Explore the advantages of Swiss citizenship, such as visa-free travel and access to a reliable and secure banking system with a proven track record over centuries. Continue reading to find out about the requirements for obtaining Swiss citizenship, the residency period needed before applying, and who may be eligible for an expedited Swiss passport application process.
Advantages of Swiss Citizenship
Firstly, a Swiss passport grants you the freedom to travel throughout the EU and the Schengen zone. Additionally, it offers numerous other benefits, including the following:
- The ability to live and work in any EU countries without any restrictions,
- A high standard of living,
- The opportunity to find a prestigious, well-paid job,
- The ability to travel worldwide as a citizen of a country with strong diplomatic support and economic stability,
- A high level of healthcare,
- And access to one of the best educational systems in the world.
Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. Photo by Yura Lytkin
How to Become a Swiss Citizen
There are three routes to Swiss citizenship:
- By naturalisation (i.e., by official decision);
- Through paternal or maternal descent;
- Through adoption by a Swiss parent.
Obtaining Swiss Citizenship by Naturalisation
Naturalising in Switzerland is the most common route to a Swiss passport. Applicants must fulfil the following requirements to become a citizen of Switzerland:
- Live in Switzerland for 10 years;
- Obtain a permanent residence permit;
- Prove their knowledge of the Swiss way of life and traditions as well as demonstrate their integration into Swiss society.
Next, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) evaluates your citizenship application to determine its approval. The process involves scrutiny by federal, canton, and commune authorities. A commune is an administrative unit within a canton. Interestingly, each canton has its own set of requirements for granting citizenship to a foreigner. For example, some cantons permit short-term stays outside Switzerland during the 10-year residence period. Therefore, it is crucial to research this matter in advance and review the specific conditions for becoming a Swiss citizen as stipulated in the laws of your chosen canton.
If an applicant resided in Switzerland between the ages of 8 and 18, the number of years spent in the country is doubled: each year counts as two. However, these applicants must have actually lived in Switzerland for a minimum of six years within this period.
You can also become a citizen in Switzerland through simplified naturalisation. You are eligible if you meet any of the following criteria:
- You are married to a Swiss citizen,
- You were born in Switzerland and belong to the third generation of foreign nationals living in the country,
- You are a stateless person,
- Or you have lost your Swiss citizenship because you forfeited it.
If any of the above conditions apply to you, you will need to have lived in Switzerland for only five years instead of 10.
Landwasserviadukt, Filisur, Schweiz. Photo by Peter Wormstetter
Imagine you are applying for Swiss citizenship based on your grandparents' past immigration to Switzerland. In this case, you are eligible for simplified naturalisation, provided you meet the following requirements:
- At least one of your grandparents was born in Switzerland and acquired residence there;
- At least one parent has or had a permanent residence permit, has lived in Switzerland for a minimum of 10 years and has attended compulsory school here for at least five years;
- You were born in Switzerland and have a permanent residence permit;
- You have attended compulsory school in Switzerland for at least five years;
- You have successfully integrated into Swiss society;
- You are under the age of 25.
By the way, simply living in the country for the required amount of time is not the sole key factor for the authorities to grant you citizenship. What truly matters is how well-integrated you are into Swiss society.
Being successfully integrated means that you respect the Swiss Federal Constitution and public order. You must also demonstrate the ability to communicate in at least one national language (German, French, Italian, or Romansh) both orally and in writing, as well as having no debts and being financially independent. Obtaining an education in Switzerland may also serve as evidence of your integration.
Other criteria of evaluating the level of your integration include:
- Showing respect for public security and order, for instance, by paying taxes, having no criminal record, debts, or claims for social benefits in the three years before applying;
- Respecting the values enshrined in the Federal Constitution;
- Participating in economic life or getting an education.
Obtaining Swiss Citizenship by Descent
Children automatically become Swiss citizens if their parents are married, live in Switzerland, and at least one of them is a Swiss citizen. The same applies to children born to unmarried couples with a Swiss mother.
Children born to a Swiss father who was not married to the children's mother at the time of their birth are eligible for Swiss citizenship if the Swiss father recognizes or adopts them before they reach 18 years old.
Luzern, Suisse. Photo by Baptiste Gousset
Swiss Citizenship through Adoption by a Swiss Parent
Underage children with no blood relatives in Switzerland can become Swiss citizens through adoption. However, adults who are adopted by Swiss citizens cannot automatically obtain Swiss citizenship.
How to Apply for Swiss Citizenship: Step by Step
The application process, fees, and processing time can vary across the country. The first step is to submit your application to a local administrative body. The application must include a confirmation of obtaining a permanent residence permit and a language proficiency certificate issued by one of the certified schools in Switzerland. Additionally, you may need to provide some other documents, depending on the specific location where you apply.
Firstly, all applications are processed at the federal level by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). If the applicant meets all the requirements and does not pose a threat to national security, the application is then transferred to the selected canton or commune for further evaluation. The cantonal or communal body conducts an independent examination of the applicant's level of integration and law-abiding behaviour.
Next, applicants must pass oral and written language exams and undergo an interview with one of the canton's or commune's civil officers.
Obtaining Swiss citizenship can be quite expensive, as you are required to pay fees at every level of the application approval process. The federal fee is the smallest, while cantonal and communal fees may vary significantly.
The average fees can be broken down as follows:
- 500 to 1,000 francs in communes ($560 to $1,120);
- up to 2,000 francs in cantons ($2,240);
- 150 francs ($168) for spouses who apply jointly and have underage children; 100 francs ($112) for a single person or a single parent with underage children.
Furthermore, there are additional fees for acquiring the necessary documents, such as a certificate of residence, police clearance, an extract from a debt enforcement register, and others.
In a Nutshell
On average, it will take about 18 months to obtain Swiss citizenship. The processing time, required documents, fees, and verification stages depend on the local cantonal or communal authorities. After successfully passing all the stages, applicants finally receive a red passport with a white cross on the cover, granting them all the rights and responsibilities of a Swiss citizen. These rights include the right to vote and be elected, as well as the duty to serve in the military.
Stoos, Switzerland. Cover photo by Patrick Robert Doyle (Unsplash)
