Eligibility quiz
Did your mother have Swiss citizenship before or when you were born?
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 from outside SwitzerlandApplying from outside Switzerland
Find your consulate
Find the Swiss embassy or consulate responsible for the place where you live.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Swiss embassy or consulate handles facilitated naturalisation for someone living in your city?”
Request the application package
Ask your Swiss embassy or consulate for the facilitated naturalisation application package for yourself or your child.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I request a Swiss facilitated naturalisation application package from the Swiss embassy or consulate for your city?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the consulate.
See required documentsFill in the form
Fill in, date and sign the form and accompanying forms for yourself or your child in a Swiss national language. Complete the questionnaires and sign the document list.
Find form guidanceSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Swiss facilitated naturalisation application for a child of a Swiss citizen?”
Hand in your application
Submit the completed and signed application and supporting documents to your Swiss embassy or consulate. Follow its instructions on how to hand them in.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a Swiss facilitated naturalisation application to the Swiss embassy or consulate for your city?”
Pay the fee
Pay the advance processing fee using the payment instructions from your Swiss embassy or consulate.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the Swiss facilitated naturalisation application fee at the Swiss embassy or consulate for your city?”
Attend your interview
If the Swiss embassy or consulate invites you or your child to an interview, attend in person.
Find interview informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens at a Swiss facilitated naturalisation interview at a consulate?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the decision on your application or your child's application. Answer any requests for more information or documents.
See decision informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Swiss facilitated naturalisation decision take for a child of a Swiss citizen living abroad?”
Order identity documents
If citizenship is granted, order Swiss identity documents for yourself or your child through your Swiss embassy or consulate. You can then receive a Swiss passport or identity card.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I order a Swiss passport or identity card from the Swiss embassy or consulate for your city?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificate
Get your birth certificate to show your relationship to your Swiss parent. If you apply from abroad, foreign civil-status originals generally must be no more than six months old.
Parent's citizenship records
Get a record showing that your Swiss parent was a Swiss citizen at the relevant time. Your document list will tell you if it must also show your parent's Swiss canton and commune, or the last ones they belonged to.
Parents' marriage certificate *
Get your parents' marriage certificate to show their marital status. If you apply from abroad, foreign civil-status originals generally must be no more than six months old.
* Only if your parents married.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationFather's parentage record *
Get the official record establishing your legal relationship to your Swiss father. Check your document list for the record needed in your case.
* Only if your Swiss father was not married to your mother and your legal relationship to him needs to be established.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationConsiderations
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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