How to Get Switzerland CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- Test or certificate
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, with a test or certificate
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
Residence in Switzerland is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
- Residence
- 10 years
Person has a permanent residence permit, resided in Switzerland for 10 years (3 of these must have been in the 5 years preceding the application).
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, with a test or certificate
Person is successfully integrated (entails being able to communicate in a national language (certification)).
- Civic knowledge
- Required, with a test or certificate
Person is successfully integrated (entails showing respect for public security and order, respecting the values enshrined in the Constitution, participating in economic life or acquiring an education, and encouraging and supporting the integration of one's spouse, partner or minor children), familiar with Swiss way of life. Canton may provide for additional criteria for integration. Various cantons also require an oath of allegiance at the citizenship ceremony.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person may not pose a risk to Switzerland's internal or external security.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Person is successfully integrated (entails showing respect for public security and order).
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of Switzerland is the basis of this route, together with the conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person has been in a marriage with a citizen for 3 years and has resided in Switzerland for at least 5 years, including one year immediately prior to making the application. If the person married to a citizen is resident abroad, only after 6 years of marriage and 'strong ties to Switzerland'. Other conditions: person is successfully integrated (see the rules for ordinary naturalisation) and does not pose a risk to Switzerland's internal or external security.
Person is in a civil partnership with a citizen for 3 years and has resided in Switzerland for at least 5 years, including one year immediately prior to making the application. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (i.e. person has to go through the three-level naturalization procedure at the federal, cantonal and communal level).
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of Switzerland, the rules below set out how this route works. Switzerland grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Switzerland to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Birth in the country
This route concerns people born in Switzerland, and only in the situations described below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person is born in Switzerland, has a permanent residence permit, attended compulsory schooling in Switzerland for at least five years, has at least one grandparent who was born in Switzerland or acquired a right of residence in Switzerland, and at least one parent who has a permanent residence permit, resided in Switzerland for at least ten years and attended compulsory schooling in Switzerland. Person must be less than 25 years old at the moment when the application is submitted. Other conditions: person is successfully integrated (see the rules for ordinary naturalisation) and does not pose a risk to Switzerland's internal or external security.
Child of a new citizen
This route covers children of a person who becomes a citizen of Switzerland, subject to the conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Transfer to a child
Person was a minor when his parent acquired citizenship by naturalisation, is under 22 years and has resided in Switzerland for at least five years, including at least three years immediately prior to making the application. Other conditions: person is successfully integrated (see the rules for ordinary naturalisation) and does not pose a risk to Switzerland's internal or external security.
Child coacquisition
Person is a minor whose parent is acquiring citizenship by naturalisation. The applicant's minor children are normally included in the naturalisation application. If over the age of 16 the child's consent is required. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement)
Adoption
For people adopted by citizens of Switzerland, the rules below set out what applies. Switzerland grants citizenship by operation of law, requiring no decision from any authority.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
This route covers people who previously held citizenship of Switzerland, subject to the conditions below. Meeting the legal conditions does not guarantee approval, since authorities retain final discretion.
Person lost Swiss citizenship, is successfully integrated (if he or she lives in Switzerland) or has close ties with Switzerland (if he or she lives abroad), shows respect for public security and order, respects the values enshrined in the Constitution, and is not a risk to Switzerland's internal or external security. If loss of citizenship occurred more than ten years ago, three years of residence in Switzerland is required.
Stateless persons
Statelessness, or the risk of it, is the basis of this route in Switzerland.
Foundlings
Person is found in Switzerland of unknown parentage.
Stateless persons
Person is a stateless minor who has been resident in Switzerland for 5 years. Other conditions: person is successfully integrated (see the rules for ordinary naturalisation) and does not pose a risk to Switzerland's internal or external security.
Not available in Switzerland: Other family members of citizens, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Special achievements, Public or military service, Investment. Coded by GLOBALCIT for 1 January 2024 and updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Both groups can hold a second citizenship under the law of Switzerland: new citizens, and citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Switzerland requires 10 years, more years than the most common requirement of 5 years across Western Europe.
See how Switzerland compares with every country in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Austria | 10 years | Test or certificate | Not accepted |
 Belgium | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 France | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Germany | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Liechtenstein | 10 years | Test or certificate | Citizens abroad only |
 Luxembourg | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 9, 11, 12. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Ordinance on Swiss Citizenship.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Switzerland Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/switzerland/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/switzerland/">How to Get Switzerland Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Swiss citizen?
The law of Switzerland sets 10 years of residence for ordinary naturalisation. Other legal conditions also apply.
Does Switzerland allow dual citizenship?
Yes, in both directions: new citizens and citizens who naturalise abroad can hold another citizenship.
Do I need a language test for Swiss citizenship?
The law of Switzerland requires language ability, shown by a test or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Swiss citizenship?
A civic knowledge test or certificate is required when applying for Swiss citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Swiss citizenship?
Your current citizenship does not need to be given up to get Swiss citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Switzerland citizenship by marriage?
Yes, Switzerland provides a marriage route. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Switzerland citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of Switzerland provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Switzerland citizenship by investment?
The data shows no investment route for Switzerland.
Related pages
Also see: Switzerland passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.