How many years of residence are required for naturalization in Thurgau?

At the federal level, 10 years of residence in Switzerland with a C permit is required, with ages between 8 and 18 counting double. The canton of Thurgau and the municipality of residence then add their own conditions, linked to the stay in the canton and municipality. The exact years must be verified on a case-by-case basis with the cantonal office and the municipal chancellery.

What tests are needed to obtain Swiss citizenship in Thurgau?

A German language test and an integration test on the general knowledge of Switzerland (legal system, history, political rights) are required. The tests must be passed before the final application, and the required level is defined by the Turgovian cantonal law.

How much does naturalization cost in the canton of Thurgau?

The total cost is the sum of three items: federal tax (fixed in Bern), Turgovian cantonal tax (variable according to the cantonal law) and municipal tax (variable according to the Municipality). The specific amounts must be requested directly from the Registry of the Municipality of residence and the cantonal office, because they change over time.

Is it possible to naturalize if you are in possession of a B and not a C permit?

No, ordinary naturalization requires residence permit C. Permit B (residence) is not sufficient to submit the application, except in exceptional cases provided for by law (for example, facilitated naturalization for a spouse of a Swiss citizen, regulated separately).

How long does the naturalization process in Thurgau take on average?

There is no single duration valid for all the Municipalities of Turgoviesi. The procedure is divided into three levels (cantonal, municipal, federal), and the timing depends on the completeness of the documentation, the load of the offices and the possible passage of the assembly to the municipal level.

Naturalization in Thurgau: requirements, tests and procedure (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 7 September 2026

Facade of a Thurgau town hall with Swiss flag

How to obtain citizenship in the Canton of Thurgau: years of residence, language, tests and costs.

Context

In a nutshell

Permit C and 10 years of residence in Switzerland for ordinary naturalization
In Thurgau you also need years of domicile in the canton and municipality
Mandatory language and integration tests before application
Cantonal and municipal taxes: amounts vary, check on the municipality's website

Key facts

What: Ordinary naturalization procedure in the canton of Thurgau
Who: Foreign residents with C permit, according to cantonal law
Where: Canton Thurgau, with cantonal office and municipal authorities
Federal requirement: Permit C + 10 years of residence in Switzerland (years 8–18 count double)
Cantonal requirement: Years of residence in the canton (Thurgau) and in the municipality, to be verified on a case-by-case basis
Tests: Language and integration, mandatory
Taxes: Variable amounts at cantonal and municipal level (not yet specified in this guide)
Duration: Multi-level procedure (cantonal + municipal), times not uniquely quantified

Obtaining Swiss citizenship is a shared competence between the Confederation, Canton and Municipality. For those who live in the canton of Thurgau, the ordinary naturalization procedure follows the Federal Law on Swiss Citizenship and the Thurgau cantonal legislation. The first stake, set in Bern, is the possession of residence permit C, issued by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) after a certain period of regular stay.

Who can apply for naturalization

Operational details

What changes compared to other Cantons

Every Swiss canton has its own citizenship law and its own fee level, and this makes the Thurgau procedure different from those of Zurich, Bern or Vaud, just to give a few examples. While the federal requirement (C permit + 10 years, of which the years between 8 and 18 count double) is identical for everyone, the cantons add their own hurdles, usually linked to language skills and social integration.

In Thurgau, as in many other German-speaking Swiss cantons, the required language is German, at a level that is verified through a standard test. For those coming from a German-speaking region, this aspect is marginal; for those coming from other linguistic regions, it is instead a crucial turning point. The integration test, for its part, covers basic knowledge of the Swiss system, political rights, history and daily life.

Real and cumulative costs

The naturalization fee in Switzerland is made up of three items: the federal fee (set by the Federal Migration Office), the Thurgau cantonal fee and the fee of the municipality of residence. The federal fee is the same across the whole national territory; the cantonal and municipal ones vary. Added to these are the costs of any language courses, preparation materials, and, if one uses a consultancy service, professional fees.

To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is advisable to ask for a detailed quote from the chancery of the municipality of residence, which will be able to provide the exact amount of the local fees in force. The same applies to the cantonal stage.

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Key points

Step-by-step: how to proceed in practice

Anyone planning to start the naturalisation procedure in Thurgau can follow a concrete path, to be adapted to their municipality of residence.

1. Check the basic requirements. First of all, make sure you hold a C permit and have completed the years of residence required at federal level. Years spent in Switzerland between the ages of 8 and 18 count double.

2. Gather documents. Passport, residence permit, employment certificates, language certificates, criminal record certificate, and any other document required by the municipal clerk's office or the cantonal office.

3. Language test. Register for a recognised German exam, if German is not your mother tongue. In the Canton of Thurgau, the required level is defined by cantonal law.

4. Cantonal application. Submit the application to the competent cantonal office, along with all documentation and payment of the cantonal fee.

5. Municipal application. After cantonal approval, the application moves to the municipality, which may involve an assembly vote.

6. Federal decision. Final step: the Confederation, based on the cantonal and municipal outcomes, issues the citizenship certificate.

Typical documents to prepare

Valid identity document
Valid C residence permit
Language certificate (German) at the required level
Residence and stay certificates
Any criminal record or pending charges certificates
Proof of sufficient financial means
Integration certificates (work, volunteering, participation)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many years of residence are required for naturalization in Thurgau?: At the federal level, 10 years of residence in Switzerland with a C permit is required, with ages between 8 and 18 counting double. The canton of Thurgau and the municipality of residence then add their own conditions, linked to the stay in the canton and municipality. The exact years must be verified on a case-by-case basis with the cantonal office and the municipal chancellery.
What tests are needed to obtain Swiss citizenship in Thurgau?: A German language test and an integration test on the general knowledge of Switzerland (legal system, history, political rights) are required. The tests must be passed before the final application, and the required level is defined by the Turgovian cantonal law.
How much does naturalization cost in the canton of Thurgau?: The total cost is the sum of three items: federal tax (fixed in Bern), Turgovian cantonal tax (variable according to the cantonal law) and municipal tax (variable according to the Municipality). The specific amounts must be requested directly from the Registry of the Municipality of residence and the cantonal office, because they change over time.
Is it possible to naturalize if you are in possession of a B and not a C permit?: No, ordinary naturalization requires residence permit C. Permit B (residence) is not sufficient to submit the application, except in exceptional cases provided for by law (for example, facilitated naturalization for a spouse of a Swiss citizen, regulated separately).
How long does the naturalization process in Thurgau take on average?: There is no single duration valid for all the Municipalities of Turgoviesi. The procedure is divided into three levels (cantonal, municipal, federal), and the timing depends on the completeness of the documentation, the load of the offices and the possible passage of the assembly to the municipal level.