Obtaining Swiss citizenship

Who can obtain Swiss citizenship. Methods and reasons for obtaining a Swiss passport. Is it possible to obtain dual or second Swiss citizenship? Conditions for maintaining the first passport. Required documents, deadlines and costs.

Foreigners can obtain Swiss citizenship through a simplified or standard naturalization procedure. To be able to request and receive a passport, immigrants should first determine the purpose of their long stay in the country (more than three months) and select the most suitable basis for applying for a residence permit and, in the future, permanent residence. For example, people who set themselves the task of earning money can get a job at a local company. The features and nuances of obtaining an internal national identity card are spelled out in the Federal Law “On Swiss Citizenship”. From the material below, foreigners will learn about the methods of legalization in the state and the procedure for requesting status.

What are the benefits of Swiss citizenship?

Obtaining Swiss citizenship and acquiring a local passport provides foreigners with many benefits and opportunities, such as:

• stay in the confederation without the need to extend immigration status (as with a residence permit/permanent residence card);
• employment in private Swiss enterprises, as well as government agencies;
• visa-free crossing of the borders of 173 countries, for example Japan, Turkey, the UAE, states that are part of the European Union and the Schengen area;
• conducting business at optimal tax rates (in 2023, the minimum percentage of corporate tax established at the federal level is 8.5%);
• taking part as a voter and potential candidate in parliamentary and presidential elections;
• filing applications for subsidies, pension payments, benefits and other social benefits.

Methods and conditions for obtaining Swiss citizenship

In 2024, most foreigners will be able to obtain Swiss citizenship through standard or simplified naturalization. The possibility of requesting internal national documents based on origin is open to a limited number of persons.

To become a Swiss citizen, you must fulfill the following immigration law requirements:

• obtain a permanent residence permit;
• live in the state for the number of years required by law;
• pass a language test and confirm knowledge of culture, history, geography, political and social conditions of life in Switzerland;
• create a package of documents in accordance with the current requirements of local authorities;
• confirm participation in the social life of the state society (visit cultural institutions and events where local residents can confirm the frequent presence of the applicant).

The Swiss government has developed a separate procedure for obtaining a local passport for EU citizens. The above-mentioned persons have the right to request a document under a simplified program. An EU passport allows its holder to cross the border of the confederation without first obtaining a visa. To clarify all the nuances of obtaining EU citizenship, you should contact a migration law specialist.

By descent and adoption

Automatic acquisition of a Swiss passport by origin is available:

• children whose parents have officially entered into a marriage, if one of them (or both) is a citizen of the state;
• minors (including their sons, daughters), whose mother and father are not married, but both (or one of them) are holders of a national identity card of the confederation;
• children whose parents have not been identified;
• minors adopted by Swiss citizens.

Standard naturalization

Requesting and obtaining a Swiss internal passport through an application under standard naturalization is available to persons who:

• prove 10 years of residence in the confederation, of which 3 years on a permanent basis within 5 years before submitting the application;
• have a valid residence permit;
• confirm residence from 2 to 5 years in one canton (territorial-administrative unit or region of Switzerland) – the exact required period is established by local authorities.

The Swiss government has developed a separate mechanism for calculating stay in the territory of the confederation for immigrants aged 8 to 18 years. 12 months of residence of minors in a state are counted as 2 years if they confirm their residence in the confederation for a minimum of 6 years in the above-mentioned period of life.

In 2024, a foreigner has the right to choose one of the following methods of obtaining a Swiss residence permit, which in the future gives the opportunity to request citizenship of the confederation:

• Employment.
  Applicants for citizenship must enter into a contract with a local employer. Highly qualified specialists and persons with many years of professional experience can immigrate on the basis of employment. Foreigners must first obtain a work permit, which is issued by a local employer.
• Doing business .
  Immigrants can move to Switzerland and register as a legal entity or individual entrepreneur. Business founders must independently take care of acquiring a work permit from local government agencies dealing with migration and labor market issues.
• Getting an education.
  Applicants must submit documents, pass exams (if applicable) and, as a result, enroll in the selected Swiss university either full-time or part-time. After finishing their studies, immigrants must leave Switzerland, but they can legalize their continued stay in the confederation by setting up a business or taking a job.

The waiting period for a decision on an application for citizenship through the standard naturalization procedure is approximately two years, but may vary depending on the basis of immigration. The exact time period for reviewing the dossier should be clarified with the government agency where the application is submitted.

Simplified naturalization

The following persons have the right to obtain a Swiss passport through the simplified naturalization program:

• spouse of a citizen of the state;
• an applicant under 25 years of age who is a member of a foreign family living in Switzerland for three generations;
• child of a previously naturalized citizen of the state;
• a minor who is not the holder of a national identity card of any state;
• an applicant who has previously lost Swiss citizenship.

The above-mentioned persons can submit an application for simplified naturalization if they have lived in the confederation for at least 5 years. An authorized employee of a government agency reviews an applicant’s application for an average of one and a half years.

In 2023, for immigrants from post-Soviet countries there will be a more accessible way to obtain internal national documents of the European Union. The above-mentioned persons have the opportunity to request and receive an EU passport in approximately 12 months, which is significantly faster than going through the standard or simplified naturalization procedure. To find out who is eligible to participate in the repatriation program and what documents need to be prepared, you should contact migration specialists.

Procedure for obtaining Swiss citizenship

1. Applying for a type D visa.
   The immigrant must personally contact the foreign Swiss embassy/consulate and submit an application. The person must attach a completed application form to the package of documents (the form can be downloaded in different languages ​​on the official website of the State Secretariat for Migration). The government agency reviews visa applications from 2 to 6 months.
2. Entry into the country and registration.
   After crossing the Swiss state border, a foreigner must contact the city administration at his place of residence. A government agency employee registers an immigrant. If you move to another region, you must visit the local municipality within 14 days and go through the procedure again.
3. Obtaining a residence permit.
   The foreigner should prepare a dossier and contact the nearest branch of the Cantonal Office for Immigration and Labor Market at his place of residence in Switzerland. The residence permit will be issued for a period of more than a year. A foreigner has the right to renew a temporary resident card an unlimited number of times if the conditions for its initial receipt are maintained. The authorized government agency reviews applications for residence permits on average from 3 to 6 months.
4. Registration of permanent residence (type C settlement permit).
   After 5–10 years of residence in Switzerland, you must apply for an indefinite permanent residence permit. The application and documents are reviewed by employees of the Cantonal Immigration and Labor Market Authority. The processing time for the request is set individually for each applicant. The exact time for consideration of the application is announced by a government agency employee.
5. Submitting an application for citizenship.
   The foreigner should visit the authorized government agency located in the canton in which he resides with a complete dossier and submit an application. Some facilities may require a person to make an appointment with a staff member. After submitting the application, the government agency employee invites the person for an interview, at which he sets the date for the citizenship exam. Depending on the canton, the applicant may be required to take an oral or written test.
6. Passing the citizenship exam.
   Testing lasts 90 minutes. During the exam, you must demonstrate your knowledge of geography, history, democracy, the labor code, the Swiss health system, as well as the rights and responsibilities of citizens of the confederation. A foreigner can find educational material and a sample test on the official website of the canton or request it from an employee of the government agency where he is submitting an application. The cost of the exam depends on the immigrant’s region of residence.
7. Waiting for a decision.
   The processing time for the application is determined individually for each applicant and also depends on the canton in which the application was submitted. On average, a government agency considers a request from 1.5 to 2 years. The applicant learns about the result through an employee of the institution, for example by telephone or by receiving a letter to the email address specified in the application.
8. Preparation of internal documents.
   If the outcome of the application is positive, the person has the right to request and receive a Swiss national identity card. The applicant can also obtain duplicates of civil status acts in the branches of the registry office (for example, marriage certificates). The processing time for the above-mentioned documents differs depending on the canton of residence of the newly minted Swiss.

For foreigners, including Russian citizens, the government has not developed the possibility of applying for standard or simplified naturalization through embassies/consulates on the territory of their home state. To request a Swiss passport, the above-mentioned applicants must be located in the confederation.

How much does it cost to obtain Swiss citizenship and passport?

The cost of the main fees and expenses when applying for Swiss citizenship in 2023 is shown in the table below.

Expense item		Price, approximately €
Type D visa	Immigrants over 12 years old	80–120
	Persons aged 6 to 12 years	40–60
	Children under 6 years old	0
Applying for citizenship by standard naturalization (depending on place of residence)		515–2063
Registration of citizenship by simplified naturalization	For adults	929
	Persons aged 12 to 18 years	671
	Children under 12 years old	258
Biometric passport	For adults	144
	Persons under 18 years of age	62
Internal identity card (ID card)	For adults	67
	Persons under 18 years of age	31
Postage costs for sending a passport or ID card		5
Registration of duplicates of Swiss civil status acts (per document)		31
Translation of documents into German with notarization (per page)		From 6
Apostille affixing (per document)

Consular fees for obtaining residence permits and permanent residence permits should be clarified with the government agency where they are submitting the application. Depending on the canton, the amount may vary slightly.

What do you need to become a Swiss citizen?

To become a Swiss citizen, an applicant must:

• submit to the competent government agencies a dossier compiled in accordance with the current requirements of the confederation authorities;
• comply with all conditions of migration legislation;
• translate copies of documents into German and have them notarized (if necessary, affix an apostille).

What documents are needed to obtain citizenship?

In order for an employee of the authorized government agency to accept an application for Swiss citizenship for consideration, the person must prepare the following documents:

• an extract from the civil registration book;
• a copy of a passport for traveling abroad or another document that confirms the identity of the applicant;
• a certificate from the local municipality confirming 10 years of residence in Switzerland (for a spouse and a citizen of the state – 5 years);
• a copy of the front and back of the residence permit type C;
• a certificate from the tax office for the last 5 years (for applicants over 20);
• an extract from the debt collection register for the last 5 years (for persons over the age of 16);
• evidence of current activity (confirmation from employer, copy of tax return or others);
• a certificate from the social security department for the last 3 years (for persons over the age of 18);
• proof of German language proficiency (KDE, Goethe certificate, school certificate, higher education diploma or other);
• proof of basic knowledge of Switzerland (exam certificate, school certificate or others).

What documents are needed to obtain a passport?

An application for a passport of a Swiss citizen is considered by employees of the authorized government agency only after the applicant provides:

• application form (if the application is submitted in person, the form is issued by a government agency employee);
• photo size 35 x 45 mm (paper or electronic);
• confirmation of payment of the mandatory state fee.

Registration of citizenship for a child

Parents have the right to include their minor children in their application for Swiss citizenship. In a situation where a child, for some reason, has not received a confederation identification card along with his father or mother, his legal representatives should submit a separate application for simplified naturalization if the son/daughter meets the following requirements:

• under 22 years of age;
• lived in the confederation for a total of 5 years, of which 3 years immediately before applying for citizenship;
• has proven knowledge of oral and written German at least level B1 and A2, respectively;
• was a minor at the time of the parents’ naturalization.

The general dossier of a child under 18 years of age must be supplemented by the mother/father:

• son/daughter birth certificate;
• evidence of the child’s residence in the confederation;
• documentary evidence of knowledge of the German language.

Applying for a Swiss passport

To obtain a biometric passport for a Swiss citizen, you should contact one of the selected government agencies:

• local city administration;
• Passport Office.

Some city administrations in Switzerland accept applications from document applicants online through special electronic services. The local passport looks like a small red book. The internal identity card is made in the form of a plastic ID card, which contains all the basic data of the owner and his photo. Applicants can also request a temporary passport valid for 10 years if they have justified reasons for obtaining the document (force majeure, the need to urgently travel abroad as soon as possible). The procedure for obtaining a biometric identity card and ID card consists of the following steps:

1. Contact the selected government agency and submit an application for a passport or ID card, or visit the official website of the institution and submit an online request.
2. Payment of state duty.
3. Waiting for a decision (from 10 to 30 working days).
4. Receiving a document by mail (with the exception of a temporary passport – the applicant must pick it up in person).

Persons over 18 years of age receive a national identity card and ID card valid for 10 years, minor applicants for 5 years.

Refusal to obtain citizenship – reasons, solutions

Applicants who do not comply with the basic conditions of naturalization and do not comply with the requirements of the government of the confederation run the risk of having their application for Swiss citizenship rejected. Request for and issuance of a local national identity card is not available to immigrants who threaten the internal or external security of the state, disrupt public order, or do not respect the values ​​of the Federal Constitution. When immigrating to Switzerland, it is worth enlisting the support of international lawyers who will advise you on how to legalize residence in the country in accordance with current legislation, and also help check the likelihood of a refusal of your citizenship application.

Reviews from those who have received the status of Swiss citizen

Reviews of immigrants who have received Swiss citizenship indicate that the standard naturalization procedure in the state takes more than 12 years (taking into account the wait for a visa and mandatory residence with a residence permit and permanent residence). Applicants note that the confederation does not provide for online application submission, so they need to personally contact local government agencies and stand in queues, which is a significant disadvantage. Checking the status of your citizenship application online is also not available to immigrants.