Important Updates
Important Updates
August 20, 2025 | ThailandThailand: New Rules Forthcoming for Board of Investment-Promoted Companies
August 21, 2025 | United StatesFragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™
August 21, 2025 | 🌐United States: Appeals Court Stays Postponement of TPS Terminations for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua
August 20, 2025 | European UnionEuropean Union/Schengen Area: Internal Schengen Border Checks Situation
August 20, 2025 | SingaporeSingapore: New Salary Benchmarking Table by Sector Now Available
August 20, 2025 | ThailandThailand: New Rules Forthcoming for Board of Investment-Promoted Companies
August 21, 2025 | United StatesFragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™
August 21, 2025 | 🌐United States: Appeals Court Stays Postponement of TPS Terminations for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua
August 20, 2025 | European UnionEuropean Union/Schengen Area: Internal Schengen Border Checks Situation
August 20, 2025 | SingaporeSingapore: New Salary Benchmarking Table by Sector Now Available
August 20, 2025 | ThailandThailand: New Rules Forthcoming for Board of Investment-Promoted Companies
Subscribe
Fragomen.com home
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMedia
Search Fragomen.com
  • Our Services
    For EmployersFor IndividualsBy IndustryCase Studies
  • Our Tech & Innovation
  • Our People
  • Our Insights
    Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsMagellan SeriesImmigration AlertsEventsMedia MentionsFragomen NewsBlogsPodcasts & Videos
  • Spotlights
    Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump AdministrationTravel & Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle EastImmigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance RoadmapHumanitarian and Evolving Legal Pathways (HELP)Vietnamese ImmigrationAustralian Immigration: New Skills in Demand Visa
  • About Us
    About FragomenOfficesResponsible Business PracticesFirm GovernanceRecognition

Our Services

  • For Employers
  • For Individuals
  • By Industry
  • Case Studies

Our Tech & Innovation

  • Our Approach

Our People

  • Overview / Directory

Our Insights

  • Worldwide Immigration Trends Reports
  • Magellan Series
  • Immigration Alerts
  • Events
  • Media Mentions
  • Fragomen News
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts & Videos

Spotlights

  • Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump Administration
  • Travel & Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle East
  • Immigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance Roadmap
  • Humanitarian and Evolving Legal Pathways (HELP)
  • Vietnamese Immigration
  • Australian Immigration: New Skills in Demand Visa

About Us

  • About Fragomen
  • Offices
  • Responsible Business Practices
  • Firm Governance
  • Recognition
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMedia
  • Insights

Becoming a Swiss Citizen: General Requirements and Ordinary Process

November 18, 2019

Country / Territory

  • SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Related offices

  • Zurich

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related offices

  • Zurich

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related offices

  • Zurich

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

By: Mihaela Dumitru

Why Switzerland?

There is no place like Switzerland – the distinctness of Swiss culture owes not only to the courage of William Tell, the world-famous Matterhorn, its cheeses and chocolates – but also to an exquisite variety of amusing dialects and puzzling expressions.

Switzerland boasts of various institutions, habits and interesting customs: its unbelievably complicated electoral procedures, its referenda and initiatives, its specialised economy with its banks and watches, its complicated federalism with cantons and communes and central government, its three official and four national languages, its neutral status, its astonishing wealth per head, its huge proportion of foreign workers, its efficient public services and its religious divisions.  

If your aim to become a citizen of Switzerland, there are some important details to consider from an immigration perspective. In this blog, I will outline the steps to undertake in case you qualify for regular naturalisation.

Regular Naturalisation

The Swiss passport has the reputation of one of Europe’s most difficult passports to obtain, but it does provide travelling benefits – the Swiss passport ranks fourth on the passport power index with visa-free access to 155 countries.

If you take on Swiss nationality you can keep your current nationality/nationalities (and so have dual or more nationalities) as long as your country of origin also accepts it.

Because of the ability to keep other nationalities in addition to the Swiss nationality, British citizens who do qualify are considering taking up Swiss citizenship following the UK’s vote to exit the EU.

General Requirements

Foreigners with no direct blood ties to Switzerland through either birth or marriage must live in the country for at least 10 years before they can apply for citizenship. Years spent in the country between ages eight and 18 count double, but in this case the actual stay in Switzerland must be at least six years.

The following stays are counted towards the duration requirement:

  • stays with permits B or C;
  • stays with a so-called “carte de legitimation” issued by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) or with a Ci permit;
  • stays with F permit; however, only half of this length of stay is credited.
 
Cantonal legislation sets its own requirements regarding the length of stay in a particular Canton and commune. Usually, the regulations stipulate a minimum stay of between two and five years in the municipality and canton.
 
Another aspect to consider is the knowledge of a national language. A minimum spoken level of B1 and written level of A2 will be required. People on welfare and anyone with a criminal offence are theoretically excluded.
 
Apart from integration being verified via the knowledge of a national language, general integration in the Swiss way of life, familiarisation with Swiss customs and traditions, conformance with the Swiss rule of law, and no endangering of Switzerland's internal or external security are aspects that authorities do consider when reviewing a request for naturalisation.
 
Only if all of the above-mentioned requirements are fulfilled, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will then grant a “green light” to an applicant’s request to begin the naturalisation process but that does not mean citizenship is certain. Rather, cantons and municipalities have their own requirements that must be met, in addition to the general requirements discussed above.
 
Overview of the ordinary naturalisation process
 
Swiss citizenship contains basically three different levels of citizenship: communal, cantonal and federal. Due to this, there are communal, cantonal as well as federal authorities involved in the process.

The process at cantonal level is crucial and therefore described briefly hereafter. A number of points must be taken into account to ensure that the ordinary naturalisation procedure at cantonal level runs smoothly, such as:

  • The application for ordinary naturalisation must be submitted to the cantonal or communal authority designated in the cantonal Civil Rights Act (Art. 13 para. 1 BüG). Cantonal law determines the course of the procedure and the controls to be carried out by the competent authority (Art. 15 para. 1 BüG).
  • The competent authority registers the application, checks the personal details and conducts surveys and interviews to determine the applicant's suitability for naturalisation.
  • The application for ordinary naturalisation is only submitted to the SEM if the canton and commune are in favour of naturalisation (Art. 13 para. 2 BüG). 
 
Applicants must hold a valid permanent residence permit at the time of application, during the naturalisation procedure, when the federal naturalisation permit is granted and when a decision is taken on ordinary naturalisation. 
 
  • Before submitting the application for ordinary naturalisation. Only certain stays with a residence title in accordance with Article 33 BüG can be credited towards the period of residence in Switzerland before the application is filed.
  • At the time of submission of the application for ordinary naturalisation. As soon as the minimum length of stay in Switzerland has been reached according to Article 9 or 10 BüG, the applicant must hold a permanent residence permit (C permit) in order to submit an application for ordinary naturalisation.
  • During the naturalisation procedure and during ordinary naturalisation. The person wishing to naturalise must retain his or her permanent residence permit during the ordinary naturalisation procedure. This must continue until the granting of the federal naturalisation permit and the decision on the ordinary naturalisation by the competent canton.
 
The granting of the federal naturalisation permit requires that the person making the application:
  • is successfully integrated (fulfillment of debt collection and bankruptcy obligations as well as tax liability);
  • is familiar with Swiss living conditions; and
  • is not a threat to the internal or external security of Switzerland.
 
If all formal and material requirements are met, SEM grants the Swiss Confederation's naturalisation permit and sends it to the cantonal authority for a decision on naturalisation.

The competent cantonal authority takes the naturalisation decision within one year of the granting of the federal citizenship permit. After the expiry of this period, the federal naturalisation permit loses its validity.

The naturalisation procedure consists of three stages:

  • Federation
  • Canton
  • Commune
 
The federal naturalisation permit is therefore only the "green light" for the acquisition of Swiss citizenship by the Federation. The communes and cantons, on the other hand, have their own additional residence and aptitude requirements, which an applicant must fulfill. Swiss citizenship can only be acquired by those who have been granted the citizenship of the municipality and canton after the federal naturalisation permit has been granted. As a rule, there is no legally protected right to naturalisation in the municipality or canton.
 
The process for becoming a Swiss citizen varies between cantons but it is typically lengthy and usually takes several years. Securing Swiss citizenship can also be a costly process, as there are three levels of authorisation; therefore fees need to be paid at the federal, cantonal and commune levels. Federal fees are minimal but cantonal and communal fees for becoming a Swiss citizen vary greatly, with some charging several hundred francs, while others have fees adding up to a few thousand francs.
 
In Geneva, for example, the fee is based on income, meaning high-income earners can be hit with a cost of some CHF 4,000 for cantonal fees alone. Even if a person gets rejected for a Swiss passport, he or she still has to pay the fees.
 
Getting Swiss citizenship in western Switzerland is reportedly more generous than elsewhere, and Zurich, Geneva, and Bern are cities that typically produce more applications seeking Swiss citizenship.
 
Through this blog, we will keep you updated on the other ways to become a Swiss citizen, and other topics related to immigration in Switzerland. Should you have any questions or enquiries related to the topic discussed above please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or the Fragomen Swiss Immigration team.

Country / Territory

  • SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Related offices

  • Zurich

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related offices

  • Zurich

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Related offices

  • Zurich

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™

The 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America™ honors numerous Fragomen attorneys for excellence in immigration law, including Partner Sarah K. Peterson, who received the distinguished “Lawyer of the Year” award.

Learn more

Video

Greek Citizenship by Descent: Are You Eligible?

In this video, Senior Manager Ben Morgan offers a comprehensive overview of Greek citizenship by descent—a key pathway for individuals with Greek ancestry to obtain citizenship.

Learn more

Blog post

Start Smart: Visa Pathways for Educational Opportunities in Thailand

Partner Aim-on Larpisal and Senior Knowledge Management Specialist outline key visa options available to international students seeking to study in Thailand, emphasizing strategic planning for a smooth application process.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Partner Charles Johanes contributes to Global Mobility Lawyer’s Guide to Global Immigration

Partner Charles Johanes contributed insights to the Australia section of a global immigration and mobility guide.

Learn more

Media mentions

Pittsburgh Business Times: Viewpoint: Immigration Compliance: A Strategic Imperative for Today’s Employers

Pittsburgh Managing Partner Alex Castrodale and Associate Adam Teets highlight the need for US employers to prepare for unannounced immigration compliance checks.

Learn more

Blog post

From Ground Staff to Game Day: UK Skilled Worker Visa Changes in 2025 and the Impact on the Hidden Workforce in Sports Sector

Associates Stephanie Fitton and Halil Kaya and Paralegal Marcus Alexander Lang-Rawlings discuss how UK changes to the Skilled Worker visa in 2025 are reshaping sports sector employment.

Learn more

Blog post

Talent & Policy: Navigating Career Beginnings and Hiring Challenges in Singapore

Assistant Business Immigration Managers Jeszel Panistante-Cabral, Elsie Lim and Nellanie Quimson explore the complexities young professionals face entering the workforce and the evolving hiring landscape in Singapore.

Learn more

Blog post

Global Mobility Support and Visa Services: Fragomen’s Outbound Solutions from Germany

Director David Iannella discusses Fragomen Germany’s approach to outbound immigration solutions and how the office supports global mobility through visa services and compliance expertise.

Learn more

Blog post

Lifting the Curtain: Saudi Arabia Demands Full Disclosure of Real Company Owners

Corporate Services Manager Asfandyar Sheikh and Assistant Corporate Services Manager Ka-Ying Leung discuss Saudi Arabia’s push for corporate transparency through new ownership disclosure rules.

Learn more

Video

Fragomen's Posted Worker Compliance Solutions

In this video, we share an overview of Fragomen's posted worker compliance solutions.

Learn more

Blog post

From Facilitation to Surveillance: How Digitalization Will Impact Your European Compliance Program

Partner Jo Antoons and Managers Sara Fekete and Andreia Florina Ghimis explore how digitalization is reshaping European compliance programs and share how organizations can prepare with Fragomen’s support.

Learn more

Media mentions

People Management: What the UK’s Industrial Strategy and Immigration Reforms Mean for Employers

Partner Rajiv Naik examines how the UK’s industrial strategy and immigration reforms will reshape talent access and create new opportunities for HR and mobility teams.

Learn more

Awards

Fragomen Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America™

The 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America™ honors numerous Fragomen attorneys for excellence in immigration law, including Partner Sarah K. Peterson, who received the distinguished “Lawyer of the Year” award.

Learn more

Video

Greek Citizenship by Descent: Are You Eligible?

In this video, Senior Manager Ben Morgan offers a comprehensive overview of Greek citizenship by descent—a key pathway for individuals with Greek ancestry to obtain citizenship.

Learn more

Blog post

Start Smart: Visa Pathways for Educational Opportunities in Thailand

Partner Aim-on Larpisal and Senior Knowledge Management Specialist outline key visa options available to international students seeking to study in Thailand, emphasizing strategic planning for a smooth application process.

Learn more

Fragomen news

Partner Charles Johanes contributes to Global Mobility Lawyer’s Guide to Global Immigration

Partner Charles Johanes contributed insights to the Australia section of a global immigration and mobility guide.

Learn more

Media mentions

Pittsburgh Business Times: Viewpoint: Immigration Compliance: A Strategic Imperative for Today’s Employers

Pittsburgh Managing Partner Alex Castrodale and Associate Adam Teets highlight the need for US employers to prepare for unannounced immigration compliance checks.

Learn more

Blog post

From Ground Staff to Game Day: UK Skilled Worker Visa Changes in 2025 and the Impact on the Hidden Workforce in Sports Sector

Associates Stephanie Fitton and Halil Kaya and Paralegal Marcus Alexander Lang-Rawlings discuss how UK changes to the Skilled Worker visa in 2025 are reshaping sports sector employment.

Learn more

Blog post

Talent & Policy: Navigating Career Beginnings and Hiring Challenges in Singapore

Assistant Business Immigration Managers Jeszel Panistante-Cabral, Elsie Lim and Nellanie Quimson explore the complexities young professionals face entering the workforce and the evolving hiring landscape in Singapore.

Learn more

Blog post

Global Mobility Support and Visa Services: Fragomen’s Outbound Solutions from Germany

Director David Iannella discusses Fragomen Germany’s approach to outbound immigration solutions and how the office supports global mobility through visa services and compliance expertise.

Learn more

Blog post

Lifting the Curtain: Saudi Arabia Demands Full Disclosure of Real Company Owners

Corporate Services Manager Asfandyar Sheikh and Assistant Corporate Services Manager Ka-Ying Leung discuss Saudi Arabia’s push for corporate transparency through new ownership disclosure rules.

Learn more

Video

Fragomen's Posted Worker Compliance Solutions

In this video, we share an overview of Fragomen's posted worker compliance solutions.

Learn more

Blog post

From Facilitation to Surveillance: How Digitalization Will Impact Your European Compliance Program

Partner Jo Antoons and Managers Sara Fekete and Andreia Florina Ghimis explore how digitalization is reshaping European compliance programs and share how organizations can prepare with Fragomen’s support.

Learn more

Media mentions

People Management: What the UK’s Industrial Strategy and Immigration Reforms Mean for Employers

Partner Rajiv Naik examines how the UK’s industrial strategy and immigration reforms will reshape talent access and create new opportunities for HR and mobility teams.

Learn more

Stay in touch

Subscribe to receive our latest immigration alerts

Subscribe

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Have a question?

Contact Us
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 2025 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Please note that the content made available on this site is not intended for visitors / customers located in the province of Quebec, and the information provided is not applicable to the Quebec market. To access relevant information that applies to the Quebec market, please click here.