Swiss citizenship has numerous advantages, because the country is distinguished by a good level of economic development, a strong social sphere and a high level of security. Find out how to get Swiss citizenship in 2024 and how they plan to simplify the naturalization procedure in the country

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Switzerland is a country that foreigners from different parts of the world dream of becoming citizens of (Australia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Jamaica, etc.), because the state offers high-quality medical care, a stable political system, and a strong economy. In addition, expats are drawn to Switzerland's breathtaking scenery, world-renowned chocolate and cheese, and strong emphasis on democracy, innovation and quality of life.

Although Switzerland is actively discussing the simplification of the procedure for obtaining citizenship, it is still quite difficult to issue a passport of the safest and most politically neutral country in the world, because the procedure is the most complicated in Europe.

A comprehensive guide to obtaining Swiss citizenship in 2024 is further in this article.

How to become a citizen of Switzerland?

Switzerland offers different ways of obtaining citizenship. The process is quite complex compared to other countries and the right path for you will depend on your personal circumstances.

The most popular routes to Swiss citizenship are as follows:

- Citizenship through legal residence

- Citizenship by marriage.

- Citizenship by birth or descent.

Swiss citizenship by naturalization

- Who can get it?

Foreign residents who have a settlement permit C.

- Requirements for obtaining Swiss citizenship by naturalization

1. Live in Switzerland for at least ten years.

2. Spend 183 days a year in the country and at least three years during the last five years before submitting the application.

3. Not have a criminal record.

4. Demonstrate the ability to integrate into Swiss society while respecting Swiss customs and traditions.

5. Prove that you have made a positive contribution to Swiss society.

6. Demonstrate proficiency in one of Switzerland's official languages.

7. Have a basic knowledge of the history, politics and customs of Switzerland.

8. Respect public safety, public order and Swiss values.

- A package of documents for obtaining Swiss citizenship through naturalization

1. Application form.

2. Proof of residence (for example, leases, utility bills, or employment contracts).

3. Identity documents (for example, passports or identification cards).

4. Documents about your education, work history and any civic involvement.

- The procedure for applying for Swiss citizenship through naturalization

The application process usually takes up to one year. You must apply for citizenship through your local canton. Your application must be approved at cantonal, municipal and federal level. During the approval process, you may be interviewed by the authorities to assess your integration and contribution to Swiss society.

To move, travel or work safely in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can apply for an extended policy on our website here.

Swiss citizenship by marriage

Foreigners who are spouses of Swiss citizens can obtain Swiss citizenship by marriage. It is important to note that simply marrying a Swiss citizen does not automatically grant Swiss citizenship to the foreign spouse. Instead, the foreign spouse must meet certain requirements and go through the application process.

- Requirements for obtaining Swiss citizenship through marriage:

1. Live in Switzerland for at least 5 years, including the 12 months immediately preceding the application.

2. Be married to a Swiss citizen for at least 3 years.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of the Swiss national language at level B1 and writing at level A2.

4. Integrate into Swiss life and demonstrate familiarity with Swiss customs.

5. To comply with the rule of law of Switzerland and not to pose a threat to national security.

6. Have not received social assistance during the last three years.

It should be noted that the detailed requirements that individuals must meet in order to obtain Swiss citizenship through marriage may differ from canton to canton.

- Procedure for applying for Swiss citizenship through marriage

The application process usually involves submitting various documents, such as passports and marriage certificates, and can take up to one year for approval.

Swiss citizenship by origin

Swiss citizenship by descent is an easy path to Swiss citizenship. However, this process involves a number of requirements and conditions, including proof of the father's Swiss citizenship and providing evidence of the applicant's connection to Swiss culture and society.

Applicants must pass a language test and complete Swiss military service to be eligible for Swiss citizenship by descent.

- Requirements for obtaining Swiss citizenship by origin:

A foreigner can claim Swiss citizenship by descent if at least one parent is a Swiss citizen, regardless of whether they are married or single.

- The procedure for applying for Swiss citizenship by origin

In order to apply for Swiss citizenship by birth/descent, applicants must meet the relevant requirements for Swiss citizenship and demonstrate a connection to Switzerland, which may include providing proof of residence in Switzerland, knowledge of the local language and basic knowledge of Swiss society.

Candidates must also demonstrate respect for public safety and order and Swiss values.

The application process involves filling out the necessary forms and providing declarations and questionnaires that confirm compliance with the requirements.

Application review time can last up to 12 months.

Is it possible to get Swiss citizenship by investment?

Switzerland does not have a citizenship-by-investment program, but there is a procedure for obtaining a residence permit by investing in the Swiss economy.

After maintaining the resident status for 10 years, a foreigner can apply for Swiss citizenship through ordinary naturalization.

- Basic requirements for obtaining a residence permit through investment in Switzerland:

1. Have citizenship of a country that is not part of the EU/EEA.

2. Age from 18 to 55 years.

3. Availability of own or leased real estate in Switzerland.

3. Absence of criminal records.

4. Confirmation of official source of income and stable financial situation.

- Ways of investing to obtain Swiss citizenship:

1. Setting up a business in Switzerland – this route has no minimum investment amount, but the business must have an annual turnover of more than 1 million Swiss francs.

It will also be necessary to create jobs for Swiss residents, introduce new technologies into the Swiss economy.

2. Payment of a single tax - the minimum investment is from 100,000 Swiss francs. You can invest in any canton except Zurich.

Read about the available types of residence permits in Switzerland in this article.

How can the procedure for obtaining Swiss citizenship be simplified in 2024?

Switzerland is one of the most democratic countries in the world, and collecting signatures on petitions is the oldest way to make informed decisions.

In October 2024, the petition to simplify the procedure for obtaining Swiss citizenship received the required number of points (135,000 votes - the condition for consideration is the presence of 100,000 votes). This means that the issue of simplifying the procedure for obtaining citizenship will be submitted to a nationwide referendum in the near future.

Current conditions require a long wait and a deep level of integration into society. The Aktion Vierviertel initiative group talks about reducing the waiting time (instead of 10 continuous years, it will be enough for an expat to live for 5 years), while other requirements remain unchanged:

1. Mandatory command of the language;

2. Confirmation of stable income;

3. Integration – social activity and connections in Swiss society.

Even if the initiative is supported, the path to citizenship will remain time-consuming and the requirements for candidates will vary from canton to canton.

Benefits of Swiss citizenship

Obtaining Swiss citizenship can be a long and financially demanding process. However, despite the difficulties, it brings numerous advantages:

- Access to a strong economy with a high standard of living.

- Political stability and well-functioning democracy.

- The right to vote and participate in political decision-making.

- Visa-free travel to a large number of countries in the world, including the Schengen zone.

- Quality medicine and education.

- Good social sphere.

- Dual citizenship

- Low level of crime and high level of public safety

- Ability to transfer citizenship to future generations

How to get a Swiss passport?

After obtaining Swiss citizenship, you will be eligible to apply for a Swiss passport. This can be done in person at the resident registration office in your community or at the passport office of your canton, by phone or online, depending on which canton you live in. We recommend that you contact the naturalization authority of your canton for more information. information

All Swiss passports issued since 2010 are biometric, and the current cost of an adult passport is around 150 Swiss francs, while a child's passport costs 70 Swiss francs.

We will remind you! Switzerland is facing a significant labor shortage, and many companies are struggling to attract skilled workers in various fields. The country is known for its high wages and quality of life, making it attractive to expats. We have already talked about the job market in Switzerland, salary levels, how to apply for a job and other important details

Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

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