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Obtaining Swiss nationality

I am of Swiss ancestry. How can I claim Swiss citizenship?

If you had Swiss citizenship at birth in addition to a foreign nationality, you must register your desire to keep this citizenship before you are 22. If you have missed this deadline, you may apply to have your Swiss citizenship restored, but must do this within 10 years.

To recover Swiss citizenship, you must prove a close connection with Switzerland.

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Can I pass my Swiss citizenship on to my children?

Children with one Swiss parent are automatically born Swiss if the parents are married. They are also automatically Swiss if their mother is Swiss, even if she is not married to the father.

Since January 1st 2006, the child of a Swiss father who is not married to the mother can become Swiss if the father recognises him/her before the age of majority, or if a paternity suit has been recognised.

In other cases the child may make an application for naturalisation up until his/her 22nd birthday. It is necessary to prove close ties with Switzerland, including lengthy periods of residence.

After the age of 22, he/she is treated no differently from any other foreigner applying for naturalisation.

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Am I eligible for Swiss nationality?

If you have been resident in Switzerland for 12 years you may apply for naturalisation. Years spent in Switzerland between the ages of 10 and 20 count as double.

Foreigners married to Swiss citizens can apply for facilitated naturalisation. You must have been in a stable marriage for at least three years, and have lived in Switzerland for a total of five years. The last 12 months must have been spent entirely in Switzerland. Like all applicants, foreign spouses must show that they are well integrated into the Swiss way of life.

The initial application is examined by the Federal Office for Migration, but both the canton and commune of residence have their own requirements. The fee payable also varies according to the place of residence.

The final decision is taken by the commune in which you are resident. In some places this decision is taken by a panel, in others by a popular vote of all citizens of the commune.

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More answers by the Federal authorities

Permit C: Dear Sir/Madam: I am living in Switzerland since 11 year and I've got married before 9 year, we are living together happily, we have no Problem ever, my wife never make any complain to police. I've applied for passport after 3 years of my married,and for Permit C after 5 years of my marriage, but police say i have to wait for the result of passport. And now after 5 year, i got the final result of passport, that they don't believe our married. For this me and My wife is Worried, Like the result of Passport If for Permit C Police also say that they don't believe our marriage, then what will happen? Can police told me to Leave the Country? My wife don't want to leave me and don't want to divorce me... So in this Situation can police told me to leave the country? I've no right to stay here if police say like that?
Your case will be dealt with by the cantonal migration office. I suggest you contact them for explaining your case and further procedure. I do not quite now where the problem is. If the police thinks you are not properly married or that your marriage is a fake, they will have to contact the cantonal migration office to examnie the case. Any change in regard to your residence permit will have to told you with a legal decision that can be appealed against. So there is no reason to worry right now. Any decision will be dealt within the Swiss legal framework. We hope to have been of assistance. Sincerely Felix Trüb, Federal Office for Migartion felix.trueb@bfm.admin.ch    
Sir/Mam: SIR/MAM; Im a pilipina married to a Swiss citizen with 3 boys, aged 23, 22, 20. Year 2001 we go in the Swiss embassy to ask for help for the citizenship of my kids but they say no records. How come when in 1992 they even help me for the hospitalization of my husband oh i forgot he died 1993. can u please give me a place where we can go to ask for help. we have his papers or documents.I only want my sons to be a citizen my eldest who happens to be a Jr is computer engineer. respectfuly your gemperle family
  Dear Madam, Dear Sir, We received your e-mail. Please, address your request to the qualified Swiss representation for your place of residence. You will find the address on the link below:   http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps.html Best regards  
WANTS A CITIZEN SHIP ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE SHE HAS A BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF GENEVA SWITZERLAND: My wife is Swiss from geneva and has a Swiss Birth Certificate but has lived in pakistan before 4 years when she married . The Marriage Certificate is from pakistan. The questions that I would like answered are;- Does my wife still have Swiss citizen ship and if she does can I also have Swiss citizenship because my wife has it? Thankyou. Mr TALHA SIDDIQUI
  Dear Madam, Dear Sir, We received your e-mail. Please, address your request to the qualified Swiss representation for your place of residence. You will find the address on the link below:   http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps.html Best regards Federal Department of Justice and Police FDJP Federal Office for Migration FOM Section Naturalisation  
consider for nationality: RESPECTED SIR, I have a question n some confusion please giving me ur attantion, im hera naeem from pakistan n born in GENEVA SWITZERLAND ON 23TH JANUARY 1987. MY ADDRESS IS 59 RUE DU GRAND PRE, 1202 GENEVA and this time im married now in pakistan but i want a residence in my birth country beacuse i love switzerland sir please kindly giving me ur true guidness for me n my husband n my mother in law for residence and nationality on behalf of my birth in geneva.... awaiting ur propmt response sir/mam i really like when i see a pics of my sweet n peacefull switzerland.... thanx ... regards hera naeem
please contact the swiss Embassy in Islamabad. I dont understand what you will exactly. Embassy of Switzerland Street 6, Diplomatic Enclave, G-5/4 Islamabad 44000, Pakistan Postal address Embassy of Switzerland P.O. Box 1073 Islamabad 44000, Pakistan Tel.: +92 51 2279 291         +92 51 2279 292         +92 51 2279 293 From Switzerland: 031 324 18 81Fax: +92 51 2279 286 From Switzerland: 031 324 18 82  
Permit C and Passport: I have come to Switzerland at 28th february,2001. At 14th February,2003 i've married to a women, She has Swiss passport. After marriage we have no problem till now, and we are living together... After 3 years of married i've applied for Swiss Passport, and 5 years of married i've applied for Permit C, cause For passport they told me i've to wait more, i make apel... but when i apply for Permit C they told me to wait for Passport result... and untill now i'm making apel for passport and Permit C... i've appoint a lawyer also... I'm tired of it... i can't understand what's the problem... now on this 28th February i've finish 11 year's in switzerland, and at 14th february we finish 9 year of our married... Pls help me by giving Solution...
Um weitere Abklärungen treffen zu können, bitte ich Sie um folgende Angaben: - Familienname/Vorname/Geburtsdatum - gemäss Ihrem Ausländerausweis. Bitte senden Sie diese Angaben an meine persönliche E-Mai-Adresse: felix.trueb@bfm.admin.ch Mit freundlichen Grüssen Felix Trüb, Bundesamt für Migration  
Dual Citizenship with Canada: Ich lebe seit einigen Jahren in Kanada und möchte wissen, ob ich neben der Schweizer Staatsbürgerschaft auch die Kanadische erhalten kann bzw. ist eine Doppelbürgerschaft mit Kanada erlaubt? Vielen Dank für Ihre Hilfe.
Guten Tag, kanadische Bürger, welche das Schweizer Bürgerrecht erlangen, behalten ihre bisherige Staatsangehörigkeit. Für Detailfragen wenden Sie sich am besten an eine Schweizer Vertretung vor Ort. Freundliche Grüsse                                           Abteilung Bürgerrecht des Bundesamtes für Migration                                                            
Cabinet proposals in March 2011: The federal cabinet in March proposed a change in Naturalization Law to make the process fast track. Are there any further developments in this? Is the law now in place or needs further approvals from other bodies? Many Thanks. Das Bundeskabinett im März einen Vorschlag für ein Änderung Naturalization Law, um den Prozess fast track zu machen. Gibt es weitere Entwicklungen in diesem? Ist das Gesetz jetzt in Kraft oder bedarf weiterer Genehmigungen von anderen Einrichtungen? Vielen Dank.
Am 4. März 2011 hat der Bundesrat die Botschaft zur Totalrevision des Bürgerrechtsgesetzes zu Handen des Parlaments verabschiedet. Dies bedeutet, dass in einem nächsten Schritt das Parlament über die neue Gesetzesvorlage beraten muss. Das Gesetz ist somit noch nicht in Kraft. Der Zeitpunkt des Inkrafttretens des neuen Bürgerrechtsgesetzes ist noch offen. Der Bundesrat kann das Datum des Inkrafttretens erst festlegen, wenn das Parlament das neue Bürgerrechtsgesetz in der Schlussabstimmung verabschiedet hat. Wann diese Schlussabstimmung erfolgen wird, hängt von den parlamentarischen Beratungen ab, die voraussichtlich im Frühjahr 2012 beginnen werden. Weiter ist zu beachten, dass das neue Bürgerrechtsgesetz dem fakultativen Referendum untersteht. Es wäre daher möglich, dass das Gesetz nach Verabschiedung im Parlament dem Volk zur Abstimmung unterbreitet werden muss, wenn das Referendum ergriffen wird. Allgemein gesehen dauern Gesetzgebungsprozesse mehrere Jahre lang. Bis das neue Bürgerrechtsgesetz in Kraft treten kann, wird daher noch einige Zeit vergehen.                
Swiss Nationality: My mother is Swiss from St Gallen and has a Swiss Birth Certificate but has lived in UK since 1946 when she married an English man. The Marriage Certificate states that she is a Swiss Citizen. The questions that I would like answered are;- Does my mother still have Swiss citizen ship and if she does can I also have Swiss citizenship because my mother has it? Thankyou. Mrs Evelyn Margrit Hurren
We received your e-mail. Please, address your request to the qualified Swiss representation for your place of residence. You will find the address on the link below:   http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps.html
Citizenship: I was born in switzerland in 1992 while my parents lived there on a work visa. I am 17 now and have always been curious on how i can get citizenship and if it would require taking a test like the united states or if i can automatically get it from being born there.
  Switzerland applies the so-called ius sanguinis, i.e. nationality is acquired through paternal or maternal descent. The Swiss nationality is not acquired by dint of being born in the country.   Only an alien who is living and has resided a total of 12 years in Switzerland, including three of the last five prior to making the application, may apply for a regular naturalisation. For the period of 12 years, the time an applicant resided in Switzerland between his 10th and 20th anniversary will be counted double.   Before the permit is granted, it must be examined whether the applicant is suitable for naturalization, especially if he : a. is integrated in Switzerland; b. is familiar with Swiss ways of living, traditions and customs; c. honors Swiss laws; d. does not endanger the internal or external security of Switzerland. For more information about regular naturalisation, please ask directly the Cantonal authorities.   After marriage to a Swiss citizen, an alien may apply for simplified naturalisation if he : a. has resided for a total of five years in Switzerland; b. has resided here for at least the last year and c. has lived for three years in marital community with a Swiss citizen. If he is living abroad, he can make an application if he has lived for six years in marital community with a Swiss citizen.   You can get more information on our website :   www.bfm.admin.ch   Best regards
Citizenship for children and Spouse: I am a Swiss citizen through my father who was born in Switzerland. I am currently living in the US. Can I claim Swiss Citizenship for my wife and children? If so, how do I go about doing so?
Please, address your request to the qualified Swiss representation for your place of residence. You will find the address on the link below:   http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps.html

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Frequently asked questions