reached, for example A1. You can retake the test, or just the oral part, as often as you like.
Sources: fide test handbook (May 2026), regulations for taking the fide test (October 2026) and fide-service.ch. As of November 2026; the information from the fide secretariat and your authority is what counts.