Married with a Swiss citizen

If you are married to a Swiss citizen, you are eligible for simplified naturalisation.

Self-Check naturalisation

Requirements

The following persons can apply for simplified naturalisation:

  1. the husband or wife of a Swiss citizen. They must have lived for a total of five years in Switzerland, have spent the year prior to submitting the application in Switzerland and must have been married to and living with the Swiss citizen for three years;.
  2. the husband or wife of a Swiss citizen living abroad. They must have been married to the Swiss citizen for six years and have close ties with Switzerland.
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The simplified naturalisation of a foreign husband or wife is not possible if

  • both spouses were foreign citizens when they got married and the wife or husband acquired Swiss citizenship through ordinary naturalisation after getting married; or:
  • the Swiss spouse dies before the application is submitted.
     

If you live in Switzerland: What does ‘being successfully integrated’ mean?

The simplified naturalisation procedure requires that you be successfully integrated. You are successfully integrated into Swiss society in particular if you:

  • show respect for public security and order, for example by paying your taxes on time, not being the subject of debt collection proceedings, not having any certified unpaid debts and not having a criminal record;
  • show respect for the values enshrined in the Federal Constitution;
  • can communicate in a national language in everyday situations, both orally and in writing;
  • participate in economic life or acquire an education; this also means that you have not claimed social assistance benefits in the three years before applying or you have repaid in full any social assistance benefits claimed;
  • and if you encourage and support your family in their efforts to integrate.

Appropriate account is taken of your situation if you are unable to participate in economic life, acquire an education or get the required language skills because of disability or illness or for other significant personal circumstances, or can only do so with difficulty.

In addition, you must not pose a threat to Switzerland’s internal or external security.

Language requirements if you live in Switzerland

You must be able to communicate in everyday situations in a Swiss national language both orally and in writing. At the time that you submit your application, you must prove that you have written language skills of at least A2 level and spoken language skills of at least B1 level.

Detailed information on the language passport
List of recognised language certificates (PDF, 289 kB, 01.01.2024)
FAQs on simplified naturalisation

Sprachförderkonzept des Bundes 
(Federal language support programme. Available in German, French and Italian)

Where can I get the application form?

If you live in Switzerland, you can order the application form by email directly from the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) at ch@sem.admin.ch, indicating your exact postal address. The form will be sent to you by post and must be submitted, duly completed, to SEM by post.
  


If you live abroad: What does ‘having close ties with Switzerland’ mean?

You have close ties with Switzerland if you:

  • have stayed in Switzerland at least three times for a minimum of five days each within the last six years prior to making your application;
  • can communicate in everyday situations in one of Switzerland’s four national languages;
  • have a basic knowledge of Switzerland’s geography, history, politics and society; and
  • maintain contact with Swiss citizens.

You must know people living in Switzerland who are able to confirm that these requirements are met.

In addition you must

  • show respect for public security and order;
  • show respect for the values set out in the Federal Constitution;
  • participate in economic life or acquire an education, and
  • encourage and support your family members in their efforts to integrate, and
  • not pose a threat to Switzerland’s internal or external security.

Appropriate account is taken of your situation if you are unable to participate in economic life, acquire an education or get the required language skills because of disability or illness or for other significant personal circumstances, or can only do so with difficulty.
  

Where can I get the application form?

If you live abroad, you can request the application form for simplified naturalisation from your nearest Swiss representation; you must submit the completed form to this representation.
  


What documents do I have to submit?

All the documents on the ‘List of required documents’ must be submitted together with the application form and annexes as well as the duly signed list of required documents.

The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) decides on cases of simplified naturalisation.
  

Further information

Questions and answers on simplified naturalisation

Handbook on citizenship, chapter 4: Simplified naturalisation for persons living in Switzerland
in German (PDF, 642 kB, 24.08.2023)
in French (PDF, 692 kB, 24.08.2023)
in Italian (PDF, 643 kB, 24.08.2023)
(This document is not available in English)

Handbook on citizenship, chapter 5: Simplified naturalisation for persons living abroad
in German (PDF, 505 kB, 24.08.2023)
in French (PDF, 523 kB, 24.08.2023)
in Italian (PDF, 512 kB, 24.08.2023)
(This document is not available in English)

Last modification 31.01.2024

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