Is it necessary to have A1 level of German to get B permit. We will be moving to Switzerland and can speak only English. Not knowing German upfront will impact the chances of getting B permit ?
Thanks in advance.
Hello,
I assume your permit’s already been approved since it seems you’re a non-EU national so no, not atm. You will however, be required to produce either a certificate showing proficiency or be enrolled in a language course by the time the permit has to be renewed.
U mean, once I am in Swiss then within 1 year I have to show the certificate of proficiency ?
A1 is a very basic level. You should be able to pass such an exam after a year living here and taking a few classes.
In another thread you say you're moving to Fribourg. If French is more your style, as Fribourg is a bilingual canton you could do French instead. It depends on your longer term goals
Yes, when it’s time to renew the permit then you must either be enrolled in a course or have a certificate for a certain proficiency. And as far as I know it’s B2 for spoken, A1 for written, but you can check that with the cantonal migration office.
My company advised me that I don't have to prove A1 for permit renewal only dependents are required to do so.
"As employee, you are exempted from the obligation to provide the authorities with the proofs of your French language skills because your integration is related to you work.
However, all dependent spouses/partner of non-EU/EFTA B-permit holders, B-permit holders seeking renewal and certain C-permit applicants will require an A1 or equivalent oral skills in the language of the place of residence at the time of registration or most recent residence after 12 months in Switzerland."
Cheers
Really? Better check that well before you renew your permit.
Indeed, I doubted it too but being a sceptic by profession I had it cross-checked with colleagues who went through B permit renewals.
Some nationalities are exempt, never heard that a job can make you exempt as well. Also because you do not necessarily have to speak the local language at work.
Can you post a link to that? It is new to me
Even if a language proficiency certificate isn't required for renewal, you'll find learning the local language will help. Should you later decide you want permanent residency or even citizenship, you'll need it anyway. Better to start now while you're young and all that.
Really? For permit B renewal? Source please, for that claim.
No I will not look it up myself but happily give you ribbon of shame if your claim is bullshit.
Yes, Fribourg it will be. Thanks for remembering me
V helpful. Thanks
Page 2 of this pdf clarifies the matter.
That seems to refer to family reunification with nothing said about the main permit holder though. So maybe they don’t need to learn a language to renew their permits. Strange that their dependents have to, but they don’t.
So yes, guess what I said was BS.
Well it's because that paragraph lists all cases when one must prove one's language skills and being the main permit holder is not one of those cases.
Exactly.
When the rules changed, this was discussed on EF and it was also raised at one of the British Embassy Brexit roadshows. If a recruit is coming into the country with a secure job offer to fulfill a role, that reason overrides the language requirement until C permit level.