Hi

We are EU citizens and will soon be completing 5yr in CH, first year was on EU-L and next 4 years on EU-B. Would we be eligible for C-permit now, even though our current 5yr EU-B permit only expires next year?

Is there a language test requirement for EU citizens? My spouse is much better in German while I am not.

Thanks for any pointers.

No language test. Your B will become a C when it expires. Unlikely your local gemeinde will be bothered to change it before that.

I was in the same position--1 year on an L and 4 on a B, but got a C at the 5 year mark when I changed canton--I just had to have a letter from my previous canton saying how many years I'd lived there (which was 5).

Thanks for the replies.

I am an EU citizen and after 12 years here (resident in Zürich city) I decided to go for my C permit.
I went in personally and presented my documents. The lady at the Kreisburo asked me where my German language certificate was.
I looked shocked and asked (in German) if it was really necessary because I hadn't seen anything about it online. She looked a bit confused and asked how long I'd been in Switzerland and she looked and my old permit and said something like "Oh 2004! That's okay."

What I am trying to say is that it felt to me like if I'd only been here a short while - 5 years - and had perhaps been asking her in English, she might have asked for a certificate. Btu she was allowed to use her judgement/discretion in my case.

Don't think there is such a thing as "judgement/discretion" when it comes to dealing with the state (any state for that matter) as rules are rules and someone employed by the state can not make such a decision on behalf of the state.

So, most likely she saw the initial document dated sometime back in 2004 so most likely legislation has changed since then and you fall under the old category.

All she has actually done is accepted your documents. You need to wait until you have the ID in your hand before you can conclude it worked. It would not be the first time that they came back looking for other documents.

It also depends from which country you are, I am Dutch and have no language requirement for a C-permit, my Wife is Swedish and needs to show certificates of a certain minimum level.

I got the C Permit in the post a few days later - with no German certificate (even though I am British - renowned for poor linguistic skills).

Just the following checks / certificates:

• debt register
• criminal record
• no use of social welfare funds in the last 3 years
• my old B permit
• employment contract

This was back in June this year.
I spoke in German to the lady.

It's funny:

• she asked where my German certificate was
• I looked confused and queried
• she looked at the entry date on my B Permit and backed down.

But as Frank2k said maybe the rules have changed.

I saw/heard a couple of things recently that from 2018 the rules on certain people applying for citizenship don't require local language skills. e.g. spouses of Swiss citizens who have lived in CH more than 10 years and married over 3 years. anyone else heard anything about this?