On January 1st 2018 it will be harder to win Swiss substate

Those who want to become citizens of Switzerland will face stricter demands since January 2018.

The new federal law on nationality is among the number of legal changes that will take effect next year.

In the future only immigrants who have residence permits C will have the opportunity to apply.

The strictest criteria will apply to the language: Candidates will have to demonstrate their ability in one of Switzerland's national languages on a writing test. So far there has been no consistency in language testing, with many cantons of the French-language region based solely on speech skills.

The candidates' linguistic skills will be understood after an interview with the municipality or cantonal committee”, Christophe Maillard, chief of the canton for naturalisation services in Fribourg, said.

The new law formalises the requirements for language, with candidates to demonstrate the A2 level of writing and B1 in speech, according to the common European Language Framework.

Cantons can increase criteria even more if they want. The government of the Thurguau canton had decided in November that applicants for citizenship have the B2 level in speech. Language tests will be conducted in accredited schools, according to “Le Mattin”, broadcast Albinfo.ch.

The cost of an application will be the maximum of 250 francs.

Candidates whose mother tongue is one of Switzerland's national languages, or who have studied for five years in one of these languages do not need to enter the test.

A change will be in the Law on Social Goodness. So far, applicants who had received benefits from Social Goodness were exempt from the possibility of applying for citizenship. By January the opportunity will expand for those who have received this social in three years before the application. Except if these benefits are paid back in full.

Another major step under consideration is the demand for citizenship to decline to 10 years in Switzerland, not 12 as long as it was until now.