Eligibility quiz
Was at least one of your grandparents born in Switzerland?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Swiss passport and ID
Swiss citizens can get a Swiss passport and identity card.
The passport can be used for international travel, and both documents must be renewed when they expire.
Live in Switzerland for life
Swiss citizens can live in and return to Switzerland without an immigration permit.
This right does not end if they live abroad, lose a job or let a passport expire.
Work in Switzerland
Swiss citizens can work in Switzerland without an immigration permit or permission to work.
Get help abroad
Swiss citizens can get advice and emergency help abroad from Swiss embassies, consulates and the FDFA Helpline.
Help is generally available when you cannot reasonably protect your interests yourself or through others.
A Swiss office abroad can also issue documents and help with official records and other administrative matters.
Vote and run for office
Swiss citizens aged 18 or over living in Switzerland can vote and take part in elections at national, cantonal and local levels.
They can sign or launch proposals for public votes and stand for election where the office’s rules allow.
Citizens abroad can vote nationally if registered with a Swiss office and on the voting list; some cantons also allow cantonal or local voting.
How to apply
Applying by mailApplying by mail
Request the application form
Email ch@sem.admin.ch to request the third-generation naturalisation application form. Give your reason for applying, first and last name, full address, postcode and place of residence; the State Secretariat for Migration will send you the form by post.
Find form request detailsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I request the Switzerland third-generation simplified naturalisation application form by email?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the State Secretariat for Migration.
See required documentsFill in the form
Complete the application form fully and truthfully, and sign the declarations and authorisation that apply to you. Sign the document checklist too.
Find form instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I complete and sign the Switzerland third-generation simplified naturalisation application form?”
Mail your application
Send your completed form, signed checklist and required documents to the State Secretariat for Migration at the address on the current form or checklist.
Get mailing addressSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where do I send my Switzerland third-generation simplified naturalisation application?”
Pay the fee
Pay the fee when the State Secretariat for Migration requests it or as instructed with your application. It is CHF 500 for an adult and CHF 250 for a minor.
Find payment instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the fee for Switzerland third-generation simplified naturalisation?”
Wait for the decision
Respond if the State Secretariat for Migration asks for more documents or information. If approved, you receive citizenship of the town and canton where you live when the decision takes effect.
See decision informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Switzerland third-generation simplified naturalisation decision take?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Parent's school records
Provide confirmation that your parent completed at least five years of compulsory schooling in Switzerland. Ask the school authority for confirmation using the model in the checklist.
Parent's residence records
Provide records showing that your parent obtained a Swiss permanent residence permit, called permit C, and lived in Switzerland for at least ten years. Ask the relevant authorities for their confirmations using the models in the checklist.
Grandparent's birth or residence
Provide a copy of your grandparent’s Swiss birth certificate or confirmation from a Swiss authority that your grandparent had a Swiss residence permit. If neither is available, records from a residents’ register or a cantonal or local migration office may help show that your grandparent had a right to live in Switzerland.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Registration when living abroad
Swiss citizens living abroad who are not registered with a Swiss local authority must register with the responsible Swiss office, generally within 90 days of leaving Switzerland.
Military service for men
Swiss men generally must do military or civilian service from age 18, often until age 30.
Men abroad are normally exempt in peacetime; special rules apply on permanent return, in border areas or when studying or training in Switzerland.
Those who do not serve, including men in civil protection, may owe 3% of taxable income, at least CHF 400 a year, with exceptions and reductions; service under another citizenship may bring an exemption.
Citizenship can be lost
Born abroad to a Swiss parent with another citizenship, you can lose citizenship at 25 if your birth was not reported and you never said you wanted to keep it; some failures can be corrected.
Some adoptions or a citizenship decision obtained by deception can end it, sometimes for children; serious harm to Switzerland can also lead to loss if you have another citizenship.
Living abroad, you can give it up if you have or are assured another citizenship.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
EXPATS IN SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭✨ Lifestyle, Networking & Travel Tips 🌍
English Facebook group for people living in Switzerland interested in Swiss local life
Join on Facebook🇨🇭Expats in Switzerland ⭑ Living, Moving & Advice ✨
English Facebook group for people living in Switzerland interested in Swiss visas
Join on Facebookr/AnchorLessEurope
English Reddit group for people living in Europe interested in visas
Join on RedditConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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