fide Exam Preparation in Zurich

Ordinary naturalisation

As a Swiss-wide minimum, fide oral B1 and written A2 (a guide value — your commune or canton can set the detail). We help you confirm the exact level with your municipality.

Settlement permit C

Ordinary settlement usually requires oral A2 and written A1. Early settlement (after five years, good integration) often oral B1 and written A1. Confirm with your cantonal authority.

Residence permit / family reunification

Often oral A1, depending on the permit type and canton. We help you place your case in a free first consultation so you aim at the right level.

Small group in Zurich

8 lessons of 45 minutes over two weeks (4 sessions), evenings from 17:30 or 19:00. Maximum 5 participants at Leutschenbachstrasse 95, 8050 Zürich.

Online across Switzerland

The same scenario-based preparation by video call, wherever you live in Switzerland — ideal if you are outside the Zurich area.

Private lessons

One-to-one preparation built around your target level, your exam date and the skills you find hardest.

In-company for teams

fide preparation delivered at your company for employees who need the language certificate, scheduled around your operations.

Yes. Your first orientation, the explanation of the requirements and your learning plan can be given in English, so you understand exactly what is expected. The lessons themselves are mainly in German, because fide is a German-language test and you need to practise in the target language.

fide stands for Français, Italiano, Deutsch and is Switzerland's official language proof, run on behalf of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). It checks your everyday German through real-life Swiss scenarios and is recognised for naturalisation, the settlement permit C, residence permits and family reunification.

No — and that is an honest, important point. We prepare you for the fide test; the exam itself is taken at an officially accredited fide test institution. We help you choose a suitable centre near you and support you through the registration, so nothing fails on administrative details.

As a Swiss-wide minimum, ordinary naturalisation typically requires fide oral B1 and written A2. Cantons and communes can set the detail, so we recommend confirming the exact requirement with your municipality before you register. We help you with that.

For the ordinary settlement permit C, oral A2 and written A1 are usually required. For early settlement (after five years with good integration), it is often oral B1 and written A1. Confirm the exact values with the responsible migration authority.

It has two independent parts: an oral part (speaking and listening) and a written part (reading and writing). Both are graded separately, and you receive a level from below A1 up to B1 for each part, recorded in the language passport.

The oral part is a conversation with an examiner, sometimes with a second participant, lasting roughly 40 to 60 minutes. It is scenario-based: you introduce yourself, make an appointment, give and ask for information and react to everyday situations. Listening is integrated. The centre confirms the exact timing.

In the written part you read typical everyday documents — forms, letters, notices — and complete tasks, then write simple texts yourself, such as filling in a form or writing a short message. It takes around 60 to 90 minutes; the centre confirms the exact duration.

The highest level certified with fide is B1. Results range from below A1 to B1, separately for the oral and the written part. For levels above B1 you would take a certificate such as telc, which we also prepare and can administer in-house.

Yes. The same scenario-based preparation is available online across Switzerland, as well as in person in Zurich. Hybrid combinations are possible.

Yes. Private one-to-one preparation is available and is built entirely around your target level, your exam date and the skills you find most difficult.

Because the oral and written parts are independent, you can repeat just one part and pay only for the repeated part. We then deepen exactly the gap with you so the second attempt holds.

The fide preparation course costs CHF 350 for 8 lessons of 45 minutes (CHF 43.75 per lesson). With a KulturLegi (Caritas) you receive 30% off and pay CHF 245. The fide exam fee is charged separately by the test centre.

At Leutschenbachstrasse 95, 8050 Zürich (district 11, near Oerlikon and Glattpark), and online by video call. In the Aargau region we also prepare on request in Aarau, Baden and Rheinfelden.