Swiss by marriage
If the married couple live in Switzerland, the foreign spouse (male or female) may apply for simplified naturalisation if the married couple have been living in Switzerland for five years and if they have been living together for at least three years.
Successful integration
The prerequisite for simplified naturalisation is successful integration according to Art. 12 para. 1 and para. 2 of the Swiss Citizenship Act (SCA).
The following requirements have to be met:
- the applicant respects public safety and order;
- the applicant respects the Federal Constitution;
- candidates are able to understand and express themselves in a national language well enough to communicate adequately in most situations of everyday life, at home, at the workplace and in public places;
- the applicant is an active participant in the economic life of the country or is in the process of acquiring an education; and
- the applicant supports the integration of his/her family, spouse, registered partner or underaged children for whom he/she has parental custody.
Appropriate account will be taken of the situation of applicants who on the grounds of disability, illness or difficult personal circumstances are unable to fulfil these integration requirements, or can fulfil them only in part.
Close ties with Switzerland
The applicant is considered to have close ties with Switzerland when she/he:
- has stayed in Switzerland at least three times and for at least five days on each occasion in the six years prior to the application;
- has the ability to converse in one of the Swiss national languages;
- is interested in Swiss current affairs and has basic knowledge of Swiss geography, history and the political system; and
- has contact with Swiss citizens.
Applications for simplified naturalisation must be sent to the Swiss representation responsible.