If you are a young foreign citizen whose grandparents emigrated to Switzerland, you can apply for simplified naturalisation if you meet the following requirements:
- At least one of your grandparents was born in Switzerland and can be proven to have acquired a right of residence here.
- At least one parent (has) acquired a permanent residence permit, (has) lived for at least ten years in Switzerland and attended compulsory schooling in Switzerland for at least five years.
- You were born in Switzerland and hold a permanent residence permit.
- You have attended compulsory schooling for at least five years in Switzerland.
- You are successfully integrated.
- You submit your application before your 25th birthday.
If you submit the application after your 25th birthday but otherwise meet all the requirements, you can apply for simplified naturalisation until 15 February 2023 provided you will still be under the age of 40 on that date (transitional law).
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;
- encourage and support your family members 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.
Factsheet: applicants under the age of 25
in German (PDF, 103 kB, 13.07.2020)
in French (PDF, 102 kB, 13.07.2020)
in Italian (PDF, 99 kB, 13.07.2020)
Factsheet: applicants older than 25
in German (PDF, 102 kB, 13.07.2020)
in French (PDF, 102 kB, 13.07.2020)
in Italian (PDF, 99 kB, 13.07.2020)
After 15 February 2023, you can only apply for simplified naturalisation if you are still under the age of 25.
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.
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.
SEM provides the following information sheets:
- Information from the commune of residence on grandparents' rights of residence
in German (PDF, 96 kB, 13.07.2020)
in French (PDF, 146 kB, 13.07.2020)
in Italian (PDF, 144 kB, 13.07.2020) - Information from the juvenile prosecution services or other authorities on juvenile criminal records
in German (PDF, 97 kB, 13.07.2020)
in French (PDF, 231 kB, 13.07.2020)
in Italian (PDF, 189 kB, 13.07.2020) - Information from the social assistance authorities
in German (PDF, 137 kB, 13.07.2020)
in French (PDF, 227 kB, 13.07.2020)
in Italian (PDF, 226 kB, 13.07.2020) - Information from the school authorities
in German (PDF, 97 kB, 13.07.2020)
in French (PDF, 146 kB, 13.07.2020)
in Italian (PDF, 146 kB, 13.07.2020) - Information from the tax authorities
in German (PDF, 111 kB, 13.07.2020)
in French (PDF, 190 kB, 13.07.2020)
in Italian (PDF, 189 kB, 13.07.2020) - Employer’s confirmation
in German (PDF, 319 kB, 15.07.2020)
in French (PDF, 293 kB, 15.07.2020)
in Italian (PDF, 311 kB, 15.07.2020)
- List of required documents
- Submission of the application until the 25th birthday
in German (PDF, 174 kB, 31.08.2020) - Submission of the application after the 25th birthday (transitional law until 15.2.2023)
in German (PDF, 171 kB, 31.08.2020)
- Submission of the application until the 25th birthday
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is responsible for the simplified naturalisation of third generation foreign citizens.
Further information
Questions and answers on third generation naturalisation
Handbook on citizenship, chapter 6: Other forms of simplified naturalisation, third generation naturalisation (Section 64)
in German (PDF, 310 kB, 13.07.2020)
in French (PDF, 313 kB, 13.07.2020)
in Italian (PDF, 567 kB, 13.07.2020)
Last modification 02.03.2021