Foreign nationals with close family ties to Switzerland may submit an application for naturalisation to their Swiss representation abroad under current Swiss citizenship law and subject to certain conditions.
Some countries grant citizenship through being born in the country, known as birthright citizenship (‘ius soli’), such as the United States, Canada, Australia and some South American countries. Switzerland grants citizenship on the basis of the parents’ nationality (‘ius sanguinis’), regardless of the place of birth. The Federal Act on Swiss Citizenship, which came into force on 1 January 2018, and its accompanying ordinance have been adapted to meet the needs of a changing society. In order to submit a naturalisation application from abroad, applicants must meet certain conditions, including having close ties to Switzerland. Submitting an application to a Swiss representation abroad is the first step in the naturalisation process. Below are some examples that may help you in applying for citizenship.
I am married to a Swiss person. When and subject to what conditions may I obtain Swiss citizenship?
Provided you have lived for six years in a stable marital relationship with your Swiss spouse and have maintained close ties to Switzerland, you may submit a naturalisation application to the Swiss representation under Article 21 para. 2 of the Federal Act on Swiss Citizenship. Your Swiss spouse must have had Swiss nationality when you got married or have subsequently acquired citizenship through reinstatement or simplified naturalisation based on descent from a Swiss parent. If the marriage was before 1 July 2022, the duration of a prior registered partnership may count towards the duration of the marriage. If you were married after 1 July 2022, the duration of the partnership registered prior to that date does not count towards the duration of the marriage (unless the registered partnership was converted to marriage).
My Swiss father never married my mother. He acknowledged paternity when I was born in 2005. Am I entitled to Swiss nationality?
Children born to a Swiss father before 31 December 2005 and whose parents were not married are not entitled to Swiss citizenship, even if their father acknowledged paternity. If your father already had Swiss nationality when you were born and acknowledged paternity before you acquired the age of majority, you may submit a naturalisation application under Article 51 para. 2 of the Federal Act on Swiss Citizenship (provided you maintain close ties to Switzerland).
My mother lost her Swiss nationality after she married my father, who is a foreign national. Am I still entitled to Swiss nationality?
Provided you maintain close ties to Switzerland, you may submit a naturalisation application under Article 51 para. 1 of the Federal Act on Swiss Citizenship.
My spouse has just given birth to our child. Can the baby lose their Swiss nationality?
If you fail to notify the Swiss representation of the birth of your child, your child will lose his or her Swiss nationality by forfeiture on his or her 25th birthday.
You are therefore advised to announce the birth quickly by submitting the original version of the child’s birth certificate. Once the birth has been entered in the Swiss Civil Register, you may order a Swiss passport for the child.
I’ve lost my Swiss nationality. May I apply for reinstatement?
Anyone who has lost their Swiss nationality may apply to have it restored within ten years of having lost nationality. This application is subject to having close ties with Switzerland and meeting other conditions. Once those ten years have elapsed, the person must reside in Switzerland for three years before requesting reinstatement.
What qualifies as having close ties to Switzerland?
Maintaining close ties to Switzerland means:having stayed in Switzerland at least three times over the six years preceding the application, for a minimum of five consecutive days;
What other criteria and conditions do I have to meet?
You must not pose a security or public order risk, or a threat to Switzerland’s internal or external security, you must respect the values of the Federal Constitution, contribute to the economy or be undergoing training/education and you must encourage and support the integration of your family members.
May I retain my original nationality if I gain Swiss citizenship?
Switzerland does allow multiple nationalities. However, it is possible that acquiring Swiss citizenship will mean losing your original nationality if the legislation in your country of origin stipulates the automatic loss of citizenship in the event that you voluntarily acquire the citizenship of another country. The authorities in your country of origin will provide the information you need.
How much does a naturalisation or reinstatement application cost?
The Swiss representation requires an advance payment to cover processing costs. This advance payment covers the costs of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and the cantonal authorities (CHF 600 per adult and CHF 350 per child not included in the application by one of the parents) as well as the representation fees for services rendered, for example advice, case file review, interview, processing civil status documents, clarification and research (CHF 75 per half-hour).
Then there are extra costs incurred, such as the review of civil status documents by third parties or Swiss civil status authorities. These fees are not repayable in the event of a negative decision by the SEM or a withdrawal of the application during the process. Payment by instalments is not allowed.
Where can I obtain the information and documentation I need to submit a naturalisation application?
You can find some very useful information, particularly on the conditions, processes and documents required, on the Swiss representation’s website under ‘Services’ then ‘Citizenship’.
On request, the Swiss representation can provide you with the necessary documentation to submit a naturalisation application so that you can prepare your file. On receipt of your file, the representation will organise a date with you for a personal interview, which will normally be held in one of Switzerland’s national languages.
How long does the process last?
The Swiss representation generally issues its investigation report to the SEM within 12 months of receiving the full application file.
The SEM normally makes a ruling on the simplified naturalisation or reinstatement application within 12 months of receipt of the file with the investigation report issued by the competent Swiss representation.
Any change of address or civil status (marriage, separation, divorce, birth, death, adoption, etc.) during this time must be communicated to the competent Swiss representation.
How to become Swiss (SEM):
revue.link/nationality
FAQ – Swiss nationality (SEM):
revue.link/faqen
Law on Swiss nationality:
revue.link/en141
Ordinance on Swiss nationality (in German):
revue.link/buev
Questions? Go to the internet page of your representation or contact the representation if you can’t find the appropriate answers on the website:
revue.link/swissrep
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Ik heb een Zwitsers paspoort, maar het paspoort had al lang geleden verlengd moeten worden maar nooit gedaan vanwege drukte en uitstel...