Hi guys,

My B-permit is due for renewal the beginning of August and so I got the application form to apply for a settlement permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung EU/EFTA aka C-Permit) and filled everything out, got all the relevant stamps, letter from work and Betreibungsauskunft from addresses where I lived over the last five years. I did this all ahead of time around the end of June. I am a UK national and was expecting this process to go through very smoothly indeed as many other forum members have previously posted.

I was surprised however to receive a letter today advising me that since the 15th of July 2013, the regulations governing the issuance of C-Permits have somewhat narrowed and that I am now required to show a good level of German Knowledge!
Failing this the letter states that my B-Permit will simply be extended not sure for how long, I presume another 5 years. I will ask the immigration office directly regarding this.

I guess it's just my luck, but I just want some help to rule out the very slightest of chances that this might not apply somehow from people who might know a little bit more and who can maybe find the referenced regulations in the letter. (Wishful thinking I know)

I guess this thread could also be a heads up to other EU-17 nationals who might have their permits due for renewal to get themselves down to the Migros Klubschule and get themselves up to B1 level

Anyway here is the extract from the letter I received. Any help is very much appreciated.

Yep, a quick google confirms what you've received:

http://zg.clex.ch/frontend/versions/1173

You need to prove that you can write at A2 level and speak at B1 level in order to get the C Permit. Question is if there is a standard that you need to adhere by (like Goethe) or any participation in any language school is sufficient. hmmm..

Now get your arse to German lessons.

Update:

I have just spoken to the case worker from the Immigration Office, and she was very friendly I have to say. Anyway it is what it is, the regulation is Kantonal based so only applies to Kanton Zug, it's also already in place in other Kantons like Luzern and Schwyz according to her. She said as long as the expiry date is before the 15th of July and the application is submitted before that date then there is no need for the language requirements. I guess I'm just SOL!

The B-Permit will be renewed for 5 years, and in the meantime if I can get my Deutsch up to B1 level then I can apply for a C-Permit again even before the new 5 year extension is up.

Her advice is get your German test done and check what level you're on to see how much time / effort you need to bring yourself up to the required level.

Fair play to them really, I wish they had done this a long time ago, I probably be speaking better German by now. Very much needed kick up the backside

Just out of curiosity, do you know if it has to be German or do any of the official languages count?

Kanton's language where you apply for C Permit. Below is for Zug , so German. Fribourg , probably either German or French

Quote:

Ihr Gesuch um Erteilung der Niederlassungsbewilligung EU/EFTA vom XX haben wir erhalten.

Seit dem 15. Juli 2013 ist die Verordnung zum kantonalen Einfuehrungsgesetz zum Bundesgesetz ueber die Auslaenderinnen und Auslaender (VO EG AuG) in Kraft. Diese Verordnung konkretisiert die Anforderung fuer die Erlangung einer Niederlassungsbewilligung.

Gemaess Art. 8 Abs. 2 VO EG AuG sind Kenntnisse der deutschen Sprache auf folgendem Referenzniveau des gemeinsamen europaeischen Referenzrahmens fuer Sprachen des Europarates erforderlich:
a) kommunikativ (verstehen, sprechen) Referenzniveau B1
b) schriftlich Referenzniveau A2

Fuer die abschliessende Pruefung Ihres Gesuches um Erteilung der Niederlassungsbewilligung EU/EFTA bitten wir Sie, uns innert vier Wochen den erforderlichen Sprachnachweis Ihrer Deutschkenntnisse einzureichen.

Yes German as previously confirmed.
I'm gonna try my luck and see maybe my German is not so bad

Dude, check out the Goethe site. There are a few samples of the exams and have a go at the A2 written ones.

Alternatively, you can try out a few schools' entrance exams and see where they place you. Its free (at least at Bellingua where I've learnt my German) and you dont have to make a commitment immediately to do the courses.

Thanks for that, it's an idea that crossed my mind but having never really written anything in German as such, I am probably gonna fail, but I'm pretty sure I could go through some examples and memorise everything just to get the A2 level.

As for the speaking I need some practice in general topics and I'll probably get through too.

Pfft... Long shot but who knows.

I am planning on going to the Klubschule next week to take an assessment test and figure out where I'm at, at least, and then hopefully get to B1 by the same time next year. I have already done 2 A1 courses a couple of years back over a period of 6 months or so, so I have the basics covered, and had I known I would need this for something official I would have carried on to at least get the B1 level, which is basically lower intermediate!

Just a short period of time to do all this, but in any case I can apply again before the new B-Permit is up for renewal once I've achieved the required grades.

Here is the link for the Goethe Institut practice material for anyone who needs to figure out what level they're at.
http://www.goethe.de/lrn/prj/pba/bes...at/enindex.htm

I seem to be fairly comfortable listening to the B1 sample and probably can answer the questions hmmm

You probably know more than you think you know!

1 year to get up to B1 is do-able since you've already done A1. That should keep you outta trouble for a while. Good luck!

This is very unlucky for Zug B permit holders. I know of a UK couple in Canton Zurich who just completed 5 years here and obtained their C permit within a couple of weeks...

So, just to triple check...

I am up for a C-permit in October 2013 and live in Zürich... I speak German reasonably well (if not always grammatically correctly) and can write to A2 level... I should be ok and not have to do any kind of course certificate?

interesting info...

do you have to take the test from them to prove proficiency or do you have to pay and take one at a language school?

Way back when I took a Goethe Course - but at the time it was their intermediate course and I got a certificate from them for that. I am not sure what level that corresponds to today. I will go to the website and check again. I once tried to figure it out but got all confused and figured I didn't need to worry about it anyways...

The couple I know in Canton Zurich basically speak no German. I went with them to the Gemeindehuas to get the forms, where the clerk spoke excellent English! Within 2 weeks of sending off the completed forms, they had their C permits...

This was the first week of July.

Wunderbar, cheers chap!

Without wishing to sound supercilious, I reckon this is a pretty good idea. After 5 years people should make the effort to grasp the basics of the local language. I think the argument that "I'm only planning on staying a short while so don't need to bother" kind of loses it's substance when you get a C permit. It's not particularly hard to reach the level they're asking for and just requires a little application.

Not sure about C permit. During his interview for Swiss nationality,OH was asked which classes and school he had attended and which level. He just explained that he never attended any school but learnt by immersion and self learning for grammar, with my occasional input as a native speaker and language teacher. They seemed more impressed by that than any official bit of paper/exam/level. If your knowledge is obviously to same level and above the one required, just explain how you got there and be prepared to be tested by interview.

I don't think it has to be a certification from Goethe per se, the standard is European it seems and I guess any language school approved to allow people to sit the exams can issue certificates confirming the relevant language required.


People in Zurich are not affected (not yet anyway), so theoratically I could move to Zurich for a few months (live at a friends spare bedroom), and go back to Zug with a fully fledged C-Permit but I want to do this the right way

Agreed, as I said in my previous post it's an incentive that I very much needed to get me back into this. I would go as far as saying that it should be somehow compulsary to get people to learn the local lingo, maybe even give incentives to employers or employees to take up lessons as soon as they come to the country.
The problem now is a lot of people had absolutely no incentive whatsoever to learn the language, but this is slowly but surely changing.

Agree 100%.

Non-EU have to prove that we are at least B1 level for Kanton Zurich to get the C-permit after 5 years (10 years is automatic). I guess being born in europe and being part of Schengen gives you much more leeway.

A non-EU friend of mine here in Kanton Zurich was applying for his C. He didnt need Goethe but simply had to show a letter of completion from the language school he went to. The school will write an "official" letter stating that you were a student, during which period and completed what level.

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