Published on 19 January 2026

Naturalisation of foreign spouses and foreign children born to a Swiss parent

Foreign nationals married to Swiss citizens can apply for Swiss citizenship after living together for a certain period of time. Foreign children born to a Swiss parent who were unable to acquire citizenship at birth can also apply for Swiss citizenship subject to certain conditions. The conditions may include having close ties to Switzerland.

You are currently married to a Swiss citizen and would like to acquire Swiss citizenship. Or you are wondering whether you can acquire Swiss citizenship as your mother or father was or is a Swiss citizen.

You will find information on applying for citizenship as well as general conditions on the website of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).

The SEM is responsible for handling applications submitted abroad at a Swiss representation.

SEM: Am I eligible for simplified naturalisation? Complete the self-check to find out (pilot phase) (German, French, Italian)

- You submit your application consisting of duly completed, dated and signed forms and the required supporting documents to the competent representation.
- You pay the advance application processing fee – see under ‘Fees’.
- The representation invites you for a face-to-face interview to check a number of points, including your ties to Switzerland and whether you meet the other specific requirements.
- The representation sends the SEM the application together with a report.
- The SEM issues its decision on the application, subject to appeal before the Federal Administrative Court in Switzerland.
- You are notified of the SEM’s decision.
- You can order a Swiss identity document if you are granted Swiss citizenship.

Your minor children are included in the application if:
- you have parental authority over them;
- they live with you;
- they give their written consent if they are aged 16 or over.

On request, the representation will send you the following documents, which you must return to it, completed in a Swiss national language, dated and signed:
- Application form for simplified naturalisation in accordance with the relevant article in the Swiss Citizenship Act
- Information sheet on the relevant article in the Swiss Citizenship Act
- Marriage certificate (for applications from foreign spouses only)
- Declaration concerning respect for public security and order
- Authorisation to obtain information
- Questionnaire on close ties to Switzerland
- List of documents required for the application in accordance with the relevant article in the Swiss Citizenship Act
The following documents, including documents about respect for public security and order, must also be submitted – the representation can give you information about the documents which can be issued in your country of residence abroad:
- Extract from the register of convictions
- Extract from the debt collection register
- Tax certificate
- Confirmation concerning receipt or non-receipt of social welfare benefits
- Confirmation concerning record, or absence of record, of criminal offences in the case of minors
Please note:
- Documents that are not completed in full in a Swiss national language, dated and signed, or that are illegible, will be sent back to you.
- The originals of the foreign documents requested may not be more than three months old (six months for civil status documents) and must be certified by the competent foreign authority.
- Documents that are not in German, French or Italian must be accompanied by a certified translation into a Swiss national language.

Foreign civil status documents that have not yet been registered in the Swiss civil status register can be submitted together with your citizenship application.
The originals of the foreign documents may not be more than six months old and must be certified by the competent foreign authority.
Documents not in German, French or Italian must be accompanied by a certified translation into a Swiss national language.
The competent civil status authorities in Switzerland can separately charge fees for their civil status services (verification of foreign documents in order to register the civil status data in the Swiss civil status register), according to the Ordinance on Civil Status Fees (CSFO; CC 172.042.110), and have the fees collected by the Swiss representation.

If necessary, Swiss civil status documents (e.g. Swiss family certificate) can be ordered from the competent civil status authority in Switzerland. You will find the addresses of the competent civil registry authorities on the website of the Federal Office of Justice (FOJ): Responsibilities and authorities (German, French, Italian)
You can also order Swiss civil status documents via your local representation. Costs must be paid in advance.

After the representation has received your application, it will arrange a mutually convenient date for a face-to-face interview which will in principle be conducted in a Swiss national language.
You will be invited to come to the representation in person for the interview, accompanied by any minor children aged 12 or over who are included in the application.
The interview with the applicant (as part of the process a separate interview will take place with minor children aged 12 or over who are included in the application) will cover various points, including:
- close ties to Switzerland, in particular:
  regular stays in Switzerland (at least three stays of at least five days each in Switzerland in the past six years);
  knowledge of a Swiss national language;
  general knowledge about Switzerland (geography, history, politics, society, etc.) – see the ‘Links’ sections for useful information to help you prepare for the face-to-face interview;
  contact with Swiss nationals;
  reference persons who are resident in Switzerland;
- respect for Switzerland’s internal and external security;
- respect for public security and order;
- respect for the values of the Swiss Federal Constitution;
- participation in gainful employment or training/education;
- promoting and supporting the integration of family members, in particular:
  learning a Swiss national language;
  participation in gainful employment or education/training in the country of residence;
  participation in the social and cultural life of Swiss nationals.

The Swiss representation generally submits its report on the collected data to the SEM within 12 months (Art. 22 SCO).
The SEM generally rules on simplified naturalisation or reinstatement of citizenship applications within 12 months of receiving the application and the report on the collected data from the Swiss representation (Art. 23 SCO).
The competent Swiss representation must be notified of any change of address or any event affecting the civil status (marriage, separation, divorce, births, death, adoption, etc.) during this period.

An advance fee is paid when the application is submitted. It is paid in the currency stipulated by the Swiss representation at the current exchange rate. The fee must cover the following and does not include any fees charged separately by the civil status authorities for their services:
Fees
PDF206.69 kB12 January 2026
No fee is charged for minor children if they are included on the application of one of their parents.
These fees are in general non-refundable if the SEM rejects the application or the application is withdrawn during the procedure.
For further information, please contact the relevant Swiss representation in your country of residence.

Important

Swiss law allows dual citizenship. You can in principle keep your original citizenship. Acquisition of Swiss citizenship may, however, result in loss of your original citizenship if the law of your country of origin requires it. Relevant official information can be obtained from the authorities of your country of origin.

Dual citizenship

Naturalisation of foreign spouses and foreign children born to a Swiss parent

Self-check for foreign spouses

General procedure through a Swiss representation for people living abroad

Minor children included in the application

Documents to be submitted to the Swiss representation

Foreign civil status documents that have not been registered in the Swiss civil status register

Swiss civil status documents

Face-to-face interview at a Swiss representation

How long does the procedure take?

Fees

Fees

Important

Links

Documents

Memo: Are your children Swiss or can they become Swiss?