Hello,

I'm currently starting the naturalisation is Zurich (canton). Since I have a Swiss diploma (PhD) I was told (by other people in a similar situation) that a Einbürgerungsgespräch is not required.

I know people which were able to complete the process completely offline - without actually meeting any "authority".

I unsuccessfully tried to find any official text which will confirm this. I know I'm except from the Grundkenntnisse test but I did not find anything regarding the Einbürgerungsgespräch.

Anyhow in a similar situation wants to share their experience?

Thanks,

Your diploma helps you easier getting a work permit. I doubt that it helps with the naturalisation.

You are normally except from the test but I would ask the local Gemeinde. Our daughter was told that she needs to bring proof that she studied in CH but I do not know how it works with a phd. It has no connection whatsover with the Einbürgerungsgespräch.

At least in canton VD, receiving a PhD in CH does not exempt one from language requirements when it comes to applying for naturalisation, as a significant percentage of PhDs are done in the English language. Completing secondary schooling in the public system (=gymnase) exempts one from having to do a language test, but grad school doesn't. Am not sure about bachelor's level studies.

Nothing gets you out of the interview!

I cannot help you with Zurich, as I am doing it canton Luzern, but even in my own migre Gemeinde I could get info on their webpage. Regarding languages, one of the options is:
"- eine Ausbildung auf Sekundarstufe II oder eine Weiterbildung auf Tertiärstufe in deutscher Sprache abgeschlossen haben,"
or:
"- have completed upper secondary education or tertiary education in German,"

Tertiärstufe = University, so if you have an University diploma, where the curriculum was in German you are ok. Do you have diploma and PhD? Was the curriculum in German?

Btw, if you have written your PhD or your Diploma Thessis in German you can do your B2 test without any problem. Just find the test centre, apply and do it. I did it 4 years ago, at the end of the intensive course, when I was barely able to choose between white or red wine when ordering in a bar.

I have an MBA from a Swiss university (a real one, not a private one) ,and I had to do the test and the interview.

See: https://www.zh.ch/de/migration-integ...ntnistest.html

In diesen Situationen muss ich keinen Test machen:
* Ich war 5 Jahre in einer obligatorischen Schule in der Schweiz.
* Ich habe eine Lehre oder ein Studium in der Schweiz gemacht.

Seems clear the that Grundkenntnistest is not needed if you studied in Switzerland. It just does not say anything about the interview. I was literally told by three people (independently) that they were able to get the swiss citizenship without *any* interview because they did a PhD here. They all live in the Zurich (city). I don't live in the city.

Maybe they all lied to me

Lehre oder Studium. That implies it was done in German. Did you do your PhD in German? And is a PhD seen as studying or work?

It does not need to be in German (when talking about the Grundkenntnistest exception). Regarding the German test, you're right. The course needs to be in German.

Or French.

Or Italian.

Tom

on the page you linked you have a short questionnaire "Muss ich einen Grundkenntnistest machen?", I guess you fall into the last, 4th category?

"Haben Sie eine Ausbildung auf Tertiärstufe in der Schweiz abgeschlossen (z.B. Universität oder Fachhochschule, nicht jedoch Weiterbildung oder Nachdiplomstudiengänge)?"

how I understand this:
"Universität oder Fachhochschule" is enough:
if you did a Diplom, than no test is needed
"Weiterbildung oder Nachdiplomstudiengänge" doesn't excuse one from the obligation to test
if you did just PhD, than you should still have to do the test
MBA (as was done by UncleB) is also postgraduate, so test is needed
did I miss something?

The same question was answered here:

https://www.englishforum.ch/permits-...ml#post3413718

Thanks! Missed that. So it seems that you need to live in the Zurich city (which is not my case) to be except from the interview.